India’s G20 presidency mainstreamed the idea of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and its role in accelerating development, especially in the Global South. Since then, many countries have explored the use of foundational DPIs—digital identities, real-time payment systems, and consent-based data exchange. While developing countries like India, Brazil, and Thailand, already have well-established DPIs, many countries are starting out or are in the early stages of deployment. This session will bring together learnings from different countries to highlight institutional changes, technological choices, change management strategies, regulatory interventions, etc. that drive the success or failure of DPI efforts in different countries The inherent design of DPIs encourages active private sector participation in terms of creating apps and solutions, and making continuous improvements to service delivery that empower users and drive customer adoption.
Driving Questions:
What can be done during South Africa’s Presidency to rapidly move the agreed promise of DPI to action in the Global South and beyond?
Large firms have designed ‘DPI in a box’ for rapid deployment. How is the innovation and market story shaping the conceptual and practical approach to DPI’s?
What geopolitical outcomes can the rapid deployment of DPI deliver?
Speakers:
Stephanie Diepeveen, Senior Research Fellow, ODI, Netherlands
Anagh Singh, Founding Member and Vice President, Platforms Policy and Operations, MountTech Growth Fund-Kavachh, India
Jainaba Sowe, Public Relations Officer, Open Gambia Network, Gambia
Alison Gillwald, Executive Director, Research ICT Africa, South Africa
Moderator: Mansi Kedia, Senior Fellow, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, India
