Page 28 - Connecting the Future How Connectivity and AI Unlock New Potential

Connecting the Future: How Connectivity and AI Unlock New Potential

An AI-ready workforce could span several categories. First, professionals may reorient their work
toward AI-related jobs by managing data, providing technical input, offering technical support,
developing new products, or scaling organizational adoption. Second, increased skilled,
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human-oriented talent may be necessary for AI-adjacent jobs such as healthcare, manufacturing
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and STEM-related fields. Finally, roles related directly to physical connectivity elements, such
as data center construction and network infrastructure engineering, may see growth as digital
connectivity becomes even more important. Developing countries will need to integrate digital
skills across their education systems to cultivate talent capable of creating, managing, and scaling
AI, while simultaneously ensuring the existing workforce develops non-technical skills essential
for human-to-AI or human-to-human collaboration. According to ITU’s Facts and Figures report,
fewer than one in four individuals in LDCs possess basic digital skills – signaling a major barrier to
AI readiness and broad participation in the global digital economy. 87

3�1�4 Ongoing Efforts to Expand Digital Access

Efforts to close the digital divide have gained momentum through collaborations between
governments, private companies, and international organizations. These initiatives aim to expand
connectivity, improve digital literacy, and create positive digital ecosystems. Below are a few of
these key initiatives:

A) The World Bank’s Global Digital Initiatives

The World Bank Group has launched several programs to accelerate digital access worldwide.
Through its Accelerating Digitalization Global Challenge Program, the World Bank is helping coun-
tries adopt digital solutions more rapidly while strengthening digital public infrastructure. Key
components include digital IDs, payment systems, and data-sharing platforms that connect people
to essential services like jobs, banking, healthcare, and education. The program also fosters inno-
vation by sharing solutions across borders and building integrated digital markets. For example,
the initiative aims to connect 300 million more women to broadband by 2030, with funding support
from the Gates Foundation. 88

B) Giga Initiative – UNICEF and ITU

The Giga initiative by UNICEF and ITU focuses on connecting schools to the Internet in underserved
regions. To date, it has connected 5,500 schools across Africa, Latin America, and South Asia,
benefiting over 2.1 million students. By prioritizing education infrastructure, Giga ensures that
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young learners gain access to digital resources essential for participating in an AI-driven economy.

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