The fourth industrial revolution is fast disrupting the global economic, political, and social norms and institutions. Developing countries, who are also undergoing a massive demographic disruption, will feel this revolution's impact the most. Without the right human capital and adequate financial investments, developing countries will likely miss out on the promises and potential offered by this revolution.

By strategically recalibrating their focus, development finance institutions (DFIs) can position themselves as critical players. DFIs can help channel private investments into new technologies and help emerging markets accelerate their efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals.