Archive · 21 Jan 2026
AVPN Expands AI Skilling in Asia-Pacific
AVPN, a big group of social investors in Asia, has expanded a fund to help people learn AI skills.
This fund, supported by Google and the Asian Development Bank, will help workers like farmers, healthcare workers, and people looking for jobs.
They will learn how to use AI in their daily tasks.
AVPN is also creating a website where anyone can find AI training courses.
They have also made a guide to help governments create better AI training programs.
The goal is to help 720,000 workers and 100,000 small businesses in Asia by 2027.
AVPN's AI Opportunity Fund, supported by Google.org and ADB, has expanded with an additional USD 10 million for Phase Two, bringing the total to USD 25 million.
18 local training providers have been selected to deliver AI skilling programs to workers across Asia-Pacific, including farmers, healthcare workers, and job seekers.
AVPN is building an AI training ecosystem, including a publicly-available AI Content Hub and an AI Skilling Policy Toolkit for governments and policymakers.
Phase One of the Fund trained over 300,000 workers, and Phase Two aims to train 720,000 workers and support 100,000 MSMEs across Southeast Asia by 2027.
AVPN, with over 700 members, aims to increase the flow and effectiveness of financial, human, and intellectual capital in Asia.
- Who
- AVPN, Google.org, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and 18 local training providers
- What
- Expansion of the AI Opportunity Fund to build AI skilling infrastructure in Asia-Pacific
- When
- Announced on January 21, with Phase Two initiatives ongoing and aiming to train 720,000 workers by 2027
- Where
- Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on Southeast Asia for MSMEs
- Why
- To prepare workers for an AI-ready workforce, overcome systemic barriers, and support inclusive and sustainable growth
- Fund Amount
- USD 25 million (USD 15 million initial + USD 10 million Phase Two)
- Phase One Beneficiaries
- 300,000 workers
- Phase Two Beneficiaries
- 720,000 workers by 2027
- Phase Two Local Training Providers
- 18 organizations
- AI Content Hub
- Publicly-available AI training content hub
- AI Skilling Policy Toolkit
- Policy guidelines for governments and policymakers
- AVPN Members
- Over 700 members across 43 markets
- Target MSMEs
- 100,000 MSMEs across Southeast Asia by 2027