Congo Digital Acceleration Project

The Congo Digital Acceleration Project is a Republic of Congo government programme co-financed by a $100 million World Bank credit and a €15 million European Union grant, launched in January 2023 for a five-year implementation period running through 2028.

The project's stated aim is to raise inclusive access to broadband for underserved rural "dead spots" where commercial operators cannot profitably build networks, strengthen the regulatory environment for a more competitive broadband market, fund national digital-literacy and skills programmes, and digitise government services covering civil registration, health, education and financial transactions. At launch, the World Bank cited national broadband coverage of 89% against an internet-usage rate of only 62%, illustrating the gap between network availability and actual digital participation that the skills component is meant to close.

Project documents set a target of reaching at least 2 million Congolese citizens. As of the most recent public World Bank reporting reviewed for this entry, the project remained in its early implementation phase, with no independently published impact evaluation yet available; the figures cited here are baseline statistics and stated targets rather than measured outcomes, and future updates should be sought to confirm delivery against these targets.

Read the full analysis: https://www.africanews.com/2023/01/27/the-congo-and-world-bank-launch-digital-acceleration-project/