Best practices

A curated experience to discover the best practices in the digital inclusion landscape, through Case Studies, Publications, and Data & Tools. 

Publications

Inclusive Innovation in the Age of AI and Big Data, edited by Daryl Lim and Peter K Yu, examines the impact of artificial intelligence and big data on economies and societies, highlighting concerns about inclusion, equity, and global justice. The volume brings diverse global perspectives to explore how gender, race, and socioeconomic factors influence innovation and intellectual property ecosystems. It addresses structural barriers, diversity initiatives, metrics for inclusivity, and changes driven by new technologies. The book offers policy recommendations to create more equitable and socially responsive innovation systems amid rapid technological change and rising inequality.
ICT, Education
Inclusive Innovation in the Age of AI and Big Data
Artificial intelligence can help close the digital divide if paired with investments in digital literacy and inclusion from the ground up. Many individuals and small businesses in Asia and the Pacific are adopting digital tools, but lack confidence due to risks like fraud, scams, and complex online systems. Women and girls face particular challenges, risking a widening AI divide. Digital capability—understanding payments, navigating services, and recognizing misinformation—is crucial alongside access. A hybrid approach combining community-based training and digital tools, supported by partnerships and multilingual resources, can build safer, more confident users. Bridging the AI divide requires deliberate efforts to equip all citizens for productive and secure technology use.
Africa | Financial services, ICT, Education
Making AI Work for Digital Inclusion
Digital technologies have improved primary health care (PHC) for cardiovascular and mental health conditions in Asia-Pacific, especially through telemedicine, wearables, and mobile apps. However, most tools focus on targeted messaging and data collection, lacking integration for coordinated, long-term care. Artificial intelligence is underutilized, and user-centered design involving patients and providers is largely absent, risking poor adoption. Fragmented digital interventions limit care continuity and data sharing, hindering health system planning. To enhance impact, digital solutions must be integrated, culturally adapted, and support both physical and mental health, emphasizing coordinated, people-centered strategies that address regional disparities and equity.
Africa | Financial services, Education, ICT, Health
Closing Digital Health Gaps in Cardiovascular and Mental Health Care in Asia and the Pacific
Digitalizing industry in Southeast Asia requires tailored approaches that match firms’ varying readiness and capabilities. In Indonesia, digital adoption is uneven, with most firms using basic digital tools and only a few integrating advanced technologies. Effective support should be differentiated: early-stage firms benefit from skills training and affordable solutions, intermediate firms need shared facilities and co-financing to reduce investment risk, while advanced firms require R&D partnerships. Coordination across ministries and alignment of standards and incentives are crucial to avoid fragmented policies and improve access to finance. Broad-based gains depend on building capabilities and inclusive digital transformation, reflecting lessons from successful programs in China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand.
Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Singapore, Tanzania, Thailand, Viet Nam | Financial services, Education, ICT
Digitalizing Industry in Southeast Asia Needs a Tailored Approach to Ensure All Firms Advance
The Global Findex Database 2025 provides updated data on financial inclusion and the use of financial services worldwide, based on surveys of 148,000 adults in 141 economies. It tracks access to formal and informal financial services for saving, borrowing, payments, and risk management. For the first time, it offers global data on mobile phone ownership, internet use, and digital safety, highlighting disparities in digital and financial service access among women and poor adults. This data is crucial for understanding connectivity and inclusion in the evolving digital economy.
Financial services, ICT
The Global Findex Database 2025: Connectivity and Financial Inclusion in the Digital Economy
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering rescheduling future Winter Olympics to earlier dates, potentially January for the Olympics and February for the Paralympics, due to climate change effects. This adjustment may disrupt current sports calendars, including World Cup events, and could clash with NFL and NBA schedules. IOC member Karl Stoss expressed concerns about warmer March conditions affecting snow quality. The organization is reviewing these issues under new president Kirsty Coventry, with further discussions planned for June regarding upcoming events, including the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games.
