About Sustainable Business News Investors Careers COVID-19 Vodafone Foundation Africa.connected The world as we know it has changed with the COVID-19 pandemic having profoundly impacted our lives, our countries, and the digital landscape. As a business we have responded to this crisis to keep citizens and businesses connected - but nearly a billion people in Africa are still being left behind. Remedying this, is the seminal challenge of our time. The time has come to harnesses the power and potential of technology to build stronger, digital, connected, inclusive and green societies. There is an urgent need for global stakeholders to come together to address the unique challenges we collectively face. It’s for this reason that Vodacom, Vodafone and Safaricom are launching the Africa.connected campaign across eight markets with the goal of accelerating economic recovery by driving digital inclusion, making devices more affordable, empowering small businesses and improving digital literacy. But we know that this will not happen overnight. It is a long-term commitment, only possible through sustained, robust, and authentic collaboration that ensures the opportunities and promise of a better digital future is accessible to all. Join us as we work together to build a more resilient future for Africa. A future that ensures no one is left behind. Find out more from our Vodafone and Vodacom CEOs Africa’s Leading Technology Provider Building on our strong, nearly 30-year presence in and commitment to Africa, today we operate locally-rooted businesses in eight African countries – the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Egypt. We have worked hard to connect over 170 million Africans to a range of mobile and lifestyle services through our networks while closing the mobile gender gap for an estimated 46.2 million active female customers across the continent. Our digital solutions are promoting education, improving healthcare, and preparing the youth for a digital society. And we are increasing access to financial services through mobile handsets, including M-Pesa, Africa’s most popular payments platform. Read more Africa’s digital future This first policy paper, Meeting in the middle Harnessing the post COVID-19 rise of digital public health engagement in sub-Saharan Africa explores many of the challenges and opportunities associated with digital health solutions. It also highlights the necessity of partnerships between the public and private sectors in driving critical outcomes. The opportunity to harness the rise in digital engagement is now if we work together to ensure high quality, trusted online medical services are available to all. Read the full report This second policy paper, A lifeline, not a luxury: Accelerating 4G access in sub-Saharan Africa explores the divide between those who are connected to rudimentary services through 2G to those who have access to the breadth of the internet offered by 4G. The report suggests a multi-stakeholder approach with four key steps to enhancing digital inclusion across African nations, where the mobile usage gap is the largest in the world: Make 4G enabled devices more accessible Invest in the demand for 4G services Provide targeted financing to lower connectivity costs for vulnerable groups Boost 4G adoption by reframing 2G spectrum Read the full report Delivering Africa's digital future today Harnessing the power and potential of technology to build stronger businesses Rebuilding a greener, more sustainable digital Africa Driving resilience for long-term benefits Ensuring the promise of a better digital future is inclusive Related pages Latest News Read our latest news stories from Africa Pan-African Technology Leader We are a mobile data and payments leader Sustainable Development Goals We leverage the power of our services to contribute to the UN’s SDGs Vodafone Foundation By Connecting for Good, we want to improve 400 million lives by 2025 Investors Annual report Financial results Shareholders Operating responsibly Code of Conduct Modern Slavery Statement Supply chain Mobiles, masts and health Suppliers Ethics Policies and requirements Management help Vodafone Pass Partner Portal Careers Early careers Professionals Be yourself and belong Our locations Site map Legal terms Privacy and cookies Accessibility Report a Vulnerability Contact us ©2021 Vodafone Group Vodafone Group Plc. Registered Office: Vodafone House. The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN. Registered in England No 1833679 We use cookies to improve your experience on this site. Read our policy Your Cookies We use cookies, including from our partners, to enhance and personalise your experience. Accept all cookies below, or select “Manage Cookies” to choose which cookies we can use. Please see our Cookie Policy for more information. Manage Cookies Accept all cookies