Casablanca, May 14, 2025—Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have signed a partnership to sustainably strengthen access to digital services in eight African countries on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum, held in Abidjan on May 12 and 13.
OMEA and IFC are combining their efforts to develop more inclusive and sustainable digital connectivity in underserved areas of West and Central Africa. This unprecedented partnership aims to leverage the complementary expertise of the two organizations. IFC, the World Bank Group institution focused on the private sector, will contribute its development financing expertise, while OMEA will capitalize on its local presence and the strength of its network in the region. As a result, various telecom infrastructure construction and deployment projects (towers, fiber, etc.) will be carried out in the targeted countries over the coming years.
This collaboration builds on initiatives already supported by IFC, such as backing the first-ever securitization operation in the telecommunications sector in West Africa and providing sustainable financing to Sonatel. These two operations, totaling approximately $75 million in 2024, have enabled Sonatel to strengthen the country's digital infrastructure and expand 4G coverage and fiber optic connectivity in rural areas of Senegal.
Together, the two partners aim to provide a replicable investment model to reduce the digital divide, promote financial inclusion, strengthen territorial resilience, and create jobs, particularly in the digital economy.
“This partnership with IFC is a major step in accelerating our ambition to reduce the digital gap by offering quality, sustainable, and accessible connectivity to as many people as possible, especially in rural or underserved areas. By combining our strengths, we aim to build a more equitable digital future for everyone in Africa,” said Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa.
“Increasing access to digital connectivity in Africa is a key priority to foster innovation, expand financial inclusion, and create jobs. Strengthening our partnership with Orange Middle East and Africa demonstrates our commitment to positioning digital technology as a strategic lever for sustainable economic transformation, benefiting individuals and businesses,” added Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Vice President for Africa.
About IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2024, IFC committed a record $56 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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About Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA)
Orange operates in 18 countries across Africa and the Middle East, serving over 161 million customers as of December 31, 2024. With €7.7 billion in revenue in 2024, Orange MEA is the fastest-growing region within the Orange Group. Orange Money, its money transfer and financial services offering, is available in 17 countries and has over 100 million customers. As a multi-service operator and a key partner in digital transformation, Orange brings its expertise to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.
