On the occasion of the Africa Forward Summit, organized by France and Kenya in Nairobi on 11–12 May, Proparco, the French development finance institution, Yas (owned by AXIAN Telecom) and AXIAN Energy announce the signing of a strategic partnership to strengthen cooperation in the development of digital and energy services and infrastructure on the African continent. Proparco, Yas and AXIAN Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing their shared ambition to deepen cooperation and build synergies in support of Africa’s digital and energy transitions. Through this agreement, the three partners aim to establish a long-term strategic partnership to improve access to digital services and energy across Africa—two essential drivers of inclusion, economic growth and territorial competitiveness. This collaboration reflects the urgency of scaling up resilient infrastructure to ensure that more people across the continent benefit from affordable internet access, secure, reliable digital services, and clean energy. Scaling digital and energy infrastructure The partnership will focus on several key sectors. In digital infrastructure, the partners will collaborate on the expansion of fixed and mobile networks to enhance connectivity, particularly in underserved and rural areas and tackle the digital affordability gap. The development of data centres will also be a priority, strengthening local data storage and processing capacity, and supporting the emergence of African-led digital services, including Artificial Intelligence. In the energy sector, cooperation will include the development of renewable energy production (solar, wind and hydropower), as well as battery storage solutions. The partners will also support telecom energy services (T-ESCO) to promote more energy-efficient digital infrastructure, and invest in electricity transmission and distribution networks, including decentralized solutions such as mini-grids to advance rural electrification. Electric mobility and charging infrastructure will also form part of the collaboration. Advancing financial inclusion and entrepreneurship The MoU further extends to financial services, with a focus on digital financial solutions such as mobile money, insurance, microcredit and savings products to promote financial inclusion. The partners also intend to support African entrepreneurship by facilitating access to financing for startups and innovative companies, fostering dynamic local ecosystems. Up to EUR 300 million of financing This collaboration builds on Yas and AXIAN Energy projects that Proparco has already supported in 2025 and 2026. To this end, Proparco intends to commit up to EUR 300 million over the next three years to support the expansion of AXIAN’s activities, through corporate financing, subscriptions to project finance bond issuances, equity co-investments, or the mobilization of concessional funds. To achieve these objectives, Proparco, Yas and AXIAN Energy will work together on financing solutions— and collaborate on project engineering through joint identification and development of high-impact initiatives, as well as technical cooperation, including training and knowledge sharing on ESG standards, climate challenges and impact measurement. This partnership brings together AXIAN’s pan-African ambition to expand inclusive digital and energy access and Proparco’s strategy to support sustainable infrastructure and accelerate the ‘twin’ digital and energy transitions across emerging markets. “Access to digital services and energy is a cornerstone of sustainable development and a powerful lever for economic transformation in Africa. Through this partnership with Yas and AXIAN Energy, we aim to accelerate investments in resilient infrastructure that delivers tangible impact for the African people,” said Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco. “In Africa, digital and energy access are not separate stories, they are the same story of social inclusion and economic opportunity. This partnership with Proparco gives us additional means to scale solutions that already serve tens of millions of Africans, and to reach those who still lack the basics.” added Hassanein Hiridjee, CEO of AXIAN Group. Contacts: About Proparco in Africa Africa is at the heart of Proparco’s strategy. For nearly 50 years, Proparco has been working alongside the African private sector to accelerate sustainable and inclusive development. This commitment is concretely reflected across the continent through a network of six regional offices and five local branches. Between 2022 and 2025, Proparco committed more than €4.6 billion across Africa, representing over €1.1 billion per year during this period. On the African continent, Proparco finances high-impact, job-creating projects in the following areas: sustainable infrastructure, sustainable industry, agriculture and agribusiness—particularly to strengthen the continent’s food sovereignty, notably through the FARM initiative; support for the local economic fabric, especially entrepreneurs and local SMEs, by strengthening financial institutions through Choose Africa; and the development of high-quality essential goods and services. Proparco provides financing solutions tailored to business needs, enhanced technical assistance through Propulse, as well as dedicated support for innovation via Digital Africa, its subsidiary focused on early-stage startups. More information: proparco.fr | LinkedIn: @Proparco About Yas Yas (owned by AXIAN Telecom) is a leading telecommunications company that operates in 11 markets across Africa and the Indian Ocean, providing mobile, fixed, digital infrastructure and fintech services to more than 43 million customers. Yas positions itself as a trusted partner, dedicated to helping customers unlock their digital potential. Yas harnesses cross-market synergies and leverages the combined resources of a strong unified pan-African business to drive innovation. Yas has expanded through active acquisitions and considerable network investment since 2015, systematically ensuring its businesses have a positive and sustainable impact on the daily lives customers and communities they serve. Yas ranks amongst the top 20 strongest telecom brands and has been named a 2026 ‘Brand to Watch’ in the global telecoms sector in BrandFinance ranking. www.axian-telecom.com About Axian Energy AXIAN Energy is a pan-African player committed to the sustainable transformation of the continent’s energy landscape. As a developer and operator of large-scale renewable energy projects, the company pursues a clear ambition: accelerating Africa’s energy transition while strengthening energy inclusion for communities and territories. Convinced that energy is a fundamental driver of economic and social development, AXIAN Energy designs, finances, builds, and operates high-performance, innovative, and high-impact infrastructure. It currently operates in eight African countries through its subsidiaries NEA, WeLight, CGHV, Jovena, and Eydon, covering the entire energy value chain. With a portfolio of 350 MW + 77 MW of renewable capacity installed and under development, and a target of 2 GW installed by 2030, AXIAN Energy positions itself as a strategic partner of choice for governments, financial institutions, and industrial players committed to decarbonization and green electrification across the continent. www.axian-energy.com