IOC open to earlier dates for future Winter Olympics and Paralympics because of warmer temperatures
Rising costs and chronic disease burdens challenge health systems globally, necessitating a transition from mere digitization to embedding intelligence at their core. Co-authored by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and the World Economic Forum, the paper highlights Abu Dhabi's integrated, intelligence-driven health system, leveraging real-time, AI-enabled infrastructure for enhanced prevention, equity, and personalized care. It draws comparisons to transformations in other sectors and outlines the necessary conditions for countries to achieve this shift, inviting collaboration with private-sector leaders to co-create resilient health systems on a global scale.
United Arab Emirates | Financial services, Health, ICT, Education
A New Era for Digital Health: Abu Dhabi’s Leap to Health Intelligence
Global growth will increasingly hinge on the integration of digital expansion and energy system transformation, requiring clear governance, smart financing, and enhanced human capabilities. Aligning digital and energy planning can reduce bottlenecks, lower costs, and improve productivity as AI integrates into operations. About $30 trillion is estimated to be needed for infrastructure by 2050, with a focus on emerging markets. Successful initiatives in Türkiye, such as tailored power purchase agreements and joint site planning, highlight effective strategies for scaling renewable energy and digital infrastructure while fostering community engagement.
Albania, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Mali, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom | ICT, Financial services, Health, Education
Scaling innovation at the intersection of the digital and energy transitions
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is vital for secure digital identity, interoperable payment systems, and data exchange. It serves as the foundation for digital economies, being adopted in various sectors including health, education, and agriculture across South Asia. The examination covers six countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities. It also includes lessons from global DPI implementations and provides insights on enhancing development outcomes through effective DPI utilization.
Bangladesh | ICT
Digital Public Infrastructure: Landscape and Opportunities in South Asia
The 2025 update of the GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) by the World Bank reviews digital transformation in the public sector across 197 economies. It assesses four areas: Core Government Systems (CGSI), Online Public Service Delivery (PSDI), Digital Citizen Engagement (DCEI), and GovTech Enablers (GTEI), utilizing 48 indicators. The findings reveal progress since 2022 but highlight growing disparities between high- and low-income economies. Advances are noted in core systems and service delivery, while digital citizen engagement lags. The report calls for enhanced interoperability, sustainability of online services, and targeted support for low-income regions.
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe | Financial services, Health, ICT, Education
GovTech Maturity Index 2025 : Tracking Public Sector Digital Transformation Worldwide
The EU aims to assert digital sovereignty while fostering global collaboration, defined as exercising strategic independence in data governance, infrastructure control, and innovation. This initiative seeks to mitigate economic, security, and technological vulnerabilities without resorting to isolationism. A multi-layered framework is proposed, encompassing Digital Governance, secure Digital Infrastructures, competitive Digital Products and Markets, and citizen empowerment through digital literacy. The brief highlights both initiatives, like the Digital Services Act, and risks, including dependencies on non-EU providers and fragmented strategies.
Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Luxembourg, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sweden, United Kingdom | Financial services, Health, ICT, Education
Open but Not Powerless: Towards a Common Understanding of EU Digital Sovereignty
In 2025, global financial inclusion improved, with 75% of adults in low- and middle-income countries holding a financial account, yet only 34% could cover expenses for more than two months without income. There was a notable shift towards focusing on financial health and resilience, reinforced by initiatives like CGAP's Impact Pathfinder. The role of AI advanced in financial services, with authorities developing governance guidelines. While the gender gap in financial access narrowed to 5 percentage points, challenges persisted, exacerbated by funding cuts in gender-related aid. Overall, the sector faced growing complexity amid funding constraints and climate resilience demands.
Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Qatar | Health, Education, Financial services
FinDev Financial Inclusion Year in Review 2025
Inclusive regulatory sandboxing is crucial for ensuring that digital innovations yield equitable and impactful outcomes. The JRC policy brief highlights risks such as biases and exclusion due to improper sandbox design and provides a practical guide to promote inclusion. Key recommendations are categorized into six themes: scoping, regulations and safeguards, stakeholder engagement, data and technology, governance, and reach and impact. The brief emphasizes that while inclusive approaches may require more resources, they ultimately enhance the value by promoting equitable innovation that benefits all stakeholders.
