The World Bank Group has opened talks to close the gap between 2.6 billion people lacking internet access and the opportunities of the digital economy.
The second annual Global Digital Summit hosted by the World Bank emphasises efforts to enhance the Accelerating Digitalisation Global Challenge Programme, which helps countries adopt digital solutions and strengthen digital public infrastructure (DPI) including digital IDs, payments, and data-sharing platforms, the World Bank says in a statement seen by Technology Times.
“The programme,” the World Bank says, “aims to help countries adopt digital solutions more rapidly and ambitiously. Its DPI components include digital IDs, payments, and data-sharing platforms that connect people to jobs, banking, healthcare, and education. Strengthening these digital enablers ensures that everyone can access these essential services securely and easily.”
Sangbu Kim, World Bank Vice President for Digital Transformation says that “digital transformation is one of the greatest opportunities of our time to drive growth and inclusion, especially at a moment when development is at a critical inflection point.”
The summit also launched a new initiative through the Digital Development Partnership, funded by the Gates Foundation, to expand affordable connectivity and digital skills for women in low and middle-income countries, supporting the World Bank’s goal of connecting 300 million more women to broadband by 2030.
The summit also launched a new initiative through the Digital Development Partnership, funded by the Gates Foundation, to expand affordable connectivity and digital skills for women in low and middle-income countries, supporting the World Bank’s goal of connecting 300 million more women to broadband by 2030.
Beyond basic connectivity, the World Bank aims to ensure that more people have the skills needed to participate in an increasingly digital economy.
The Global Challenge Programme works to foster innovation and cross-border solution sharing, while building integrated digital markets through shared infrastructure and regulatory harmonisation, according to the World Bank.
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