SEOUL, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – On Tuesday, the World Bank Group unveiled its first-ever digital strategy with the goal of aiding developing nations in broadening access to affordable digital services, enhancing various public offerings, and generating new employment opportunities. This comprehensive plan integrates the institution’s public and private sector expertise into a unified framework and was introduced during the group’s Global AI and Digital Summit held in Seoul on October 20. The event was co-hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Finance and Economy along with the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The strategy outlines four key areas of focus for the upcoming years. The first emphasizes expanding dependable connectivity, including international undersea cables and local networks servicing households, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. The second concentrates on making entry-level smartphones and data plans more affordable. The third involves the development of digital services and skills, such as digital identification, electronic payments, and training linked to employment. The fourth aims to prepare countries to leverage artificial intelligence. Throughout all four domains, safeguarding measures for privacy, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention will be integral.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga expressed that digital technology has the potential to create jobs and optimize limited resources for countries worldwide. He emphasized that unlocking this potential necessitates a broad strategy, which includes reliable internet access, affordable devices, and practical services. Banga also highlighted that the strategy synthesizes these elements to assist client nations and advocated for what he termed small AI, describing it as AI for the people. These smaller AI tools depend on local data, native languages, and cost-effective technology rather than large, expensive models.
Developing nations confront an expanding employment deficit
The introduction of this strategy coincides with a period when developing countries are grappling with limited resources and an increasing demand for jobs. Over the next decade and a half, an estimated 1.2 billion young individuals in these regions will reach working age, yet their economies are projected to generate only around 420 million new jobs during that time. The World Bank Group views digital tools as a viable means of narrowing this employment gap, arguing that technology can enable enterprises to reach new customers, boost productivity, and improve access to financial services.
The organization anticipates that digital innovations will support employment across its five priority sectors, which include infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing with added value. Moreover, digital systems can significantly reduce the costs associated with delivering public services. The strategic plan unites financing options, policy guidance, private-sector investments, and guarantees, creating a foundation for cooperation involving governments, tech firms, development partners, and philanthropic organizations. In recent years, multilateral financial institutions have already increased their direct financing efforts for developing economies.
Billions still lack internet access as AI readiness effort launches
Despite advancements, significant barriers to digital access persist, according to the World Bank Group, which notes that more than 2 billion individuals worldwide were offline in 2025. Usage rates in low-income countries remain low, with only 23% of the population online compared to 94% in high-income nations. Many people reside within coverage areas but cannot afford smartphones or data plans, while others lack digital literacy or access to relevant services.
Alongside the digital strategy, the bank announced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative, designed to assist emerging-market governments in obtaining affordable computing resources through shared, pay-as-you-go GPU infrastructure, providing an alternative to constructing costly national data centers. Knowledge partners for this project include Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA. The initial focus will be on Africa and Latin America, where the group aims to utilize small AI tools productively to bridge the digital divide.