WORLD BANK TO PROVIDE US$100 MILLION FOR ZAMBIA'S DIGITISATION

 

The World Bank has pledged to provide US$100 million to help speed up Zambia's digitisation infrastructure and increase access to the internet. 

Visiting World Bank Managing Director and Chief Administration Officer Wengcai Zhang says the World Bank is preparing the Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP), a US$100 million project to be financed through a combination of national and regional IDA, and a further US$20m in unguaranteed commercial financing to Zambia. 

Mr. Zhang says the project aims to Increase access to the internet and digitally enabled services. 

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Technology and Science Minister Hon. Felix Mutati in Lusaka, Mr. Zhang said the project is aligned with the government priorities and will focus on expanding broadband and last mile infrastructure and services and deploying digital public infrastructure to enhance efficiencies in both public and private sectors.

He disclosed that DZAP will support digitalization in selected high-impact sectors including nurturing employment-ready digital skills.

Mr. Zhang disclosed that the project is expected to be approved by the World Bank Board in March 2025.

Mr. Zhang says before the approval, the World Bank is processing a Project Preparation Advance of $US6 million to finance project preparation activities during the project preparation phase.

He said a Project Implementation Unit will be established and operationalized within the Smart Zambia Institute to spearhead cross-cutting government digitization initiatives. 

He also expressed the World Bank's support for Zambia hosting the World Skills Africa Competition in Livingstone in April 2025.

"Hosting the World Skills Africa Competition is very important not only for Zambia but for the world. We shall support you," he said.

And Technology and Science Minister Hon. Felix Mutati thanked the World Bank for providing US$6 million for Project Preparedness Advance for the Digitisation Zambia Acceleration Project. 

Mr. Mutati said the project will help in promoting digitisation in the nation. 

Mr. Mutati also thanked the World Bank for it's help in bridging the gap in the TEVET sector. 

World Bank Zambia Country Manager Achim Fock and Director of Communication in the Ministry of Technology and Science Milner Makuni attended the meeting.