Article Type: Expert comment

Many African governments express valid concerns about using cloud services for data storage, from data sovereignty risks to vendor lock-in, infrastructure limitations, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Yet, cloud storage offers compelling advantages that could arguably outweigh these concerns. In this expert comment, we explore different recommendations that can help governments benefit from cloud services without sacrificing data sovereignty and control.

As a compass for best practices in digital transformation, the Principles for Digital Development provide important guidance for digital projects, policies, and initiatives. In this expert comment, we outline the first principle “Understand the existing ecosystem,” and explore how to put it into practice in order to build a digital community that works for everyone.

As digital public infrastructure (DPI) increases in popularity, online dispute resolution (ODR) is a key component in effectively protecting against potential risks. In this expert comment, we define the relationship between DPI and ODR, how they can be mutually beneficial, and what opportunities – and challenges – may lie ahead. Read more here.

While digital public infrastructure (DPI) holds enormous promise, essential safeguards are also needed to protect against potential risks. In a welcome step forward, the UN has released a Universal DPI Safeguards Framework, outlining the necessary principles and processes of DPI implementation that prioritize people’s rights and wellbeing. To learn more about the framework – and where we should go next – read our expert comment.

As digital transformation accelerates, digital public infrastructure and the digital services it unlocks offer incredible potential. Yet, there is still significant work to be done to meaningfully understand how technology is impacting people – both positively and negatively. In this expert comment, we highlight the importance of targeted, ethnographic research in understanding the hidden impacts of DPI, and how technology be leveraged for the benefit of people and communities across the world.