World Bank Group launches digital strategy to widen access and support job creation

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World Bank digital strategy launch

Highlights

World Bank Group launches a digital strategy targeting expanded connectivity, cheaper devices and data, stronger digital services, and AI infrastructure readiness for developing countries.
The initiative addresses a labor market challenge where 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in 10–15 years, while only 420 million jobs are projected to be created.
More than 2 billion people will remain offline globally in 2025, prompting the World Bank Group to prioritize affordability and skills, aided by partnerships with Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA.

Strategy priorities and rollout

As reported by World Bank, citing the World Bank Group, the strategy focuses on four areas: expanding reliable connectivity, lowering the cost of devices and data, strengthening digital services and skills, and helping countries build the foundations needed to benefit from artificial intelligence.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga says digital technology can help countries create jobs and stretch scarce resources further, but that this requires a broad approach covering connectivity, affordable devices, digital skills and useful services. The institution says the plan brings together financing, policy advice, private investment and guarantees around country priorities.

The strategy outlines support for network buildouts ranging from international cables to connections serving homes, businesses, schools and clinics. It also backs shared infrastructure, stronger competition and the use of public finance and guarantees to help attract private investment into underserved markets, including coordinated planning where electricity and connectivity are both missing.

On affordability, the World Bank Group says it will support efforts to reduce the cost of entry-level smartphones and broadband services through partnerships with manufacturers, mobile operators, financial institutions and refurbishment businesses. It also plans to back digital identification, payments and secure information-sharing systems, alongside digital literacy and employment-linked training for individuals and small businesses.

Jobs gap and AI infrastructure push

The launch comes as developing countries face constrained resources and rising labor market pressure. Over the next 10 to 15 years, 1.2 billion young people are expected to reach working age in developing countries, while their economies are projected to create about 420 million jobs.

The World Bank Group says digital technology can support employment and productivity across infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, health care, tourism and value-added manufacturing. It adds that businesses can use digital tools to reach customers, improve productivity and access finance, while governments can lower the cost of delivering public services.

Barriers remain significant. More than 2 billion people were offline globally in 2025, and internet use stood at 23% in low-income countries versus 94% in high-income countries. The institution says many people remain excluded because they cannot afford smartphones or data, lack digital skills or do not have access to services relevant to their needs.

Alongside the strategy, the World Bank Group also announces an AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative aimed at helping governments in emerging markets access affordable computing capacity through shared, pay-as-you-go GPU infrastructure. The effort initially focuses on Africa and Latin America, with Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA named as knowledge partners.

In our earlier coverage of how AI is reshaping corporate competitiveness, we explained that businesses in Nigeria and elsewhere are under rising pressure to adapt as “average” performance becomes less sustainable. The piece highlighted that firms need to rethink investment priorities, workforce skills, and decision-making, as AI-driven productivity gains can strengthen market positions while slow adopters risk losing relevance.

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