The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has announced its intention to invest in KERA Health, a Senegalese health technology startup deploying artificial intelligence-powered solutions to digitize and analyze healthcare data. This proposed investment, pending approval from the IFC board scheduled for June 20, is poised to advance digital health infrastructure and expand access to cost-effective medical services throughout the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) region.
KERA Health aims to leverage its software to digitize and integrate healthcare services for some of the region’s most vulnerable citizens, including informal sector workers and women. By doing so, the project targets a reduction in patient out-of-pocket costs and accelerated payments, as well as quality improvements through artificial intelligence-driven operational efficiencies and faster service delivery. In tandem with capital, the IFC will assist KERA in the adoption of robust social and environmental standards, the enhancement of corporate governance, and in establishing grievance channels for employees, reflecting a holistic approach to scaling its business responsibly.
This new investment builds on a strategic partnership initiated in 2023 between IFC and KERA aimed at strengthening the healthcare ecosystem in West Africa. The background to this initiative is an acute shortage of healthcare personnel across the region, where there are currently only 1.5 doctors per 1,000 people—well below global averages. By infusing artificial intelligence and digital capabilities into the healthcare system, KERA and IFC hope to address bottlenecks, improve clinical decision-making, and rapidly scale up vital health interventions to reach under-served populations. The move signals a broader trend in harnessing advanced technology to bridge healthcare gaps in sub-Saharan Africa and sets a precedent for cross-sector partnerships designed to amplify social impact through innovation.
