WB approves $50m for digital public infra in Nepal

Kathmandu, Feb. 10

The World Bank has approved $50 million in financing to boost Nepal’s digital public infrastructure and digitise public services, fundamentally changing how services are delivered to the people.

Approved by the WB’s Board of Executive Directors on Tuesday, the Nepal Digital Transformation Project will invest in digital platforms including an integrated online citizen service portal and an integrated social registry; a secure government-wide data exchange; and a digital locker to manage verifiable credentials and digital wallet.

The WB informed in a statement that the project will also help digitise high-impact services including land administration with other services being added in a phased approach. The project aims to boost private sector investment in the data infrastructure market by improving legal and regulatory frameworks.

According to the WB, to promote trust in the digital economy, the project will invest in electronic signatures, cybersecurity, and data governance.

“By investing in core digital platforms and digitalising services, this project will help deliver enhanced services to people and businesses 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 financed 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 is the lead lender while the ADB will serve as the trail lender and contribute $40 million. ADB’s management is expected to present the project to their Board for consideration in March 2026.

 

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Department of National ID and Civil Registration. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 February 2026.