Financial services, Health, Education
Innovating Together – A Guide to Inclusive Regulatory Sandboxing
Saudi Arabia has demonstrated that strong regulations are essential for fostering a robust digital economy, capturing 8.3% of global FDI from 2021 to 2023. The Kingdom's digital sector contributes approximately 15% to GDP, with ongoing policy reforms linking infrastructure investment to inclusive growth. Initiatives like the National Frequency Spectrum Strategy support innovation and broaden access, while collaboration with local companies accelerates advancements in technologies such as 5G. Despite progress, challenges like fragmented oversight and connectivity gaps persist, offering lessons for other developing countries in establishing cohesive digital governance, prioritizing public-private partnerships, and enhancing digital literacy.
Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Indonesia, Kuwait, Mali, Morocco, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates | Financial services, Education, ICT
Regulations are what build a digital economy. Saudi Arabia proves why
Digital transformation significantly drives entrepreneurial innovation in developing Asia, contingent on the presence of adequate skills and institutional frameworks rather than just infrastructure. Effective policies are necessary to equip entrepreneurs with digital tools, reduce participation barriers, and ensure equitable access to benefits across all firms, particularly beyond large enterprises and major urban centers.
Indonesia, Japan | Education, ICT
Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurial Innovation in Developing Asia: Comparative Evidence and Policy Lessons
Digital@UNGA 2025, organized by the ITU and UNDP, aimed to explore how technology can serve humanity during the 80th UN General Assembly. The Digit’all Voices campaign solicited global questions on technology's role, fostering discussions among stakeholders on subjects such as inclusion for rural youth, combating misinformation, and the importance of creativity and empathy over technical skills. Key responses emphasized the need for transparency in AI content, environmental governance in data centers, and addressing social inequalities to bridge the digital divide. These insights align with the objectives of the Global Digital Compact established in 2024.
Africa | Financial services, Education, Health, ICT
Nine questions about the digital future – answered
Emerging information technologies, such as social media, search engines, and AI, significantly impact public health, politics, social dynamics, and the environment. A scientific understanding of these impacts is essential to develop evidence-based technology policies that minimize harm and enhance benefits. However, the data needed for research is often controlled by the tech industry itself, which poses risks of undue influence on the scientific record. The paper argues for the need to strengthen existing protections and create new ones to mitigate these challenges in technology research.
Financial services, Education, Health, ICT
The Risks of Industry Influence in Tech Research
Coordinated action is essential to close the digital divide in Asia and the Pacific, which involves addressing issues of affordability, digital literacy, and cybersecurity. Approximately 2.3 billion people are offline in the region, where internet penetration is around 53%. High data costs disproportionately affect low-income families, and limited digital skills hinder access, especially among women and rural communities. Initiatives promoting public-private partnerships, subsidies, and digital literacy programs are underway to enhance connectivity and usage. Enhanced cybersecurity measures are also vital to fostering trust in online transactions. Collaboration across borders is necessary to ensure comprehensive digital inclusion.
Bangladesh | Financial services, Education, Health, ICT
The Other Half of the Internet: Closing Asia’s Digital Gap
Investment in connectivity, human capital, effective institutions, and inclusive strategies is essential for economies aiming to accelerate digital transformation. Analyzing data from 99 economies, the study identifies key drivers—digital adoption, infrastructure, human capital, and institutional conditions—across two phases: the early breakaway phase (2010–2015) and the catch-up phase (2016–2021). Recommendations focus on leveraging these drivers for future digital strategies, emphasizing the need to differentiate between inputs, enablers, and outcomes of digital transformation.
Botswana, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Germany, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Mozambique, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom | Financial services, Health, Education, ICT
What Drives Digital Transformation Globally? Insights from 99 Economies
Key principles for enhancing information accessibility in the digital age are outlined in a UNESCO Issue Brief by Andrea Millwood-Hargrave. The brief addresses multilingualism, metadata, and interoperability while calling for transparent and trustworthy information ecosystems. It advocates for inclusive design, transparency, data integrity, legal conformity, efficiency, and flexibility. The document also shares best practices, including Canada's accessibility tools and Chile's open justice initiatives, to support policymakers in fostering equitable access to information and strengthening societal resilience.
Education, Health, ICT
Global challenges for Information accessibility: key principles and good practices in the digital age

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