In November 2024, MTN South Africa launched the Icon 5G smartphone, priced at R2,499 (about $138). Designed to make high-speed internet affordable to underserved populations, the launch was not just a nod to corporate social responsibility (CSR); it was also a strategic move to tap into an underutilised market of digital users. As Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the least connected regions globally, efforts like this highlight how CSR and business growth are increasingly intertwined in the telecom sector.

For MTN, CSR has become an entrenched means of ensuring long-term sustainability and profitability by creating shared value for communities and stakeholders. Understanding stakeholder priorities and measuring community impact has become central to this approach.

Telecommunications companies like MTN are now operating in an environment where connectivity is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. According to the GSMA’s 2023 report, closing the digital use gap in Africa could generate up to $3.5 trillion for the global economy by 2030. Yet, barriers remain—including in terms of cost, infrastructure, and digital skills—holding back the sector’s growth potential.

The fundamental question facing companies operating on the continent is: how do we combine economic performance with real social impact? For MTN, this balance is now an intrinsic feature of its African operating model.

This balance between purpose and profit manifests differently across MTN’s markets, with each country CEO adapting community development strategies to local needs. Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi, who previously served as CEO of MTN Cameroon and now leads MTN Côte d’Ivoire as CEO, exemplifies this localised approach. The MTN Foundation’s systematic community investment model underpins much of this work: “It’s funded every single year by 1% of our profits, and with that 1% of profits, we have three primary areas of focus. One, of course, is education. We also have focused around women empowerment,” she explains. Beyond traditional CSR, her market-specific strategies have seen MTN build a mobile money merchant network of over 300,000 in Côte d’Ivoire alone, with women representing a significant portion of these digital entrepreneurs—demonstrating how targeted community programmes can drive both social impact and business growth

Affordable technology: Preparing the customers of tomorrow

The Icon 5G smartphone addresses one of the major obstacles to connectivity in Africa: affordability. By offering this terminal at a competitive price, MTN demonstrates its in-depth understanding of long-term growth dynamics. By democratizing access to 5G, the operator anticipates the emergence of a new generation of users for its high-speed networks.

Stephen Blewett, Managing Director of MTN Ghana, explains that connectivity fosters economic inclusion: affordable equipment is a gateway to digital ecosystems, and every new user represents an opportunity for growth for MTN – whether through mobile money, e-commerce or other digital services.

This is in line with the company’s Ambition 2025 strategy, which aims to strengthen growth in the digital and financial services sectors through targeted investments and increased customer engagement.

Education: developing digital skills and literacy

Among the most ambitious community development projects is the Digital Hub, a $25 million project currently under construction in Ghana. Ultimately, this technology hub will train more than 200,000 people in digital skills and create more than 100,000 jobs in three years. It will offer state-of-the-art workspaces to support the growth of local tech and promote the emergence of a digital ecosystem in the health, agriculture and education sectors.

However, faced with the massive challenge of youth employment in Africa — more than 200 million young people, the majority of whom have no training or skilled employment — the issue goes far beyond that of infrastructure. The emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence further accentuates the urgency to act.

This project embodies a model that can be replicated across MTN’s different markets. The MTN Foundation has already supported more than 90 educational projects: ICT and robotics centres, classrooms, dormitories, scholarships, etc.

Watch: Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi, of CEO MTN Côte d’Ivoire talks about MTN’s support for young entrepreneurs building Africa’s digital future.

However, the issue of scale remains. The launch in 2022 of the Skills Academy in Zambia offers an extensible model, with training in digital and financial literacy. The economic argument is clear: better equipping communities means strengthening customer relations.

Health: between social utility and growth drivers

Health is another area where business strategy and community engagement come together effectively. The MTN Foundation has invested in 55 health projects, including health centres, maternity wards, blood banks, medical equipment and awareness campaigns.

These interventions address critical needs while positioning MTN as a trusted player in the field of public health. By illustrating the usefulness of digital infrastructures in access to care, they also pave the way for strengthened partnerships with governments and NGOs.

Mobile clinics and prevention campaigns have played a key role during health crises, highlighting MTN’s growing role as a provider of essential services.

Sustainability: Reconciling environmental commitment and operational efficiency

MTN has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 — a bold ambition, but based on a strong economic rationale. More than 3,000 solar-powered sites have already been deployed, reducing both the carbon footprint and long-term operational costs.

MTN’s sustainability strategy is not limited to climate. It also helps to strengthen the resilience of its operations. By reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, the company frees itself from fluctuations in the energy markets and guarantees the continuity of its services in difficult contexts.

Policy Advocacy: Protecting Infrastructure for Growth

In November 2024, Google’s Charles Murito advocated for fiber optic cables to be considered critical infrastructure — an initiative supported by MTN. Theft and vandalism of facilities remain major threats, generating additional costs and compromising the quality of services.

The strengthening of the regulatory framework benefits the entire sector, while ensuring the sustainability of investments and customer loyalty through an increased quality of service.

Measuring impact: from responsibility to accountability

MTN’s social commitment is reflected in a rigorous impact measurement policy. The company has 166 projects in the fields of health and education, with more than 4.5 million direct and indirect beneficiaries. These figures illustrate not only a civic commitment, but also the economic and social impact of its actions.

However, measuring the long-term impact remains complex. Programs such as mobile clinics or solar infrastructure require constant monitoring and funding to ensure their sustainability.

Challenges to be addressed

Despite these successes, some questions remain:

• Scale versus need: Programmes like the Skills Academy and Digital Hub are impactful but limited in scope relative to the continent’s vast needs. Partnerships with governments and NGOs are critical to scaling these efforts effectively.
• Financial sustainability: Community development programmes require consistent funding and monitoring to ensure long-term viability beyond initial implementation phases.
• Transparency and accountability: MTN has committed to providing comprehensive disclosures in its sustainability reports on supply chain emissions and long-term impacts, but maintaining transparency as programmes scale presents ongoing challenges.

A balance between economic performance and social impact

From accessible smartphones to educational hubs and healthcare projects, MTN’s CSR initiatives demonstrate the ability of telecom operators to reconcile social transformation and economic performance. By expanding their customer base and forging lasting partnerships, these companies strengthen their brand equity while exploring new growth drivers.

By responsibly addressing systemic challenges, MTN is setting a sector benchmark and charting a path to an inclusive, connected and prosperous Africa. Integrating community development into business strategy is, more than ever, a viable model for growth in emerging markets.

Sources:
GSMA – The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2024
GSMA – The Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2023
Matsh – Youth Employment Statistics in Africa (2023)
World Bank – Africa Overview (2024)
MTN.com

Published on Jeune Afrique 20 July 2025: The role of telecoms in community development: CSR that goes beyond connectivity