Proparco, Yas, and AXIAN Deepen Africa Digital-Energy Investment Drive With A $351Million Framework

Proparco has entered into a strategic partnership with Yas and AXIAN Energy to accelerate infrastructure investment across Africa’s digital and energy sectors, as demand for connectivity and reliable power continues to reshape the continent’s economic landscape.

The agreement, formalised in Nairobi through a Memorandum of Understanding, positions the three organisations around a coordinated investment strategy focused on telecommunications, renewable energy, electrification and digital services. The partnership reflects growing recognition among investors and policymakers that energy access and digital infrastructure are becoming increasingly interdependent in Africa’s industrial and economic development agenda.

A major focus of the collaboration will be expanding connectivity and electricity infrastructure in underserved and rural markets, where weak grid networks and limited internet access continue to constrain economic productivity and inclusion. In telecommunications, the partners plan to extend both fixed and mobile network coverage while also addressing affordability barriers that continue to slow internet penetration across several African economies.

The initiative also targets the development of data centre capacity, an area attracting rising strategic interest as African markets seek to localise data storage, strengthen digital sovereignty and support emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Improved local processing infrastructure is expected to support the growth of African digital platforms and enterprise services while reducing dependence on overseas hosting facilities.

Within the energy segment, the cooperation framework includes investment in renewable generation projects covering solar, wind and hydropower, alongside battery storage systems intended to improve network reliability and grid resilience. The partners also intend to deploy energy solutions tailored to telecom infrastructure, an increasingly important area as operators seek to reduce diesel dependency and improve operational efficiency across tower networks.
Additional priorities include electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, mini-grid deployment for rural electrification, and the expansion of electric mobility and charging ecosystems.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the partnership extends into digital finance and entrepreneurship development. The three organisations plan to support the rollout of mobile money services, insurance products, microcredit and savings platforms designed to widen financial inclusion. The framework also includes support mechanisms for startups and innovation-driven businesses seeking access to capital across African markets.

The agreement builds on previous financing support provided by Proparco to AXIAN-linked projects during 2025 and 2026. Under the new arrangement, Proparco intends to mobilise up to $351 million over the next three years through a mix of corporate financing, project finance bond participation, equity co-investments and concessional funding instruments.

The parties will additionally collaborate on technical cooperation, project engineering and ESG-related initiatives, with particular attention on climate resilience, sustainability standards and impact measurement frameworks.

Françoise Lombard said improved access to digital infrastructure and energy would remain central to Africa’s long-term economic transformation and sustainable development objectives.
Hassanein Hiridjee described digital and energy access as closely linked drivers of social inclusion and economic opportunity, adding that the partnership would support the scaling of services across underserved African communities.