Today, the global population is increasingly dependent on digital solutions to power their everyday lives. People use messaging apps to connect with loved ones; buy food and basic goods through digital wallets; and benefit from government digital systems that run hospitals, water and power networks, and public transport.
At the same time, digital public infrastructure (DPI) is being used to address some of biggest issues society faces. In the Philippines, OpenTraffic is being used to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion, reducing carbon emissions from transportation. In Pakistan, DPI is enabling instant payments for rural women, creating access to financial services for the first time.
In short, digitization is transforming the lives and communities around the world. But digitization isn’t always as rosy as it seems. Let’s take climate change. DPI can present a risk of extreme energy consumption and e-waste while the huge amounts of data gathered can be misused and abused. Thus, we must ensure DPI contributes positively to the fight against the climate crisis. Otherwise, we may simply end up adding fuel to the fire.
Getting digitization right, whether to tackle climate change or improve gender equity, requires a deep understanding of the complex interplay between digital transformation and other societal issues.
We are proud to announce the launch of our first cohort of Research Fellows, bringing together a small group of multidisciplinary academics, digital development practitioners, and digital rights experts, working at the forefront of digital transformation efforts around the world.
Alongside our team of leading digital development experts, our Research Fellows will explore the opportunities, risks, and interdependencies between DPI and the following themes:
The potential for digital public infrastructure is immense in its ability to extend the reach of essential services in ways that cultivate trust and inclusion – and help build a future where everyone can thrive.
During their one-year tenure, each Research Fellow will conduct original research on these themes, publishing several papers each and actively sharing their work with our cohort of partners, through our global communities of practice, at key events, and beyond.
Their efforts will contribute to our wider body of research and learning, which aims to offer practical guidance and actionable insights to ensure digital transformation benefits all people and helps advance a positive future for everyone, everywhere.
Focus area: Climate resilience and response X digital public infrastructure.
Focus area: Good governance of digital platforms X digital public infrastructure.
The objective of the climate and digital public infrastructure research agenda is to test assumptions, uncover ideas, capture, and share best practices from countries, bring opportunities to life, and ultimately, drive positive impact for people
This research overview aims at advancing gender inclusion in digital transformation – a deliberate approach to the design, development, deployment, access, and use of digital public infrastructure that takes into consideration the capabilities, needs, preferences, and rights of women.
This research seeks to establish how to best design, implement, and govern digital platforms in a way that ensures their benefits are maximized and their risks minimized.
