Digital technology is driving the future of jobs

A farmer in Kenya uses mobile apps to get real-time harvesting tips, check market prices, and connect directly with buyers and lenders. A woman in Indonesia takes meal orders and arranges deliveries through social media. A small innkeeper in Jamaica lists rooms on booking platforms and manages reservations online. A street vendor in Dakar sells handmade jewelry across Africa using just her smartphone. And in Manila, a university student teaches math to high schoolers in remote areas via an online e-learning platform. 

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Can AI give small scale producers the right advice?

The World Bank has long recognized the critical importance of agricultural extension services – ranging from training and data to technology transfer – which make up the second-largest share of its agriculture portfolio.  Yet farmers have often been slow to adopt the very methods and tools these services are designed to deliver—limiting their own productivity and the sector’s potential to create jobs.

That’s in large part because they depend on limited numbers of extension agents: the field advisors responsible for providing them with data, training and advice. Most countries have just one extension agent for every 1,000 to 2,000 farmers.

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From open data to AI-ready data: Building the foundations for responsible AI in development

The production and use of development data have undergone significant transformation over the past two decades. The shift from paper-based records to digital formats has made data more accessible and easier to share. The open data movement has dramatically increased the availability of government and institutional datasets, which in turn catalyzed greater opportunities for analysis, transparency, and innovation. And major advances in big data and data science have further expanded both the volume and diversity of information guiding development policy.

Amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), development data has now reached another pivotal juncture: the evolution to AI-ready development data—data that is readily discoverable, comprehensible, accessible, and usable by both humans and AI applications.

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DIGITAL PATHWAYS FOR JOB CREATION

DIGITAL PATHWAYS FOR JOB CREATION
📅 FRIDAY, APRIL 25 | 12:00 PM* – 1:30 PM ET | PRESTON AUDITORIUM

You are invited to participate in this invitation-only event during the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group & IMF.

OVERVIEW OF THE SESSION
Join us for this event to explore how digital transformation is reshaping the global job market. Learn how governments and the private sector are closing skills gaps, preparing workers for the future, and adapting regulatory frameworks to support inclusive, resilient economies. Hosted by the World Bank Group’s Digital and ITS Vice Presidencies, the event will spotlight the transformative power of technology in shaping the future of work.
*Light lunch will be available starting at 11:30 am.

International Day of Education 2025: Digital solutions for equitable education systems

The 2025 International Day of Education inspires reflectionson the power of education to equip individuals and communities navigate, understand and influence technological advancement. This year the focus is “AI and Education: Preserving Agency in a World of Automation.”

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World Bank Expands Lifeline to Small States hit by Disasters

BAKU, November 12, 2024—The World Bank Group has expanded its lifeline to countries struggling to rebuild from disasters, allowing small, vulnerable states to postpone loan and interest repayments after a catastrophic event—so governments can focus on recovery rather than paying off debt.

Latest TechEmerge News & Opportunities

Today we are sharing a newsletter produced by the IFC. Its a great read , please subscribe.

Welcome to the latest edition of TechEmerge Innovation Exchange!

In this issue, we announce details of a new multi-million dollar IFC sustainable cooling initiative that will expand on the work of TechEmerge. We share an update on our newest pilots and celebrate fundraising success for one of our high-potential innovators. We also spotlight a TechEmerge adopter hitting the headlines for its work combatting food waste in Kenya and a new – and tasty – pilot in Mexico.   

Please don’t forget, you can contact us with any questions via techemerge@ifc.org. And if you enjoy this newsletter, please share it with your peers and colleagues.

All the best,

The TechEmerge Team     New Sustainable Cooling Initiative to Build on TechEmerge Success   IFC has announced the signing of a new $12.7 million Sustainable Cooling Initiative with the UK’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero that will build on the success of the TechEmerge Sustainable Cooling Innovation program. The new initiative will have an expanded scope of operations, focusing not only on innovative technologies but on transformative cooling systems. This includes solutions for district cooling, space cooling, manufacturing and innovation, cold chains and temperature-controlled logistics, and finance for consumers and small and medium enterprises. While this is a global initiative, the initial priority countries include Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Pakistan, and Turkiye. Read more here.      Update: New Cooling Pilots Underway!    Seventeen new pilots have been approved for the next phase of the TechEmerge Sustainable Cooling Innovation program, with 14 innovators from across the world teaming up with 13 leading local companies in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. With technical support and grant funding from TechEmerge and our donor, the United Kingdom Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, these new pilot partners will field test cooling innovations that aim to reduce energy consumption, operating costs, and greenhouse gas emissions.     TechEmerge Innovator Ecozen Raises $30 million   TechEmerge Innovator Ecozen plans to expand its offerings and extend its market reach in Africa and Southeast Asia, after successfully raising $30 million. This latest injection of debt and equity comes from Nuveen Global Fund and other equity investors, with debt support from InCred Credit Fund and the International Development Finance Corporation. India-based Ecozen participated in a TechEmerge pilot in Nigeria with Agvest Limited and engineering company Lange & Grant to field test a portable solar-powered cold room for fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural commodities. The company says it has grown fivefold over the past two years, with a threefold increase in profit, and aims to double its revenue in 2024-25. Read more here.     In the News: TechCrunch Profiles TechEmerge Adopter   Kenya’s Farm to Feed is in the headlines, with the well-known publication TechCrunch highlighting its efforts to curb food waste. Farm to Feed is a digitally-enabled aggregator that sources imperfect and surplus produce from farmers. It is partnering in a unique TechEmerge pilot with three innovators: it will test Greentech’s medium and short-haul transport solution to collect produce from farms, Purix’s cold storage innovation for warehousing of produce, and Eja-ice’s last-mile transport solution. Collectively, this pilot aims to increase produce shelf-life and reduce losses throughout the supply chain. Read more here.     Pilot Spotlight: A Taste of Success in Mexico’s Berry Fields    Israeli innovator NOF has partnered with Aneberries, Mexico’s largest cooperative of berry growers, to pilot a new post-harvest cooling solution. Initial results from trials in 20 berry fields indicate that berries that received NOF treatment maintained saleable quality, size, color, firmness, and freshness for almost twice as long as those that did not. Shelf-life in cold storage also doubled from 10 to 20 days, while the sugar content of the berries was generally higher as well. NOF and Aneberries are now developing the business case for commercializing the innovation.     IFC’s TechEmerge is implemented in partnership with the UK Government’s Department of Energy and Net Zero     If you received this newsletter from a friend or colleague subscribe here to stay connected.   Follow IFC Disruptive Technologies & Funds Follow IFC Disruptive Technologies & Funds