By Fatima Kpaka
Washington, March 10, 2026: The World Bank Group has approved a $137 million regional initiative to accelerate digital integration and job creation in Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The program, known as the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP2), is expected to boost broadband access for 5.2 million people, enable 5.4 million new digital service users, nurture more than 140 startups, and unlock thousands of digital jobs across the three countries.
The initiative builds on the first phase of WARDIP launched in 2023, which supported The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania. WARDIP2 expands the program to seven countries and strengthens regional integration through the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
“This new initiative positions West Africa to accelerate economic transformation by creating jobs, strengthening resilience, and enabling a more integrated regional digital market,” said Michel Rogy, World Bank Digital and AI Regional Practice Director.
The project will invest heavily in digital infrastructure, including resilient broadband networks, international connectivity, and data‑center capacity. It will also support digital skills training for 9,000 individuals, with a focus on women and youth, and expand opportunities in AI, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship.
Marina Wes, Acting World Bank Regional Integration Director for Africa, emphasized that harmonizing regulations and modernizing digital governance will create a more predictable and investment-friendly environment.
WARDIP2 will also strengthen digital entrepreneurship ecosystems, expand financial services, and provide seed financing and market access for startups and SMEs. More than 140 digital startups, including women-led enterprises, are expected to benefit.
The World Bank says the initiative will help unlock private capital, deepen regional integration, and create thousands of new digital jobs in a growing regional economy.