How the EBRD will achieve its digital transition

The EBRD’s ambition is to play a key role in narrowing the digital divide in terms of access, affordability and skills across its investee economies and to improve economic opportunities for underserved groups. This includes, for instance, working with different parties - SMEs, innovative start-ups and public-sector organisations. We can leverage our relationships with partners that have access to technological expertise, financial or other resources and help shape global standards that promote the transition and sustainable development.

To achieve its digital approach, the EBRD will mobilise the full suite of instruments – investments, policy dialogue and advisory services – at its disposal to shape the three key components of digital transformation below:

• Foundations of a sustainable and inclusive digital economy by promoting appropriate policies and regulation, access to connectivity thorough the creation of infrastructure and a skilled workforce.
   
• Adaptation of organisations by providing access to finance and knowledge transfer in technical and advisory services that support the digitalisation of services, assets, business processes and value chains.
   
• Innovation to support a start-up friendly ecosystem and allow companies to grow in a safe space, as well as meeting specific financing needs, where appropriate, in debt financing and direct and indirect equity investments.

In parallel, the EBRD will work closely with other international bodies and organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations entities and the World Economic Forum, all of whom are playing important roles in building consensus on the governance of technology and how to build inclusive and sustainable digital economies and societies in a competitive market environment.

We will build towards enhancing government and public entity capacity to provide vital digital services to businesses and individuals, including advising on e-government, taxation, e-procurement reforms and appropriate protection and governance of data flows across the EBRD regions; and supporting government objectives to create an enabling policy environment for the digital transformation of businesses.

Lastly, we will align our approaches with those of international partners - multilateral development banks and international financial institutions are our natural partners in the delivery of a sustainable and inclusive digital transition. There is significant scope to share expertise and many potential co-financing opportunities to maximise impact of the Bank’s investments.

By 2025, we envision ourselves to be the partner of choice for stakeholders in the economies where we operate, when it comes to using digital technologies and promoting well-managed digital transformation as a means of achieving transition.