Regional : Digital Development Facility for Asia and the Pacific

Education / Education sector development

Information and communication technology / ICT industries and ICT-enabled services - ICT infrastructure - ICT strategy and policy, and capacity development

Public sector management / Public administration

The proposed knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will support ADB's developing member countries (DMCs) by (1) identifying digital development opportunities, (2) enhancing design quality of digital technology components in ADB projects, and (3) improving the capacity of DMCs through knowledge activities.

Through the TA, digital components will be included in more ADB projects, the design quality of the projects will be improved, and better outcomes from the use of digital technology will be realized.

As a result of increasing global connectivity and mobility, digital technology is rapidly transforming products, services, businesses, and industries in diverse fields. Moreover, its potential to support the development agenda is becoming increasingly apparent with implications for improving the design, delivery, and monitoring of programs and projects across many sectors. However, meeting the full potential of digital technology for development is not straightforward. Regulatory environments conducive to the spread of digital innovation often do not exist in DMCs, and more than half of the world's populationthe vast majority in the developing worldlacks access to the internet and, therefore, unable to participate in the digital economy.

In addition to internet connectivity, other critical enabling factors in the economy that drive the digital transformation process, such as appropriate regulations and policies, basic digital literacy of citizens, and the workforce's digital skills, are often lacking to provide environment and incentive for the private sector to invest in digital technology products, and services, and create new businesses in a country. These enabling factors boost private sector participation in the digital economy, particularly in the early stages of digital transformation in DMCs, specifically in sectors or areas where the private sector is not willing to do business due to lack of commercial viability such as in rural and remote areas.

Despite DMCs' aspirations for digital transformation, investments on digital technology for development are not always prioritized in the national and subnational plans, leading to forgone opportunities. Insufficient scoping studies on potential digital opportunities and inappropriate project designs often result in sub-optimal benefits from digital development investments.

National policies of DMCs in support of their digital transformation developed

Digital technology for ADB operations in line with Strategy 2030 promoted

Digital development opportunities in Strategy 2030 operational priorities identified

Design quality of DT components in selected projects enhanced

Capacity of developing member countries on digital development through knowledge activities enhanced

ADB will engage the consultants following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff instructions. Lump-sum payments and output-based contracts will be considered for consulting services, where appropriate.

The TA will require approximately 18 person-months of international consulting services, 60 person-months of national consulting services and 10 person-months of resource persons, including members of the AGDT. All consultants will be selected and engaged individually by ADB in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time).