Driving Digital Transformation in Developing Nations

Reviews / Votes

"This book, written by prolific author and development intellectual, had my attention from the first page to the last. He has the uncanny ability to see into institutions deeply and to observe digital transformation processes intensely, and to express these insights in ways that enable the reader to see almost as deeply. In this book, Nagy Hanna looks into his own institution, the World Bank and offers analysis of its digital transformation journey, side by side with his own personal journey. He introduces us to brief country narratives from the digital transformation journeys of India, Sri Lanka and Kenya, and a few of the emerging smart city stories: Rio, Singapore, China. If an author were to attempt combining a love story of development practice and a scholarly text on digital transformation, this would be it."- Luci Abrahams, Director, LINK Centre, University of the Witwatersrand

"Digital transformation, as Hanna amply demonstrates, is not just accessto digital technology. It is a learning process by the whole society. The stories of Hanna's successes in various countries provide ample insights into digital transformation and its possibilities for development."- Shinji Asanuma , Visiting Professor, School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University

"Nagy Hanna's book is another milestone in a large number of publications from a visionary leader. Sri Lanka benefited tremendously from Hanna's vision to create an integrated approach to take the dividends of ICT to every sector of our economy, despite a challenging implementation environment."- Jayantha Fernando , General Counsel, ICT Agency & Director, Sri Lanka CERT

"I had the pleasure of working with Hanna for two decades. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Sri Lanka's ICT journey would not have come to fruition if Hanna did not champion this cause from the World Bank's side. His is a compelling story. Practitioners and students of development would find many nuggets of practical solutions to real life problems of implementation in a national setting fraught with language, cultural, social, and other polarities akin to most developing nations. Hanna's vision and heart are palpable throughout his story of digital transformation for inclusive development to which he has dedicated his life and poured his energy."-Manju Haththotuwa, Founding CEO, National ICT Agency and former CIO, Sri Lanka

"Nagy Hanna exposes the challenges of making technology an effective tool for development, while confronting vested interests that seek to sustain the status quo, both in client governments and internally within the Bank. At the heart of the book is a powerful commitment to learning and using technology to change lives for the better."- Tim Kelly, Lead Digital Development Specialist, World Bank

"What a life! This hugely engaging account of Hanna's career is motivated by his passionate commitment to development and belief in the potential of digital technologies to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development. His acute insights enable him to identify the many risks accompanying digital transformation and the barriers - institutional, political, cultural - to successful outcomes. He calls for holistic approaches to digital development. He emphasizes the crucial need for client buy-in and trust. He insists upon putting multi-stakeholder learning at the core of digital strategies."- Robin Mansell, Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science

"Nagy Hanna has dedicated his career to digital development. He was a pioneer. He created the Bank's digital development community of practice - which mobilized expertise and funding to what was then an innovative new field. Hanna mentored and coached World Bank leadership and staff on technology fordevelopment."- Samia Melhem , Lead Digital Policy Specialist, World Bank

"This inspiring book will benefit development practitioners and change agents across governments and development agencies."- Mohamed Muhsin , Former Vice President & CIO, World Bank

"Drawing from his vast experience and pioneering role in the field, Hanna has woven together a remarkable story of his life and career. The book offers valuable lessons for policy makers and practitioners of digital technology. What Hanna conveys most convincingly is his early insight into the central role of digital technology in development. He illustrates this through examples from his firsthand experience. I had the good fortune to get to know him as a colleague at the World Bank where I witnessed his steadfast pursuit of his pioneering ideas in partnership with the country, and winning over critics. He practiced what he advocates in this book: nurturing local ownership and institutions, co-creating with stakeholders, prioritizing inclusion, and taking a holistic view. This book is a must-read for development professionals."- Praful Patel, Former Regional Vice President (Asia), World Bank

"This book reflects the learning journey of a thought leader and pioneer in harnessing digital technology for development. Through detailed case studies, it ascribes top priority to digital development interventions in diverse country and regional contexts. Hanna's journey combines visionary thinking about digital transformation with hands-on lessons for translating country-driven visions into development programs and projects. He challenges development practitioners, policy makers, aid agencies, and developing countries to re-invent their practices to be fit for the digital age."- Sam Pitroda, former advisor to prime ministers of India

"Nagy Hanna draws on his extensive experiencein advising countries and the World Bank to point to the crucial task of developing the leadership, policies, institutions, competencies, partnerships, social learning and implementation mechanisms necessary to advance this transformation process. This candid text will be very useful for: policy makers who wish to integrate digital transformation and open government into national development strategies; business leaders wishing to transform their business or contribute to a growing digital industry; aid agencies' managers who want to accelerate their organizational learning and innovation; development practitioners who want to empower their clients with knowledge and resilience; and educators and students who want to understand the big picture and contribute to this transformative journey."- Sanjay Pradhan, CEO, Open Government Partnership and former VP, World Bank

"The author had a distinguished career at the world's most visible international organization. He championed digital transformation and in virtue of his experience, he brings the reader to witness the fascinating evolution of development work across several decades. He describes the tumultuous change brought by technology at a crossroad of geopolitical, cultural and societal changes. In an exercise of retrospect (the author is a passionate art lover), the book reminds us of one of those Flemish paintings where the painter is in the picture, all devoted to provide the proportionate perspective to the external world."- Carlo Rossotto, Principal Investment Officer and Global Head, Upstream Telecom Media and Technology Infrastructure, International Finance Corporation

"Hanna's pioneering study of information technology content of World Bank lending was a wakeup call for Bank leadership. His advocacy for Bank funding the study of India's opportunity for software export led to the exponential growth of India's software sector. I hadthe privilege of being a participant observer of Hanna's journey as a development economist to a passionate champion of digital transformation. This book shares the trials and triumphs of a developmental practitioner taking up this challenge. The development community needs more of his kind."- Anil Srivastava , President, Open Health Systems Lab and Founding Executive Director, NASSCOM

"Hanna had to build the infrastructure within the World Bank and in Sri Lanka to realize the goal of digitally-enabled development. He helped us fashion the vision for e-Sri Lanka, build a new national ICT Agency, get Bank financing and facilitate implementation of a pioneering digital transformation program. Hanna convinced the Bank, perhaps for the first time to provide operational funding to setup a brand-new agency and recruit right talent. He succeeded in creating an enabling environment and innovation funds for digital transformation. He persuaded theBank to provide the necessary resources to innovate, learn and adapt through an evolving design, local ownership and political leadership. As a dedicated internationalist, Hanna ably argued the case of his client in the context of a difficult environment. A tightrope walk act between client and donor, which he balanced admirably. The book sums up the process and results. It lays out eloquently the trajectory of a pioneer - a gifted, committed and loyal development professional."- Eran Wickramaratne, MP, Founding Chairman ICT Agency & Former State Minister of Finance, Sri Lanka