The World Bank Group has named Cassava Technologies and US chipmaker Nvidia as knowledge partners in a new initiative to give governments in emerging markets affordable access to artificial intelligence (AI) computing power.
The AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative,unveiled in Seoul alongside the World Bank Group’s first-ever digital strategy, will offer shared, pay-as-you-go access to graphics processing unit (GPU) infrastructure used to develop and run AI applications.
The initiative will initially focus on Africa and Latin America.
According to the World Bank Group, the shared model offers an alternative to building standalone national data centres, which require significant capital, specialised skills and long lead times.
Cassava’s involvement builds on its efforts to establish locally based AI infrastructure on the continent.
Founded by Strive Masiyiwa, the company began deploying its Nvidia-powered “AI Factory” at its South African data centres earlier this year, with expansion planned for Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco.
In November 2025, Cassava launched what it described as Africa’s first GPU-as-a-service offering, giving businesses, developers and researchers cloud-based access to GPUs hosted in local data centres.
Masiyiwa said at the time that the company had acquired 12,000 Nvidia GPUs.
The company has presented local computing capacity as a matter of data sovereignty, arguing that training and running AI models in Africa helps keep sensitive data within the continent’s borders.
“Our goal is to give Africa the infrastructure to write its own future, using its own languages,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, Cassava Technologies’ group chief operating officer and chief technology and AI officer, at the launch of the South African deployment.
The World Bank Group’s digital strategy sets out four priorities: expanding reliable connectivity, making devices and data more affordable, strengthening digital services and skills, and improving readiness for AI. Privacy, cybersecurity and fraud protection are cross-cutting priorities.
The lender said it will place particular emphasis on “small AI”: tools adapted to specific tasks and local conditions, such as helping farmers identify crop diseases, supporting health workers and helping small businesses manage inventory.
“Digital technology can help countries create jobs and make scarce resources go further. Realising 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, helping countries build the foundations to benefit from today’s digital tools and the promise of small AI—AI for the people.”
The strategy comes as developing economies face a widening jobs gap.
According to the World Bank Group, 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in developing countries over the next 10 to 15 years, while those economies are projected to create about 420 million jobs.
More than two billion people were offline globally in 2025, while internet use stood at 23% in low-income countries, compared with 94% in high-income countries, according to the lender.
Many people live within network coverage but cannot afford a smartphone or data, lack digital skills or have limited access to relevant services.
To address these barriers, the World Bank Group said it will combine financing, policy advice, private investment and guarantees.
It plans to support infrastructure ranging from international cables to last-mile networks, help reduce the cost of entry-level smartphones through partnerships with manufacturers, operators, support digital identity, payments and data-sharing systems.
Where electricity and connectivity are both lacking, the strategy supports planning for the two together.
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