IFC, Partners Invest €80m to Boost Broadband and Digital Inclusion in Mali

IFC’s broader work in Mali includes expanding access to finance for SMEs, strengthening agribusiness value chains, and investing in clean, renewable energy solutions.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a major new investment to expand high-quality, affordable digital connectivity in Mali, especially in underserved rural regions where access to telecoms and digital financial services remains limited. Through a landmark partnership with Orange Mali SA, IFC and co-investors will provide an €80 million financing package (about XOF 52.5 billion) to upgrade network infrastructure, expand broadband coverage, and advance Mali’s inclusive digital transformation.

The initiative marks a significant step toward bridging Mali’s deep digital divide and aligns with both the government’s digital development agenda and the World Bank Group’s broader regional strategy to foster connectivity, financial inclusion, and economic resilience across West Africa.

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A Major Digital Infrastructure Boost

The €80 million investment will enable Orange Mali—Mali’s leading telecommunications provider with more than 12 million subscribers—to:

• Install 300 new 4G mobile towers, with 50% located in rural areas

• Expand the company’s fiber-optic network, reaching 300,000 households and small businesses

• Improve network reliability, bandwidth, and affordability

• Strengthen digital access for education, public services, e-commerce, and mobile money users

These upgrades are expected to significantly increase access to fast, affordable internet in regions where connectivity remains scarce and costly, limiting economic opportunities and access to vital services.

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Financing Structure Designed for Digital Inclusion

The financing includes:

• €50 million equivalent in local currency (XOF) from IFC’s own account

• Up to €30 million mobilized from the West African Development Bank (BOAD)

• Support from the International Development Association (IDA) Private Sector Window, which provides long-term, affordable local-currency financing rarely available in fragile or low-income markets

Importantly, the loan is structured as a Social Loan, meaning the investment is specifically designed to support underserved and high-need communities at risk of digital exclusion.

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Part of a Wider Regional Partnership

This investment is the first to result from a broader regional partnership signed by IFC and Orange Middle East & Africa (OMEA) during the Africa CEO Forum in May 2025. The agreement aims to develop sustainable digital infrastructure across eight countries in West and Central Africa, expanding affordable connectivity and promoting digital financial inclusion across the region.

Dorothée Vignalou, Deputy CEO for Finance, Strategy & Development at OMEA, emphasized this regional ambition:

“This partnership with IFC is a key step in scaling inclusive digital infrastructure across Africa. Together, we aim to bring quality connectivity and essential services to all, especially underserved communities.”

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Strengthening Inclusion, Women’s Empowerment, and Climate Action

As part of the social loan conditions, Orange Mali will increase the participation of women in its digital skills training programmes to 70% by 2032. This aligns with Mali’s broader development priorities and IFC’s focus on gender equality and inclusion.

The project also supports Mali’s environmental goals. Orange Mali plans to replace diesel generators with solar-powered systems, reducing carbon emissions by more than 8,000 tons annually. This transition contributes to the region’s climate resilience and the telecom sector’s shift toward greener operations.

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Stakeholders Highlight the Project’s Transformative Impact

Aboubakar Sadikhe Diop, CEO of Orange Mali, welcomed the investment:

“This partnership reinforces our commitment to digital inclusion and universal access to telecommunications. With IFC’s support, we will expand network coverage, strengthen resilience, and ensure that more Malians benefit from the opportunities of the digital economy.”

Fatoumata Sissoko-Sy, IFC’s Regional Industry Manager for Infrastructure in West Africa, noted the wider benefits:

“Expanding digital access is an essential pillar of Mali’s social and economic development. This partnership will bridge the digital gap, create jobs, and empower more women to join the digital economy.”

Daouda Berté, Head of Infrastructure and Digital Economy at BOAD, underscored the regional integration aspect:

“By connecting rural communities and empowering women through digital programs, we are directly investing in Mali’s socio-economic resilience and the prosperity of the entire WAEMU zone.”

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Supporting Mali’s National Digital Strategy

The project is closely aligned with Mali’s Digital 2020 strategy and the World Bank Group’s Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A) Initiative, which seek to expand digital access, promote innovation, and enable technology-driven job creation across the continent.

IFC’s broader work in Mali includes expanding access to finance for SMEs, strengthening agribusiness value chains, and investing in clean, renewable energy solutions. Across the Sahel region, IFC has committed over $1 billion in FY2025 to promote resilient growth and economic opportunities—especially for youth and women.

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A Foundation for Digital Transformation

By expanding high-speed internet to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, this investment is expected to stimulate entrepreneurship, improve public service delivery, strengthen mobile money networks, and support Mali’s transition toward a more inclusive, digitally enabled economy.

With IFC, BOAD, and Orange Mali now moving forward, the project represents one of the most significant steps yet in addressing Mali’s digital divide—and in empowering communities across rural and urban areas alike to participate fully in the digital future.