Bangladesh has been experiencing, due to new technology, the revolution of different pockets of production. The challenges notwithstanding, the belief is that the overall impact of new technologies will be determined by how they are adopted, the extent to which they are adopted profitably, and how indirect impacts filter through the rest of the economy. Partnering with the University of Oxford Digital Pathways Initiative, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) through this project intends to chart a pathway for Bangladesh to decide holistic strategies that accelerate its inclusive growth in the digital age.
Researchers: Zulkarin Jahangir; Abdullah Hasan Safir; Shamael Ahmed
Partners: University of Oxford Digital Pathways Initiative; Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division, Government of Bangladesh
Timeline: 2020–2021
Status: Completed
Method: Mixed-method
Contact: Shamael Ahmed
shamael.ahmed@bracu.ac.bd
Publications:
Report: Strategy Primer: For the Future of Digital in Bangladesh
Report: The Future of Digital in Bangladesh: Digital Readiness Assessment
Presentation Slides: Launching the Strategy Primer – The Future of Digital in Bangladesh
Context
The unique level of commitment from Bangladesh’s government for digitization has been working as a driving force for the country to thrive in the digital economy. The current government has accelerated the rapid digitization and the smart use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to spur progress in almost all sectors in Bangladesh. As a result, Bangladesh has been experiencing a digital transformation as well as sustained economic growth. The overall impact of new technologies will be determined by how well they are adopted, the extent to which they are adopted, and how indirect effects filter through the rest of the economy.
Objectives
The study aims to chart a pathway for Bangladesh to decide holistic strategies to accelerate its inclusive growth in the digital age by assessing the country’s current digital readiness, deciding priorities through dialogue with high-level stakeholders, and crafting a strategy primer.
Methodology
The project started with the assessment phase. First, a digital readiness assessment report, The Future of Digital in Bangladesh, was developed, which analyzed the relevant readiness conditions across the four pillars of the digital economy in Bangladesh—infrastructure, human capital, finance, and policies. It diagnosed the current state of play of those conditions and identified some potential digital readiness challenges. Second, the opportunity assessment identified three areas that Bangladesh may investigate to scale technological innovations. In the next step, a series of dialogue sessions were organized with government agencies, private sectors, and civil society organizations. The purpose of these sessions was to build a consensus on strategic priorities to address the challenges of leveraging the three identified opportunity areas. Additionally, practical strategies were discussed, to strengthen digital services in rural areas, ensure effective human capital development, and strengthen collaboration and engagements to accelerate the digital economy.
Findings and Recommendations
The opportunity assessment report identified three economic opportunities that Bangladesh has the potential to take advantage of in the next 10 years: (1) scaling up business process outsourcing (BPO) and the IT/software industry in Bangladesh, (2) connecting the informal sector to the formal one in Bangladesh through the help of digital technologies, and (3) expanding the startup scene in Bangladesh. The strategy primer listed action points to execute each opportunity. Furthermore, to reduce gaps in digital readiness, the document recommends multiple strategies and mechanisms to implement the strategies, such as ensuring access to high speed internet for all, improving digital literacy, and redesigning education curriculum to address skill mismatch.