There's no good technology without good policy.
We aim for both.
Across the world, data and digital technology are being used in innovative ways to make life easier – and better – for people. And as more essential government services have gone online, people have better access to more essential services from health to education to family and social affairs. In Rwanda, for example, over 100 services are available online through its IREMBO platform, which has reduced paperwork, saved millions of working hours, and resulted in faster processing times.
But as more data is generated, and more aspects of daily life have a digital footprint, new challenges invariably arise – ranging from unintended consequences to exploitation by malicious actors. That’s why safeguards like effective legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms are more crucial than ever.
With the constant flow of new technologies, security concerns invariably crop up – from invasions of privacy to improper data usage, among others. To reverse this trend, we must implement effective policies to unlock data in ways that prioritize the benefits to all individuals and communities, rather than a handful of powerful actors.
Our team strives to make good data and technology governance a reality.
From advancing trusted data ecosystems to championing inclusive AI, our policy and global engagement work addresses the foundational elements of a positive, inclusive, and sustainable digital society. At the heart of this is a clear and consistent focus – people. We advocate for policies and frameworks that safeguard people’s rights, strengthen public trust, and protect against harms such as privacy violations, data misuse, and exclusion. And, just as importantly, we encourage others at the forefront of digital transformation to do the same.
Our work centers on four core efforts:
- Building political will and alignment. Solving the world’s toughest challenges requires coordinated global effort. But fragmented investments and lack of coordination continue to be barriers to global progress. That’s why we focus on aligning understanding, action, and funding among key actors in the digital ecosystem – from policymakers to digital development donors.
- Exploring frontier topics. Technology moves at a breakneck pace – and new challenges and opportunities surface constantly. It is essential that policy frameworks keep pace with emerging technologies. We work as conversation starters and thought leaders to drive discussions on some of the most pressing issues and opportunities.
- Advocating best practices. We aim to prompt concerted action, supplying key changemakers with the tools and evidence they need to build an equitable and inclusive digital future. Harnessing the collective knowledge of our network, and grounded in our research and learning agenda, we identify the safeguards and policy frameworks that support people and communities.
- Convening the players. Underpinning much of this work is our ability to bring together the full ecosystem of actors to make our vision a reality. We convene and connect technical experts, government leaders, civil society organizations, and development professionals to facilitate participatory policymaking and inform decision-making for positive digital transformation.
We put our policy focus into practice in several targeted ways.
Our team brings deep expertise from the intersection of technology and governance, with specialties across agriculture, health, financial inclusion, and civil society.
As an alliance, we are built to work across boundaries. From South Africa, to India, to Switzerland, we come from diverse backgrounds and bring varying perspectives. But we don’t do our work alone. We collaborate with leading institutions like the World Bank, Smart Africa, and Co-Develop to harness the collective energy and influence of the global digital development community.
Here’s what this looks like in practice:
Global forums are an important mechanism for building political will and momentum on critical issues. These gatherings are where questions are debated, frameworks are defined, and commitments are made. As a fully remote and globally based team, our staff are well-placed to represent our point of view in forums all over the world – from long-standing conventions like WSIS and the G20, to newly emerging gatherings like the AI Action Summit and the DPI Summit.
In bringing together leading experts and practitioners, we identify the opportunities and challenges facing effective digital transformation and, more importantly, foster shared learnings on how to solve them. From data leaders to civil society organizations and funders worldwide, our communities of practice are tailored to the specific needs and context of each community.
As a compass for positive digital transformation, the Principles for Digital Development are a valuable resource for organizations working to promote sustainable and inclusive development across the globe. In our role as the steward of the Principles, we focus on advocating their use, supporting their implementation, and cultivating a vibrant community of endorsers and practitioners. With over 300 endorsing organizations and celebrating over 10 years of use, the Principles remain a cornerstone of digital development.
In 2024, we convened the Climate Data JLN to explore innovative data sharing models that could sustainably unlock climate-relevant data and better equip frontline governments and communities. The network consists of experts with a diversity of knowledge from 25 organizations across the data and climate sectors who help drive this collaborative research. This year, we are working directly with local governments from three cities to map data needs for their priority climate use cases. We are excited to share our flagship report at COP30.
We know a shared understanding is key to global progress.
We see critical reflection, knowledge exchange, and continuous learning as essential to building a positive digital future. In our policy and global engagement work, we are committed to learning from experience and turning those insights into practical, actionable guidance. We stay closely attuned to emerging developments, trends, and opportunities, and share what we are learning in real-time. Read some of our latest thought leadership, papers, and policy pieces from our team below.
And, while we have you, don’t forget to sign up to our weekly newsletter – the News Byte. It will equip you with your weekly dose of the latest – and most important – updates in the digital development landscape and beyond.
