Kate Kallot calls for investment in sovereign data infrastructure to unlock Africa’s digital potential

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Kate Kallot, Founder and CEO of Amini, has underscored the urgent need for investment in sovereign data infrastructure across the Global South, warning that limited access remains a key barrier preventing talent from translating into economic opportunity.

Speaking at the World Bank Group Spring Meetings, Kallot highlighted the structural imbalance in global digital infrastructure, noting that Africa currently accounts for only about one percent of global data centre capacity. She described this disparity not merely as a gap, but as a form of systemic exclusion that limits the ability of developers across the continent to build and scale innovations.

According to Kallot, the absence of adequate infrastructure means many ideas never progress beyond concept stage, despite the widespread availability of talent. She emphasized that enabling infrastructure plays a decisive role in shifting developers into active builders, which in turn drives job creation and supports value retention within local economies.

Through Amini, Kallot said the company is working with government partners to develop sovereign artificial intelligence infrastructure tailored to conditions in the Global South. This includes a focus on local data ecosystems, edge computing capabilities, and resilient connectivity frameworks designed to address real-world constraints.

The conversation aligns with the broader agenda of the World Bank Group, which prioritizes job creation and sustainable economic growth through foundational investments in infrastructure.

Kallot also acknowledged contributions from key participants at the session, including Sangbu Kim and Paschal Donohoe, while the discussion was moderated by Raj Kumar.

Her remarks add to growing calls for targeted infrastructure development as a means of unlocking Africa’s digital economy and ensuring that existing talent can fully participate in global innovation ecosystems.