The Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA) program aims to enhance internet access and the use of digitally enabled services across 15 countries and Regional Economic Communities. Funded with $2.48 billion from the International Development Association (IDA) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), IDEA addresses challenges such as limited internet coverage, inadequate data infrastructure, high costs of data and devices, limited digital skills, cybersecurity risks, and data protection issues. The program is expected to drive sustainable economic growth through long-term cost savings, efficiency, and productivity gains.
IDEA will be implemented over eight years in phases. Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Malawi are participating in the first phase. Other countries will join based on their eligibility and readiness. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) will lead regional coordination.
In DRC, the Digital Transformation Project under IDEA aims to increase inclusive internet access and strengthen foundations for digitally enabled services. The project has a $400 million IDA credit with an additional €100 million co-financing from the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement). It will be managed by a new Project Implementation Unit under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, ICTs, and Digital.
Albert Zeufack, World Bank Country Director for DRC stated: “The Digital Transformation Project will be critical to enhance access and use of the internet and strengthen the foundations for digitally enabled services in the DRC. This project will mobilize significant private capital investment and bridge digital connectivity gaps. These improvements will contribute to economic and human development, prepare thousands of youths with employable digital skills, stimulate digital innovation, help meet climate goals, and address key drivers of fragility.”
The project includes three technical components:
1. Expanding digital access and inclusion: This component focuses on developing enabling frameworks to mobilize private sector investment in broadband network infrastructure.
2. Introducing digital foundations for service delivery: This component supports investments in cross-cutting digital building blocks needed for expanding secure digital service provision.
3. Increasing access to industry-relevant advanced digital skills & stimulating digital innovation: This component provides foundational support for developing an advanced digital skills base.
The project is expected to benefit 30 million people in DRC—50% female—as well as businesses and public sector entities through improved broadband internet access due to network rollout and regulatory reform. It aims to cover 650 new communities with new networks; provide 1,000 public institutions with improved broadband; train over 3,000 youth in advanced digital skills; train 1,000 secondary education teachers; improve interoperability solutions; enhance data management; host digitized services; thus improving service delivery.
COMESA's role involves spearheading regional coordination by supporting regional market development integration efforts towards a common market with enhanced digital infrastructure facilitating a transition towards a digital free trade area across most IDEA-covered countries.