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The World Bank Group has announced a new investment to strengthen Africa’s digital commerce infrastructure, channelled through Jumia, a leading e-commerce platform on the continent. The move is expected to expand market access for small businesses, support job creation and deepen digital economic participation across several African countries.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, is investing $25 million in equity in Jumia Technologies AG. The investment will support Jumia’s next phase of growth across its core markets, enhancing its integrated marketplace, logistics network and digital payments infrastructure.

According to the World Bank Group, the investment is expected to enable around 60,000 local annual active sellers to participate more fully in the digital economy, support 1,800 direct jobs, and create income-generating opportunities for more than 100,000 independent sales agents across Africa.

The Bank said digital commerce is becoming increasingly important for entrepreneurs seeking to expand beyond local markets, with reliable access to online marketplaces, logistics networks and digital payments now essential for business growth. Strengthening this infrastructure, it noted, can help firms increase sales, improve productivity and connect consumers with a wider range of affordable goods and services.

Jumia CEO Francis Dufay described the investment as a milestone for the company and for African e-commerce. “It validates both the discipline we have brought to our business in recent years and the tangible impact our platform has on small businesses, jobs and consumers across our eight markets. With partners like the IFC, we can accelerate the digital commerce infrastructure Africa needs,” he said.

Farid Fezoua, Director for Equity, Funds and Venture Capital at IFC, said Jumia demonstrates how pan-African e-commerce platforms can expand economic opportunity at scale. He noted that the investment will support Jumia’s growth while contributing to job creation, supply chain digitisation, and private-sector mobilisation across the continent.

Jumia currently operates in eight African countries, connecting more than 60,000 sellers to customers through its marketplace, supported by a logistics network and digital payment gateways. The company said its mission is to improve everyday life in Africa by leveraging technology to deliver convenient, affordable online services and help businesses reach new customers.

IFC said the investment aligns with its broader mandate to support private sector development in emerging markets. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, mobilising private capital to expand economic opportunity.