LIRNEasia’s Senior Research Manager, Gayani Hurulle, was invited to conduct a session on Leveraging Digitalization for Inclusive Growth at a regional workshop on Best Practices for Accelerated Pro-Poor and Inclusive Growth Initiatives, held from 24 to 26 June 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the BIMSTEC Secretariat, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
The workshop brought together government officials and experts from BIMSTEC Member States: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, along with representatives from ASEAN countries, think tanks, and development organizations. The goal was to share knowledge and experiences on strategies that have successfully addressed poverty and supported inclusive economic growth.
Participants of the regional workshop on Best Practices for Accelerated Pro-poor and Inclusive Growth Initiatives
Presentation by Gayani Hurulle, Senior Research Manager at LIRNEasia
In her session, Gayani shared insights from LIRNEasia’s nationally representative surveys conducted in 2017/2018 (After Access) and 2021, to highlight gaps in access and usage, and insights from two case studies on social protection and labour.
The first case study focused on efficient, privacy-protecting data sharing to allow for improve coverage of social assistance. Meanwhile, the second examined enablers and risks of leveraging digital platforms for work, using LIRNEasia’s multiple research studies on platform workers. Some key takeaways presented at the session included:
- Access and skills challenges must be addressed to prevent further inequality: Gaps in connectivity and availability of digital devices continue to limit participation, especially for marginalised groups. Without these basic conditions being addressed, inequalities will widen
- Balancing between rights protection and enabling growth is key: It is necessary to find ways to protect data, worker rights and ensure social protection, given the changing nature of economy and work – particularly with rise of AI
- Institutions must evolve to meet new demands: Areas like social assistance show the potential for data use, but fragmentation, unclear mandates, and siloed systems often reduce effectiveness
- DPI can support inclusion if coordinated and scalable: Foundational systems such as ID, payments, and data exchange can play a role in improving delivery and reducing duplication. However, they require shared standards, institutional buy-in, and long-term coordination
- Consider local capacity and resources when developing policies and solutions: Global approaches reflect different priorities and starting points. Regional examples show what is possible, but the focus should be on adapting models to local priorities, politics, and capacity
Her presentation is available below for reference.
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