The World Bank has approved $50 million in financing for Nepal to advance its digital public infrastructure and modernize the delivery of public services. The Nepal Digital Transformation Project aims to fundamentally change how citizens access government services, making them more efficient, transparent, and inclusive.
The project will focus on building key digital platforms, including an integrated online citizen service portal, an integrated social registry, a secure government-wide data exchange, and a digital locker for managing verifiable credentials and a digital wallet. High-impact services, such as land administration, will be digitized first, with additional services rolled out in phases.
In addition to digital platforms, the project seeks to strengthen Nepal’s digital economy by improving legal and regulatory frameworks, encouraging private sector investment in data infrastructure, and enhancing trust through investments in electronic signatures, cybersecurity, and data governance.
The initiative is structured as a joint co-financing arrangement between the World Bank, serving as lead lender, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), contributing $40 million under the Full Mutual Reliance Framework. ADB’s Board is expected to review the project in March 2026.
Implementation will be carried out by Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Department of National ID and Civil Registration, ensuring government ownership and alignment with national priorities.
David Sislen, World Bank Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, highlighted that the project will enhance public sector efficiency, improve service delivery, and strengthen good governance through digitalization.
