Djibouti advances $30 million in World Bank-funded digital projects

Djibouti is working to accelerate two World Bank-funded digital initiatives totaling $30 million to improve internet access, digital skills, and regional connectivity. The projects are overseen by steering committees, with recent progress reviews led by Communications Minister Mohamed Abdoulkader Moussa Helem.

The $10 million Djibouti Digital Foundations Project (DFN), approved in December 2021, aims to increase competition in the telecommunications sector, encourage private investment, and expand digital services. Of the 35 planned activities, 26 have been completed. Nine activities remain before the project deadline of June 30, 2027. While 6,275 people have benefited from improved connectivity so far, the project target is 20,000. Planned infrastructure includes 12 4G cell sites and fiber-optic loops for Dikhil, Tadjourah, and Obock, pending required assessments.

The second initiative, the $20 million Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), focuses on strengthening high-speed connections and cross-border digital exchanges between countries, including Djibouti and Ethiopia. This regional effort, coordinated through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), seeks to complement existing transport and trade corridors by facilitating digital data exchange and business activity.