Tag: Digital public infrastructure

In today’s digital age, technology is the ultimate double-edged sword – holding the potential to benefit or harm, to uplift or undermine. Its true impact on individuals and society lies in the choices we make in its design, deployment, and governance. Amidst this technological balancing act, digital public infrastructure (DPI) offers a pathway to harness digital power for public good – but it must include robust, effective safeguards. Read more in our expert comment.

As the effects of climate change worsen, carbon credit markets are an increasingly important tool in reducing global emissions. Yet, for these systems to be wholly effective, they require access to credible, transparent, and representative data. Digital public infrastructure (DPI) offers one approach to advance the large-scale data exchange needed to mitigate the challenges faced by carbon credit markets, while simultaneously promoting interoperability, scalability, and trust.

As digital public infrastructure (DPI) gains prominence, stakeholders across the ecosystem are working to unpack the current practices, demand, and frameworks around measuring DPI’s impact on people. Our Digital Donors Exchange unpacks the various factors that must be considered when creating impact metrics, as well as potential challenges and collaborative solutions.

Over the past decade, millions of people in Africa have gained access to the internet, with the number of internet users surging by 115% between 2016 and 2021. As more individuals, organisations, and governments across the continent embrace digital platforms and services, the need for secure and efficient data exchange becomes paramount. With its UGHub platform, Uganda offers valuable insights for countries across Africa as they seek to implement new digital and data exchange systems.

From driving much-needed economic growth in low-income countries to bridging the digital divide, digital public infrastructure (DPI) offers incredible opportunity. Yet, without a shared vision of the impact of DPI and comprehensive indicators to meaningfully measure the benefits – and risks – we will fall short in understanding whether it has delivered on its promise.