The World Bank Group has launched its first digital strategy, combining its public- and private-sector capabilities to help developing countries improve affordable digital access, strengthen public services and generate employment opportunities.
The strategy focuses on four priorities: expanding reliable connectivity, making smartphones and internet data more affordable, strengthening digital services and skills, and helping countries prepare to benefit from artificial intelligence (AI).
“Digital technology can help countries create jobs and make scarce resources go further. Realizing that potential requires a comprehensive approach—from reliable connectivity and affordable devices to digital skills and useful services,” said World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. “Our first digital strategy brings these pieces together, helping countries build the foundations to benefit from today’s digital tools and the promise of small AI—AI for the people.”
The strategy comes as developing countries face limited resources and increasing pressure to create jobs. Over the next 10 to 15 years, approximately 1.2 billion young people in these countries are expected to reach working age, while their economies are projected to generate around 420 million jobs.
Digital technology could help address this employment challenge across the World Bank Group’s five priority sectors: infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing. Businesses can use digital tools to reach more customers, improve productivity and access financing, while governments can reduce the cost of delivering public services.
Despite these opportunities, significant barriers to digital access remain. More than 2 billion people worldwide were offline in 2025, while internet usage stood at just 23% in low-income countries, compared with 94% in high-income countries. Even where network coverage exists, the cost of smartphones and data, limited digital skills and a lack of relevant services prevent many people from participating fully in the digital economy.
To address these challenges, the World Bank Group will support the expansion of reliable connectivity, including international cables, national networks and connections serving homes, businesses, schools and healthcare facilities. Its approach includes encouraging infrastructure sharing and competition, using public financing and guarantees to attract private investment, and coordinating electricity and connectivity planning in underserved areas. It will also work with manufacturers, mobile operators, financial institutions and device refurbishment businesses to reduce the cost of smartphones and broadband access, including through responsible payment options.
The strategy also prioritises digital services and skills by supporting systems for digital identification, payments and secure information-sharing. Alongside these foundations, the World Bank Group will promote digital literacy and employment-focused training to help individuals and small businesses use technology safely and productively. To strengthen AI readiness, it will support access to computing resources, locally relevant data, reliable connectivity and skills, with an emphasis on practical, task-specific applications of “small AI” in areas such as agriculture, healthcare and business operations.
Privacy protection, cybersecurity and fraud prevention will form part of all four priorities. The strategy brings together the World Bank Group’s financing, policy advice, private-sector investment and guarantees to support country-led digital development, working with governments, technology companies, development partners and philanthropic organisations to expand access and economic opportunities.
Alongside the strategy, the World Bank Group announced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative to help governments in emerging markets access affordable computing capacity and apply small AI to practical challenges. The initiative will support shared, pay-as-you-go graphics processing unit (GPU) infrastructure, which provides specialised computing power for developing and running AI applications, as an alternative to building standalone national data centres.
The initiative will initially focus on Africa and Latin America, with Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA among its knowledge partners. Together, the strategy and the new initiative aim to help developing countries turn digital access into higher productivity, improved services and more opportunities for people to earn a living.
