World Bank Group Unveils Digital Strategy to Boost Connectivity and AI Readiness in Developing Nations

Key facts

• The World Bank Group launched its first digital strategy on October 20, 2026, to help developing countries expand affordable digital access, improve services, and create jobs.
• The strategy addresses four key priorities: expanding connectivity, making devices and data affordable, strengthening digital services and skills, and building foundations for artificial intelligence.
• The World Bank Group announced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative to provide emerging markets with affordable compute capacity through shared, pay-as-you-go GPU infrastructure.
• The AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative will initially focus on Africa and Latin America, collaborating with partners Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA.
• Digital technology can support job creation across five priority sectors: infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, health care, tourism, and value-added manufacturing.
• The strategy emphasizes practical applications of 'small AI,' which are tools adapted to specific tasks and local conditions, such as helping farmers identify crop disease or supporting health workers.