World Bank Commits $137 Million to Bring Broadband to 5.2 Million West Africans

2026-03-13 global

Washington, D.C., Thursday, 12 March 2026.
Approved this week, a $137 million World Bank initiative will connect 5.2 million West Africans to high-speed broadband, accelerating regional economic growth and funding over 140 digital startups.

Bridging the Digital Divide in West Africa

On March 10, 2026, the World Bank Group’s Board of Directors approved a $137 million regional initiative to accelerate digital integration across Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone [1][4]. This financing represents the second phase of the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program, commonly referred to as WARDIP2 [4][5]. The capital is earmarked for expanding resilient broadband networks, enhancing international connectivity, and upgrading data center capacity across the three participating nations [3]. Through these infrastructure upgrades, the initiative projects that 5.2 million individuals will gain access to new or improved high-speed internet, while an estimated 5.4 million new users will be able to utilize digitally enabled services [1][2][3].

Investing in Human Capital and Startups

Beyond physical infrastructure, the World Bank’s funding package strategically targets human capital development [3]. Recognizing that a robust digital economy requires a skilled workforce, the program has allocated resources to train approximately 9,000 people in advanced digital professions [1][2][3]. This educational component specifically targets women and young people, focusing on high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital entrepreneurship [1][3].

Building on Regional Integration Efforts

This current injection of capital builds upon the foundational first phase of the West Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (WARDIP), which launched in November 2023 [1][2][4]. The initial WARDIP operation deployed $266.5 million to expand internet access and institutional capacity in The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania, benefiting an estimated 1.3 million people [1][2][4]. With the introduction of WARDIP2, total confirmed funding for the overarching regional project reaches 403.5 million [1][4]. The first phase was implemented alongside key regional partners, including the African Union, Smart Africa, and the Economic Community of West African States [5].

Sources

Emerging markets Digital infrastructure