World Bank dangles $150 million digital transformation grant

Source: The Times Group Malawi
Author: Serah Makondesa Chilora

Malawi has secured a $150 million (about K250 billion) grant from the World Bank to go towards the implementation of the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP).

It is a successor programme of the Digital Malawi-Phase 1 project.

This was unveiled on the side-lines of the World Bank Group's inaugural Global Digital Summit in Washington DC.

World Bank Digital Development Practice Manager for East Africa Isabel Neto said the satisfactory performance of DIGMAP-Phase 1 would justify the need for support towards implementation of the proposed DMAP.

Nato said this after an engagement with Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu.

"Let me applaud you Honourable Minister for the tremendous progress that has been registered on the project within the last 12 months and for the encouraging signs that all project deliverables will be met by June 30 2024 when the project closes," Neto said.

In his remarks, Kunkuyu said the DIGMAP Phase 1 has positioned the country to deliver digital public services, reduce the digital divide and tremendously transform the digital space in the country.

"There is a great need for the bank to quickly support Malawi with a successor project, the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project, to enable the country to build on the achievements of the phase one and take the country to the next level of digital transformation," he said.

According to Kunkuyu, DIGMAP Phase 1 imparted digital and entrepreneurial skills in Malawi's young people aside from connecting hundreds of public institutions in the country to free internet,

The Ministry of Information has been implementing DIGMAP-Phase 1 through the Public Private Partnership Commission and has so far achieved 95 percent overall implementation progress.