Breakdown of Technology Components of the World Bank’s Human Capital–Related Portfolio in South Asia

The portfolio review findings confirm that the World Bank has a substantial engagement in technology in South Asia, with ongoing investments of about US$6.4 billion across all three dimensions of human capital. The findings also indicate that the scope of technology interventions tends to be focused on the build and protect pillar of the human capital framework, with relatively limited engagement in the deploy and utilize and empower pillars. About US$5.3 billion is allocated to building and protecting human capital, US$1.6 billion to deploying and utilizing human capital, and US$0.3 billion to empowering human capital.1

Figure 6.1 shows the breakdown of the technology components under the build and protect pillar by sector and according to the technology classification schema reflected in figure 2.3 in chapter 2. The individual technology products in figure 2.3 are broken down into those for government administration, frontline service delivery agents, and beneficiaries. Digital platforms in the classification schema in figure 2.3 are divided into two subcategories: systemic ecosystem-level interventions (shown at the top of figure 6.1) and building blocks, which are ecosystem enablers (shown at the bottom of figure 6.1). Systemic ecosystem-level interventions include the implementation of data systems and the transition to government-as-a-platform, while building blocks comprise essential elements such as connectivity, unique identification, and digital payment mechanisms.

Overall, there is no obvious predominance of Global Practices (GPs). All human development GPs (Health, Nutrition and Population; Education; and Social Protection) and various contributing GPs have comparable presences, with investments supporting government administration, frontline service providers, and beneficiaries. A significant proportion of technology investments is for frontline service providers (such as schools and hospitals). Time series analysis reveals that over time the focus has shifted from general government administration to frontline service providers, especially in health and education during the COVID-19 pandemic.2 And yet a significant share of technology investments continues to be directed at earlier-generation technology products such as management information systems. Another sizable share of technology interventions is aimed at beneficiaries, especially in health and education. However, relatively little is spent on digital platforms either at the system level or at the building block level. Together, the two levels account for US$1 billion, somewhat equally divided between them.

Compared with investments in the build and protect pillar, investments in both the deploy and utilize pillar (US$1.6 billion) and the empower pillar (US$300 million) are smaller (figure 6.2). Of the technology investments in the deploy and utilize dimension, about US$1.2 billion is directed at developing the specialized skills needed for research and development, primarily in health and education, and US$0.4 billion at developing employability skills and entrepreneurship. These allocations are partly explained by the