BUSINESS DEAL | TECHNOLOGY
The World Bank Group is joining forces with Nvidia and Cassava Technologies to expand access to affordable artificial intelligence in Africa and Latin America, as the cost of computing infrastructure and a shortage of digital skills threaten to limit how much developing economies benefit from the technology.
The initiative, announced on the heels of the Annual Meetings in Bangkok, brings together the World Bank’s public and private sector financing capabilities with major technology companies to help countries expand access to internet, lower infrastructure and data costs, improve businesses and governments’ digital services and AI use.
The effort comes as developing countries face mounting pressure to create jobs for a growing young population. According to the World Bank, over the next 10 to 15 years, 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in developing countries, while their economies are projected to generate about 420 million jobs.
Digital technology could bridge that gap by improving business productivity, opening new markets and reducing the cost of delivering public services. But access to the technology remains uneven disturbed. More than 2 billion people worldwide were offline in 2025, and only 23 percent of people in low-income countries used the internet, compared with 94 percent in high-income countries.
Even where networks are available, the cost of smartphones and data, limited digital skills and a shortage of relevant online services continue to prevent people and businesses from participating in the digital economy.
“Digital technology can help countries create jobs and make scarce resources go further,” World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “Realizing that potential requires a comprehensive approach—from reliable connectivity and affordable devices to digital skills and useful services.”
The announcement comes as African countries and businesses look to expand AI use but face high infrastructure costs and limited access to the computing capacity needed to develop and run these applications.
Building Africa’s AI Infrastructure
Under the World Bank’s AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative, governments will be able to access shared computing infrastructure through a pay-as-you-go model. The initiative, announced alongside the bank’s first digital strategy, aims to make AI more affordable for countries with limited resources.
Cassava’s involvement builds on its own push to establish AI infrastructure across Africa, while Nvidia, which provides the computing technology underpinning the expansion. The two companies announced their partnership in March 2025 to build AI factories across the continent powered by Nvidia’s AI and supercomputer technologies
Cassava, founded by Zimbabwean entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa, has begun deploying Nvidia-powered AI infrastructure at its South African data centers, with expansion planned for Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco. The company said it plans to investment about $700 million to $720 million in its AI infrastructure expansion across the continent.
The company has also developed a GPU-as-a-service offering that allows businesses, researchers and developers to access computing power through the cloud rather than invest in their own equipment.
The expansion comes as access to computing capacity becomes an important consideration for African companies and governments seeking to develop AI applications locally, including tools adapted to regional markets and languages.
Cassava Technologies’ group chief technology and AI officer said expanding the company’s “AI Factory across our markets is about creating the capacity and economics needed for businesses to build and deploy AI solutions at scale.”
From Infrastructure to Jobs
The World Bank’s wider digital strategy places AI within a broader effort to improve productivity across infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, health care, tourism and value-added manufacturing.
Its four priorities are expanding reliable connectivity, making devices and data more affordable, strengthening digital services and skills, and helping countries prepare to use AI.
The strategy includes support for digital identification, payments and secure information-sharing systems, alongside training designed to help workers and small businesses use technology productively. It also emphasizes practical applications of what the World Bank calls “small AI”—tools tailored to specific tasks and local conditions, including tools that help farmers identify crop diseases, support health workers and enable businesses to manage inventor.
Beyond helping governments, farmers identify crop diseases, supporting health workers and enabling businesses to manage inventory, these computing infrastructure and applications also offer another benefit, perhaps to a more effective and immediate route to socioeconomic mobility and up skilling.
Governments and businesses will need workers who can develop and use the technology, as well as customers to afford the digital services. These needs and demands are already prompting investments in training alongside investment in AI infrastructure.
Zimbabwe: A Case Study
In Zimbabwe, for example, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies, recently signed an agreement with the government to establish and operate a Software Developer Skills Development Hub in the country.
The program, which will offer training in software development, AI, cloud computing, digital analytics and cybersecurity, aims to develop a pipeline of software developers and expand job access to youth in the country through offer mentorship, startup incubation, internships and access to technology projects across Africa.
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Skills Audit and Development will support the hub’s operations, coordinate with educational institutions and development partners, and align the program with the country’s digital development priorities.
“This MOU is about creating a robust and sustainable skills development program that is aligned with the needs of industry and the digital economy,” said J. Muswere, Zimbabwe’s minister of skills audit and development.
The agreement supports Zimbabwe’s Smart Zimbabwe Master Plan agenda, national AI strategy and ICT policy, as the government seeks to build a more digitally driven economy to expand its digital economy and develop a workforce capable of building technology, rather than relying solely on imported products and services.
Liquid’s Zimbabwe chief executive, Lorreta Songola, said the initiative would equip young people, entrepreneurs and businesses with skills and infrastructure needed to participate in the global digital economy.
The World Bank Group’s initiative is betting that with this latest PPP, brings financing, policy advice, private investment and guarantees together around countries’ digital priorities, it can help can developing economies turn digital access into higher productivity, better public services and creates more jobs.
The World Bank has not announced a financing commitment, pricing structure or timetable for the initiative.
