SEOUL, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – On Tuesday, the World Bank Group unveiled its inaugural digital strategy, designed to assist developing nations in broadening affordable digital access, enhancing service delivery, and generating employment. This initiative merges the institution’s strengths in public and private sector engagement into a unified framework. The presentation took place in Seoul on October 20 during the group’s Global AI and Digital Summit, co-hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Finance and Economy and Ministry of Science and ICT.
The strategy outlines four key areas of focus for the upcoming years. The first emphasizes expanding dependable connectivity, ranging from submarine cables to networks supporting homes, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. The second aims to lower costs for entry-level smartphones and data plans. The third pertains to digital services and skill development, including digital identification, financial transactions, and employment-related training. The final priority involves laying the groundwork for countries to leverage artificial intelligence. Privacy protections, cybersecurity measures, and fraud prevention are integrated across all four focus areas.
According to Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, digital innovations can be instrumental in job creation and optimizing limited resources. He emphasized that unlocking this potential requires a holistic approach, combining reliable connectivity, affordable devices, and valuable services. Banga highlighted that the strategy synthesizes these components for client countries. He also advocated for what he called small AI, which he described as AI for the people. These tools depend on local data, regional languages, and inexpensive technology instead of costly large models.
Growing Jobs Shortfall in Developing Countries
The rollout coincides with challenges faced by developing nations, such as limited resources and an increasing demand for employment. Over the next 10 to 15 years, approximately 1.2 billion young people will enter the workforce in these regions, yet their economies are expected to generate only around 420 million jobs during this period. The World Bank Group views digital solutions as a means to bridge this employment gap, asserting that technology can aid businesses in reaching consumers, boosting productivity, and securing financing.
Digital technology is anticipated to bolster employment across five key sectors: infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing with added value. Additionally, digital systems can reduce the costs associated with providing public services to citizens. The strategy consolidates financing, policy advice, private sector investments, and guarantees, establishing a foundation for collaboration with governments, tech companies, development partners, and philanthropic organizations. In recent years, multilateral lenders have increased their direct financing to developing economies.
Persistent Offline Barriers and New AI Initiatives
The World Bank Group pointed out that significant obstacles to digital access persist. In 2025, over 2 billion people worldwide remained offline. Usage statistics reveal that only 23% of individuals in low-income countries are internet users, compared to 94% in high-income nations. Many individuals reside within network coverage areas but cannot afford smartphones or data plans. Others lack digital literacy or access to relevant services.
Alongside the strategy, the group announced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative. This program aims to assist governments in emerging markets by providing affordable, shared GPU infrastructure on a pay-as-you-go basis, offering a cost-effective alternative to building independent national data centers. Knowledge partners involved in the initiative include Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA. Its initial focus will be on Africa and Latin America, where the goal is to promote small AI applications for productive use.