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By Ross Moyo
The World Bank Group has listed Pan-African group Cassava Technologies as a knowledge partner as it launches its first digital strategy to help developing countries expand affordable digital access, improve services and create jobs.
Cassava, founded by Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, has positioned itself as one of the continent’s leading providers of AI computing infrastructure.
It began deploying its Nvidia-powered “AI Factory” at its South African data centres earlier this year, with plans to expand to Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco.
Last year, it launched what it described as Africa’s first GPU-as-a-service offering, giving businesses and developers cloud-based access to GPUs hosted in local data centres.
Masiyiwa said at the time that the company had acquired 12,000 Nvidia GPUs, arguing that keeping AI computing on the continent allows African data to stay within its borders.
The World Bank announced the strategy on October 20, 2026 in Seoul.
It brings together the Bank’s public and private sector capabilities around four priorities: expanding connectivity, making devices and data more affordable, strengthening digital services and skills, and helping countries build foundations to benefit from artificial intelligence.
“Digital technology can help countries create jobs and make scarce resources go further. Realizing that potential requires a comprehensive approach—from reliable connectivity and affordable devices to digital skills and useful services,” said World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. “Our first digital strategy brings these pieces together.”
The launch comes as developing countries face a jobs gap. 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 create about 420 million jobs, according to the Bank.
The World Bank said over 2 billion people were offline globally in 2025. Only 23 percent of people in low-income countries used the internet, compared with 94 percent in high-income countries.
The strategy outlines:
1. Expand reliable connectivity — from international cables to last-mile networks for homes, schools and clinics, including support for shared infrastructure and blended finance.
2. Make devices and data more affordable — through partnerships with manufacturers, mobile operators and financial institutions to lower smartphone and broadband costs.
3. Expand digital services and skills — including digital ID, payments, secure data-sharing, and digital literacy linked to employment.
4. Build readiness for AI — focusing on connectivity, computing resources, local data and skills, with emphasis on “small AI” — tools adapted to local tasks such as crop disease detection, health worker support and inventory management.
Alongside the strategy, the Bank announced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative — a new effort to help emerging market governments access affordable compute through shared, pay-as-you-go GPU infrastructure as an alternative to standalone national data centres. The initiative will have an initial focus on Africa and Latin America.
The Bank also listed Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA as knowledge partners for the initiative.
The full strategy is detailed in the World Bank Group’s Digital & AI Implementation Plan (FY26–30) and the World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence.
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