Great opportunity to discuss digital inclusion with key decision makers!

KaiOS recently attended the World Bank Global Digital Summit, a high-level event bringing together government officials, private sector leaders, and thought leaders to discuss accelerating digital development.

Here are some key takeaways:

The digital divide remains a significant challenge. 2.6 billion people lack internet access, with the majority residing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) where two third of the population are not connected.

There’s also a significant gender gap, with 260 million fewer women having access.

Simply connecting people isn’t enough; we need to make internet access relevant and beneficial. Several factors contribute to the digital divide: affordability, usefulness, access, and trust.

Focus on bridging the digital and financial divides. Connecting people to the internet must be accompanied by solutions that improve their lives. Examples include applications in agriculture, education, and small business (Worldreader or Roducate in education ; Justdiggit in agriculture for example).

AI and satellite technology offer promise, but challenges exist. While AI can be a powerful tool, datasets need to be more inclusive and computing power must be more widely available. Satellite coverage is expanding, but bandwidth limitations remain.

Agriculture emerged as a key area where digital tools can empower farmers. AI-powered solutions can offer education, improve yields, provide access to financing, and connect farmers to markets.

Digital ID programs are gaining traction. Several countries (including Ethiopia, Bhutan, and Egypt) are implementing digital ID programs to improve access to services and strengthen the social contract between citizens and governments.

The summit underscored the necessity for collaborative endeavors in maximizing the advantages of the digital revolution, emphasizing the urgency to bridge the digital gap and harness technology for constructive growth, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Further details:

A comprehensive World Bank report on digitalization can be found here: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/immersive-story/2024/03/05/global-digitalization-in-10-charts