Deadline: October 2, 2026
Applications are open for the World Bank Group Global Program on GovTech & Public Sector Innovation 2026. The World Bank, the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) invite government institutions worldwide to apply for the GovTech Bootcamp on AI in Governance and Public Administration.
This initiative targets government institutions in low- and middle-income countries that are developing, piloting, or deploying AI-enabled solutions to strengthen public administration, service delivery, transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement.
Participants will learn directly from practitioners who design, operate, and scale Korea’s public AI systems, engage with Korean and World Bank experts, and develop practical implementation roadmaps for their own AI initiatives. Following the bootcamp, participating teams will be able to receive follow-up support and technical feedback to help advance their initiatives, depending on the strength and viability of their proposals and the expert advice provided during the program.
Benefits
- Up to five government teams will be selected to participate in a fully funded, five-day technical bootcamp in Seoul.
Eligibility
- Open to government agencies from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), as classified by the World Bank’s income group methodology. The applying institution must be developing, piloting, or deploying an AI tool or application for the public sector that addresses a specific governance or administrative challenge.
- Upper-middle-income countries are classified as LMICs under the World Bank’s income group methodology and are therefore eligible to apply.
- Only government institutions may apply. The proposal must be led by and submitted on behalf of a government agency with direct institutional authority over the initiative.
- Multiple agencies from the same country may submit separate proposals. However, only one team per country will be selected for the bootcamp.
- Prior participation in World Bank programs does not disqualify an applicant.
- Proposals at the concept, prototype, pilot, or deployment stage are all eligible. However, proposals that demonstrate concrete institutional backing and a specific, actionable plan will be prioritized over purely conceptual submissions.
Application
Information sessions for prospective applicants will be offered across three time zones. Applicants will be asked to describe the public sector challenge being addressed, the proposed AI solution, technical and data readiness, institutional support, implementation risks, learning objectives, and planned next steps following the bootcamp.
Applicants may also submit supporting materials, such as endorsement letters, technical diagrams, policy documents, budget commitments, or other relevant documents.
For more information, visit Global Program on GovTech & Public Sector Innovation.
