Global Challenge Program - Approach Paper - Global Challenge Program Digitalization Acceleration

Jul 19, 2026

The Global Challenge Program (GCP) approach paper outlines the rationale, value added, and operational design for accelerating digitalization. It defines the global goals and focus areas, including a menu of options and innovative “One WBG” solutions, and explains how thematic priorities connect with other GCPs. The paper details implementation steps, key lessons guiding design, incentives for country participation, and mechanisms for real-time learning and adaptation. It also covers operationalization, indicative pipeline, risks, results, program management support, and annexes on private capital mobilization, scalable lessons, knowledge initiatives, impact evaluations, financing estimates, and results frameworks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages37

Reading Time1 h 33 min

Overview of the GCP

Rationale and Value Added (“Why”)

Context

Barriers this GCP aims to address

The Global Goals and Focus Areas (“What”)

Focus Areas and Menu of Options

Innovative One WBG Solutions

Thematic Priorities and Contributions to Other GCPs

Implementation (“How”)

Key lessons to inform the GCP design

Embedding incentives for countries to join the GCP

Connecting countries to innovation, real-time learning and adaptation

Operationalization, Results and Program Management

Operationalization and Indicative Pipeline

Risks

Results and Program Implementation Support

Annexes

Private Capital Mobilization (PCM) and Private Capital Enabling (PCE) Approaches

Replicable and Scalable Lessons Learned

Knowledge Compact Initiatives on Digitalization

Impact Evaluations

Financing Estimates and Phased Approach

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... ii LIST OF ACRONYMS.................................................................................................................................. iii OVERVIEW OF THE GCP ............................................................................................................................ v 1. Rationale and Value Added (“Why”) ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Context ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Barriers this GCP aims to address ................................................................................................... 3 2. TheGlobal Goals and Focus Areas (“What”) ........................................................................................ 5 2.1 Focus Areas and Menu of Options .................................................................................................. 5 2.2 Innovative One WBG Solutions ....................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Thematic Priorities and Contributions to Other GCPs .................................................................... 8 3. Implementation (“How”) ................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Key lessons to inform the GCP design (details in Annex 2) ........................................................... 10 3.2 Embedding incentives for countries to join the GCP .................................................................... 11 3.3 Connecting countries to innovation, real-time learning and adaptation ..................................... 12 4. Operationalization, Results and Program Management .................................................................. 13 4.1 Operationalization and Indicative Pipeline ............................................................................. 13 4.2 Risks............................................................................................................................................... 17 4.3 Results and Program Implementation Support ............................................................................ 17 Annex 1. Private Capital Mobilization (PCM) and Private Capital Enabling (PCE) Approaches...........20 Annex 2. Replicable and Scalable Lessons Learned .............................................................................. 21 Annex 3. Knowledge Compact Initiatives on Digitalization .................................................................. 23 Annex 4. Impact Evaluations.................................................................................................................. 25 Annex 5. Financing Estimates and Phased Approach ........................................................................... 26 Annex 6. One WBG Program Examples ................................................................................................. 28 Annex 7. Reference Policy Matrix Snapshot (not exhaustive) ............................................................. 29 Annex 8. Results Framework ................................................................................................................. 31 LIST OF ACRONYMS A2F Access to Finance ADB Asian Development Bank AFE Eastern and Southern Africa AFW Central and Western Africa AIIB Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank AML/CFT Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism APIs Application Programming Interfaces B2B B

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Global Challenge Program (GCP) in this approach paper?

It sets out the rationale and value added for accelerating digitalization through a structured program design, clarifying goals, focus areas, and how the program will be implemented and managed.

What are the main focus areas and options described under the “What” section?

The paper presents focus areas and a menu of options, including innovative One WBG solutions, and explains thematic priorities and how they contribute to other GCPs.

How does the program plan to implement digitalization at the country level?

It describes implementation through key lessons, incentives that encourage countries to join the GCP, and links to innovation plus real-time learning and adaptation.

What elements address program delivery, results, and risk management?

The document covers operationalization with an indicative pipeline, identifies risks, and explains results and program implementation support, complemented by annexes on private capital and evaluation and financing approaches.

Jul 19, 2026

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