As the world continues to utilize digital technologies to accelerate economic growth, digital public infrastructure (DPI) can help close the digital divide by providing an inclusive, equitable, and safe digital future for vulnerable populations.

Digital technologies are becoming an increasingly powerful tool for countries' prosperity and development. Within the digital ecosystem, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is a key enabler for citizens to transact in the digital world and access essential goods and services.

Although an evolving concept, in 2023 DPI was defined by the G20 “as a set of shared digital systems, built and leveraged by both the public and private sectors, based on secure and resilient infrastructure, and can be built on open standards and specifications, as well as opensource software can enable delivery of services at societal-scale.” Some core components of DPI consist of identification and registries, digital payments, and a data exchange system; however, there is no universal operating standard, which enables countries to develop DPI in different ways to best suit their own needs.

The United States – through its private sector and government institutions – can contribute significantly to enabling DPI abroad, in particular, to empower women in low- and middle-income countries.

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Experts and Staff

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Romina Bandura
Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development, Project on U.S. Leadership in Development
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Madeleine McLean
Program Manager and Research Associate, Project on Prosperity and Development

Feature Content


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Photo: NOAH SEELAM/AFP via Getty Images

Photo: NOAH SEELAM/AFP via Getty Images

Approaches to Digital Public Infrastructure in the Global South

Digital public infrastructure is changing lives and boosting economic opportunities, but building these systems is not risk free. Several countries in the Global South are prioritizing inclusivity, cooperation, and transparency to approach the challenges they face.

Report by Romina Bandura, Madeleine McLean, and Caroline Smutny — August 26, 2024

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