World Bank Launches Digital Strategy to Bridge Global Divide

The World Bank Group launched its first comprehensive digital strategy on October 20, 2026, aiming to increase digital connectivity and affordability in developing nations. Announced in Seoul, the initiative addresses a severe employment gap where only 420 million jobs are projected for the 1.2 billion people expected to reach working age over the next 10 to 15 years.

The strategy focuses on four primary pillars: expanding connectivity infrastructure, reducing the cost of broadband and entry-level smartphones, strengthening digital skills, and building foundations for artificial intelligence. The bank highlighted a stark digital divide, noting that only 23% of people in low-income countries use the internet, compared to 94% in high-income nations.

As part of the rollout, the bank introduced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative. This program provides emerging markets in Africa and Latin America with affordable, pay-as-you-go access to graphics processing units (GPUs), allowing countries to avoid the high cost of building standalone national data centers. President Ajay Banga emphasized the use of "small AI"—tools specifically adapted for local tasks such as patient care and crop disease identification.

To implement these goals, the World Bank Group will utilize a combination of financing, policy advice, and private investment. The bank stated that digital technology can support job creation across five priority sectors, including agribusiness, health care, and value-added manufacturing.