Equity, AfricaNenda and Gates Foundation Partner to Accelerate Africa’s Digital Public Infrastructure as Dr. James Mwangi Named Continental DPI Champion

Equity Group Holdings, AfricaNenda Foundation and the Gates Foundation have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the development and implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) across Africa. The collaboration aims to expand financial inclusion, strengthen digital payment ecosystems and support Africa’s digital transformation through stronger public-private partnerships while modernizing African economies.

At the same time, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr. James Mwangi, has been appointed the Continental Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Champion in recognition of his leadership in advancing inclusive digital financial ecosystems and his commitment to driving Africa’s digital transformation agenda.

Speaking during the MOU signing, Dr. Robert Ochola, Chief Executive Officer at AfricaNenda, said the partnership builds on Equity Group’s proven leadership in expanding financial inclusion and will help accelerate the adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure across Africa.

“Equity has transformed banking and financial inclusion for millions of Africans. Yet nearly 400 million people across the continent remain excluded from formal financial services. Through this partnership, we want to build practical Digital Public Infrastructure models and scale them across 20 to 30 African markets,” he said.

He added: “Digital Public Infrastructure cannot succeed without private-sector participation. Equity brings the execution capability, market reach, and innovation needed to move this agenda from policy to implementation. We are delighted that Dr. James Mwangi has accepted the role of championing this initiative across the continent.”

The collaboration will combine AfricaNenda’s technical expertise, policy expertise, and ecosystem leadership with Equity Group’s extensive regional footprint, digital payments capabilities, and implementation experience to accelerate the adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure across Africa.

Together, the partners will support the development of interoperable payment systems, digital payment innovation, government and merchant payment solutions, cross-border payment ecosystems, regulatory engagement, technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and policy advocacy.

Robert Karanja, Founder and Senior Advisor at DPI4Africa and Board Member of the Mojaloop Foundation, said accelerating Digital Public Infrastructure across Africa will require strong private-sector leadership working alongside governments to drive adoption, innovation and financial inclusion.

“Today, we are presenting a symbolic plaque bearing Dr. Mwangi’s name in recognition of his appointment as Africa’s inaugural Digital Public Infrastructure Champion. This honor reflects his leadership and commitment to advancing digital transformation across the continent. His leadership will bring together a coalition of willing partners to accelerate the adoption and implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure across Africa,” he said.

In this role, Dr. Mwangi will champion interoperable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to accelerate financial inclusion, expand access to digital services, and unlock opportunities for millions of Africans. By lowering the cost of accessing trusted digital platforms, DPI will empower young innovators and entrepreneurs to build scalable digital solutions, access regional markets, and create jobs, driving Africa’s digital economy and inclusive growth. It will also enable seamless cross-border payments, trusted digital identities, and secure data exchange, supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and deepening regional economic integration.

Speaking after the presentation and signing of the MoU, Dr. Mwangi said the partnership aligns naturally with Equity Group’s long-standing mission of transforming lives and promoting Africa’s socio-economic development.

“Championing Africa’s economic transformation has always been our purpose. Digital Public Infrastructure provides the foundation for the next phase of that transformation by enabling inclusive digital financial services that reach every citizen. With humility, I accept this appointment to be the champion of Continental Digital Public Infrastructure. I will continue working with governments, regulators, development partners and the private sector to accelerate this agenda because I firmly believe Digital Public Infrastructure has the power to transform economies, expand opportunity and improve lives across Africa,” said Dr. Mwangi.

He added:

“We are not asking governments to surrender ownership of public infrastructure. Instead, we are demonstrating how the private sector can partner with governments to accelerate the implementation of critical digital infrastructure such as digital identity and interoperable digital payments. Just as physical infrastructure transformed economies in the past, Digital Public Infrastructure will modernise and transform Africa’s future. Infrastructure alone is not enough; its value comes from the solutions innovators, entrepreneurs and businesses built on top of it.”

Dr. Mwangi’s appointment aligns with Equity Group’s Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), reinforcing his leadership in advancing digital innovation, value addition across sectors such as agriculture and extractives, and inclusive economic transformation through trade and investment, manufacturing, technology and logistics, and social and environmental development.

The appointment also follows the successful conclusion of the Africa Forward Summit, where Dr. Mwangi co-chaired the Business Forum and championed value addition, regional trade, and market access for African products. The summit catalyzed strategic partnerships that have since opened premium international markets for Kenyan specialty teas, culminating in the successful launch of Kenyan Purple Tea in Paris and reinforcing Kenya’s transition from exporting raw commodities to branded, high-value products. These achievements reflect Dr. Mwangi’s leadership in advancing agricultural transformation and value addition across strategic sectors, including tea, coffee, rice, leather, and other agricultural value chains, creating sustainable livelihoods while strengthening Africa’s long-term economic resilience.

Nanjira Sambuli, Senior Advocacy Officer for Africa (Inclusive Financial Systems & Digital Public Infrastructure) at the Gates Foundation, said the Foundation is supporting the partnership because Digital Public Infrastructure must translate into real-world impact by expanding financial inclusion and improving people’s lives.

“At the Gates Foundation, we believe building Digital Public Infrastructure is only a first step. The real measure of success is whether people use it to improve their lives.

That is why we are proud to support AfricaNenda’s partnership with Equity, an institution that has consistently championed financial inclusion and socio-economic transformation across Africa,” she said.

Despite significant progress in mobile money, hundreds of millions of Africans remain excluded from formal financial services, underscoring the need for interoperable digital infrastructure that enables broader participation in the digital economy.

AfricaNenda currently works with more than 30 central banks across Africa and believes that the partnership with Equity Group will accelerate the practical implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure through stronger public-private collaboration.

The collaboration further strengthens Equity Group’s engagement with the Gates Foundation ecosystem while positioning the Group as a leading private-sector implementation partner for Digital Public Infrastructure in Africa.

Through the partnership, AfricaNenda and Equity Group will collaborate with governments, regulators and ecosystem stakeholders to demonstrate how DPI can expand financial inclusion, strengthen cross-border payments and accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.

Read Also: James Mwangi Receives The UNHCR Visionary Award