Kathmandu, World Bank approves $50 million to promote Nepal’s digital infrastructure and public services. The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $50 million in support of Nepal’s digital public infrastructure and digital transformation of public services, which will fundamentally change the way services are delivered to citizens.

The ‘Nepal Digital Transformation Project’ will invest in digital platforms, including an integrated online citizen services portal and an integrated social registry; a system for securely exchanging data between government agencies; and a digital locker for managing verified qualifications and digital wallets. The project will also support the digital transformation of other high-impact services, including land administration, in a phased manner. The project also aims to promote private sector investment in the data infrastructure market by improving the legal and regulatory framework. To build trust in the digital economy, the project will invest in electronic signatures, cybersecurity, and data governance.

“By investing in core digital platforms and digitally transforming services, this project will help citizens and businesses deliver advanced services in an inclusive and transparent manner, thereby improving service delivery, public sector efficiency, and good governance,” said David Sislen, World Bank Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The project will be implemented under a joint co-financing arrangement between the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Full Mutual Reliance Framework. The World Bank will be the lead lender, while ADB will contribute $40 million as a follow-on lender. ADB management is expected to present the project to its Board for consideration in March 2026. The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the National Department of Identity and Registration.