Evolving to create digital pathways for all

By Sangbu Kim

The digital world doesn’t wait. It evolves—fast. Those who don’t adapt risk being left behind. For the World Bank Group, this isn’t just a challenge, it’s a mandate.?

In low- and middle-income countries, where this transformation can be key to unlocking jobs, economic growth, and better public services, the urgency to act is even greater. That’s why we’re changing our approach to digital development to better meet the speed and scale of today’s transformation.

Just a few decades ago, a computer meant room-sized machines for governments and research labs. Today, it’s the supercomputer in your pocket, powering everything from mobile banking to remote learning. And with artificial intelligence (AI) reshaping industries and jobs at an unprecedented pace, the divide between the digital “haves” and “have nots” is widening. Globally, 2.6 billion people remain offline, left out of digital opportunities. Even more lack high-speed, reliable, and affordable connectivity options that are critical for productive and meaningful use in the AI era.

Bridging this divide isn’t just about providing essential digital and data infrastructure like internet cables, data centers, and telecom towers. We must also shape policies, expand partnerships, and bring more people, businesses, and governments into the digital world, ensuring that this digital transformation benefits the most vulnerable. To help make this a reality, we’re moving faster, with more agility, and with a sharper focus on real-world impact.

New approaches

Here are a few examples of how we’re doing this. One of the biggest steps the World Bank Group has taken is launching the Accelerating Digitalization Global Challenge Program, which brings together various efforts under one umbrella to unlock access to robust internet connectivity and to support the rollout and access to high impact digital services for millions. This program helps countries think bigger and move faster by combining public and private sector solutions. To accelerate digitalization at scale, we are leveraging three strategic pathways: programmatic, digital public infrastructure (DPI), and working together as One World Bank Group.

A programmatic approach helps countries and regions amplify these efforts by increasing their innovation and sharing ideas across borders, building integrated digital markets, and benefitting from economies of scale. By working with regional bodies and coalitions, countries can tailor digital solutions to their specific needs while benefiting from shared infrastructure and regulatory harmonization, making private sector participation more viable.?

Another key pillar is DPI. Much like physical roads that connect us to goods and markets, DPI—through digital identity, digital payments, and data-sharing platforms—creates the digital highways that connect people to jobs, banking, health care, and education. Today, around 850 million people lack official ID, and 3.3 billion cannot access a digital ID to complete online transactions, limiting their ability to participate in the digital economy. Strengthening these digital enablers ensures that individuals and businesses can securely and seamlessly access essential services and opportunities.

A One World Bank Group approach is instrumental in making all this work. The Global Challenge Program aims to crowd in private capital through loans and guarantees from our International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Development Association, financing from the International Finance Corporation, and de-risking solutions from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. At the same time, it will leverage these institutions’ convening power to drive essential policy and regulatory reforms to enable such capital flows and accelerate the adoption of high-impact digital services.?

Deepening partnerships

Another key part of our approach to digital transformation is partnerships. We know that effective development does not happen in a vacuum and that an inclusive approach is vital to success. By working with multilateral institutions, development partners, foundations, civil society, the private sector, and other groups and organizations, we can better tackle global challenges, support global public goods, and achieve shared development goals.

Our latest partnership, highlighted at this year’s Global Digital Summit, showcases the power of collaboration. The new Digital Empowerment and Equity Program, under the Digital Development Partnership and with funding provided by the Gates Foundation, aims to greatly increase the use of digital connectivity, devices, and digital services among women in low- and middle-income countries. This work specifically focuses on expanding affordable connectivity for millions of women and boosting their access to smartphones, affordable data, and digital skills—supporting the World Bank’s goal of connecting 300 million more women to broadband by 2030. Driven by better data, evidence, and action, this initiative exemplifies how partnerships can deliver real world impact in the lives of women globally.?

Building on results

But as we carve out new pathways and forge new relationships to respond to the evolving challenges of our digital age, we will also build on the lessons of the past. We will find ways to scale and replicate our successes from places like the Philippines, where World Bank Group-supported reforms fueled private investment, increased competition, and boosted mobile coverage to 99 percent (4G) and 69 percent (5G). In Malawi, more than 83,000 students across over 80 institutions now have access to affordable, reliable internet. And the country’s expansion of free Wi-Fi in public areas like in post offices, hospitals, libraries, marketplaces, and airports is helping more people than ever get online. We are also increasing our efforts across sectors, like in Madagascar, where a project is breaking boundaries by exploring models for digital and off-grid energy services in rural areas.????

The digital world isn’t slowing down, and neither are we. By evolving how we work, forming new partnerships, and building on strong results, we’re not just keeping pace—we’re shaping a more inclusive digital future. Now is the time to think bigger, act faster, and work together to create digital pathways for all. Let’s keep moving forward.