Digital public infrastructure

Digital Public
Infrastructure

Digital public infrastructure (DPI) is a shared means to many ends. It is a critical enabler of digital transformation and is helping to improve public service delivery at scale. Designed and implemented well, it can help countries achieve their national priorities and accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals. Governments, donors, the private sector and civil society alike have an opportunity to shape it - join us!

At a glance

DPI is an evolving concept, but there is growing consensus on it being a combination of (i) networked open technology standards built for public interest, (ii) enabling governance, and (iii) a community of innovative and competitive market players working to drive innovation, especially across public programmes. In line with UNDP's whole-of-society approach to digital transformation, our work on DPI focuses around the efforts outlined below.

Stewarding strategic initiatives

UNDP engages with a range of stakeholders across the ecosystems to drive action and deliver impact on DPI.

DPI Safeguards

Through a multi-stakeholder consultative process, this initiative seeks to develop a unified framework of universal safeguards that facilitates inclusive, safe and sustainable adoption of DPI.

Open Source Ecosystem Enabler

OSEE aims to strengthen local digital ecosystems to deliver better digital public services through open-source technology.

50-in-5

By 2028, the 50-in-5 campaign will have helped 50 countries design, launch, and scale components of their DPI.

UNDP convenes actors across the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society to catalyze collective action on digital public infrastructure.

High Impact Initiative on Digital Public Infrastructure

By 2030, the initiative aims to catalyze the collective action necessary to unlock targeted support for DPI implementation and strengthening in 100 countries.

Global Digital Compact

UNDP engages in multilateral processes such as the Global Digital Compact to advocate for DPGs.

India’s G20 Presidency

UNDP serves as the official knowledge partner of the Government of India on digital public infrastructure.

The Future of Digital Cooperation

UNDP convened global leaders to usher in a new era of digital cooperation for a more sustainable and equitable world.

The DPG Charter

UNDP supports global efforts through the Digital Public Goods Charter led by DPGA and DIAL.

UNDP provides tailored assistance to governments at various stages of their digital transformation journey from early readiness assessment and strategy design to implementation and scaling.

Rights-based approach in Guatemala

Insights and recommendations from UNDP’s Digital Readiness Assessment are shaping Guatemala’s digital transformation journey.

10 Good Practices

This policy brief highlights 10 good practices that can be adopted at the country level to boost inclusive digital transformation.

Joint Facility for Global Digital Capacity

Aims to strengthen the digital capacity of policymakers to help countries maximize the benefits of new technologies.

UNDP Digital Strategy

UNDP has longstanding expertise in supporting governments across geographies and levels.

Digital Readiness Assessment

UNDP conducts comprehensive digital readiness assessments from which insights are used to enhance the planning, design, and implementation of DPI.

UNDP works with partners within the digital ecosystem to develop, implement, and scale digital public goods and digital public infrastructure to provide society-wide benefits.

State of the Digital Public Goods Ecosystem 2023

UNDP is championing DPGs as open and interoperable solutions, which countries can adopt to address pressing global challenges.

iVerify

iVerify is UNDP's fact-checking tool that can be used to identify false information and prevent and mitigate its spread.

OpenG2P

OpenG2P is an open- source platform upon which government-to-person (G2P) solutions could be built.

Social Protection

G2P Connect offers an end-to-end open-source solution blueprint for the delivery of government-to-person payment.

Health Emergencies

UNDP supported the implementation of CoWIN, a health-focused DPI that provides vaccination support to people in India.

Crisis Response

UNDP implemented an interoperable, multi-partner emergency cash transfer system that is benefiting millions of Ukrainians.

UN Biodiversity Lab

UN Biodiversity Lab provides access to global data and analytics on people and planet.

UNDP supports countries in creating and strengthening local digital ecosystems that can drive the development, implementation and scaling of innovative digital solutions.

UNDP Accelerator Labs

Through local networks in 91 countries supporting 115 countries, UNDP catalyzes local knowledge and action to help shape an inclusive digital future for all.

Trinidad and Tobago

UNDP is supporting the Ministry of Digital Transformation to develop and integrate digital applications to improve government services.

Mauritania

UNDP is working with the Ministry of Digital Transition (MTNIMA) to ensure that digital transformation benefits the most vulnerable.

Nepal

UNDP is working with partners to test innovative solutions around unplanned urbanization and unemployment.

Tunisia

UNDP is working with the municipality of Beni Khalled to test a GIS system focused on citizen generated data in the context of waste management.

UNDP advocates for the protection and promotion of human rights in the digital space, while installing adequate safeguards and empowering people to understand and exercise their rights.

Universal Safeguards for DPI

Seeks to develop a unified framework of universal safeguards that facilitates inclusive, safe and sustainable adoption of DPI globally.

Model Governance Framework

Good governance of Digital Legal ID is a foundational element of digital public infrastructure (DPI).

The Impact of Digital Technology on Human Rights in Europe & Central Asia

An analysis of how technologies are being deployed, used and regulated, with a focus on data protection, privacy, and AI governance frameworks.

UNDP Digital Standards

UNDP is working to ensure that new technologies are used effectively, efficiently, and ethically, to support our development goals.

AI & Potential Impact on Human Rights in India

A first-of-its-kind analysis of AI across four sectors - health, finance, retail, and gig economy.

UNDP Digital Transformation Approach

UNDP employs a rights-based and intentionally inclusive approach to digital transformation that proactively considers human rights in all areas of our digital work.

UNDP catalyzes knowledge and insights to accelerate digital transformation through the facilitation of research and learning exchanges that enable countries to share and learn from each other.

A Compendium of The Potential of Digital Public Infrastructure

This compendium presents a snapshot of digital solutions in action around the world that can help move the needle and get us back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

DPI Playbook

A starter kit for building inclusive and rights-based DPI, with guidance from early needs assessment to early phase implementation.

The Impact of Digital Public Infrastructure

A study of the economic and human impact of the implementation of DPI across the finance, justice, and climate sectors.

Digital Public Goods for the SDGs

Research on the emerging insights of DPGs related to their sustainability, replicability and partnerships.