The EBRD’s digital approach

The EBRD puts digital at the heart of its activities across its regions: investments, policy and advisory services.

The EBRD’s digital approach enables equal access to digital technology and skills, establishment of robust governance practices, and provision of financial and technical support to companies and governments.

We aim to play a leading role in shaping the impact of digitalisation in our regions over the next five years.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development highlights the importance of digitalisation as a powerful enabler of sustainable economic growth. The EBRD recognises the pace at which technologies are advancing.

As far back as 2013, our Knowledge Economy Initiative highlighted the potential for ICT and the need to foster a broader innovation ecosystem. Informal mapping shows the Bank to have delivered around 200 projects with a digital dimension in recent years.

Now, as part of the Bank’s five-year Strategic and Capital Framework (SCF 2021-25), the EBRD has committed for the first time to using the digital transition as an enabler of transition, alongside supporting the low-carbon transition and addressing inequality of opportunity.

In November 2021, alongside the Bank’s Transition Report 2021-22 that focused on how EBRD regions can deliver the digital dividend, the Bank also launched its first Digital Approach. Then in January 2022, the EBRD Digital Hub was established to further support the implementation of the SCF 2021-25. The Digital Hub will coordinate the Bank’s digital activities and lead engagement and partnerships with other multilateral institutions.

As a multilateral institution, the Bank will maintain the highest international standards within its digital approach. In new areas, such as AI and machine learning, best practice – including with regard to diversity, ethics and fairness – still needs to be established and promoted, as well as adherence to codes of conduct to ensure the ethical and responsible use of technologies. This will require close cooperation with governments, other international organisations and technology companies.