The US bets $150 million on Zipline’s drones in Africa—with strings attached
The US awards Zipline $150 million to scale African drone delivery, contingent on local governments committing to long-term operational costs..
✨ Key Highlights
The United States Department of State has announced a $150 million (approximately KES 19.5 billion) "pay-for-performance" financing vehicle for Zipline to expand its drone delivery infrastructure across Africa. This funding is contingent on partner African governments signing expansion contracts and committing to operational costs, aiming for sustainability rather than traditional aid.
- The funding aims to triple Zipline's footprint, serving 15,000 health facilities and over 130 million people.
- Rwanda will be the first beneficiary, expanding its operations and testing new short-range drones for urban deliveries.
- The State Department explicitly framed the deal within an "America First" foreign assistance agenda, aiming to export US technology standards.
- Zipline data shows significant health improvements, including a 56% reduction in maternal deaths in served areas.
- Participating nations include Ghana, Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, and Côte d'Ivoire.
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Companies Expand Tech and Financial Services in Africa Through Partnerships and Funding - November 2025
Several initiatives are expanding services across Africa through partnerships and funding. Vodacom Tanzania has launched M-Pesa Global Payment in partnership with Visa, Alipay, MTN Uganda, and Thunes to boost digital financial inclusion and cross-border trade. Separately, the United States Department of State has announced a $150 million "pay-for-performance" financing vehicle for Zipline. This funding is intended to expand Zipline's drone delivery infrastructure across Africa and is contingent on partner African governments signing expansion contracts. In a broader regional move, Westcon Comstor has partnered with Fortanix to provide advanced data security services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), aiming to strengthen secure AI environments.
