IPI together with the UN Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, and the UN Development Programme cohosted a policy forum on September 24th on the topic of “Digital Public Infrastructure: What’s Next after the Global Digital Compact?”

Building Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is becoming a global priority. Throughout negotiations on the Global Digital Compact (GDC), DPI emerged as a priority area, and its adoption may pave the way for its widespread implementation. As nations build these society-wide digital systems, discussions on equity, safety, and inclusivity are being prioritized, including at the upcoming Global DPI Summit in Cairo, Egypt, co-hosted by OSET, UNDP, and partners. In response to these concerns and to support the evolving landscape of DPI, the event focused on three crucial segments:

• The Universal DPI Safeguards Framework: This segment launched the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework and demonstrated how stakeholders from the DPI ecosystem can utilize the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework to ensure their work is safe and inclusive.
• The Future of DPI: The second block of the event featured conversations with leaders from government, showcasing how countries plan and leverage their DPI strategies based on the Global Digital Compact, which is anticipated to be adopted at the Summit of the Future.
• Support Ecosystem: Based on the anticipated adoption of the GDC, the final segment gave the floor to organizations supporting countries in creating policy environments favorable to safe and inclusive DPI.

The event delved into experiences from different countries and the strategies of donors to enable safe and inclusive DPI. By exploring these diverse perspectives and approaches, the event increased awareness of the DPI ecosystem and what is needed to ensure an equitable, safe, and inclusive system as it continues to grow and develop.

Opening Remarks:
Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme and Vice-Chair, UN Sustainable Development Group
Amandeep Singh Gill, Under-Secretary-General, Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology
Veronica M. Nduva, Secretary-General, East African Community
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigeria
H.E. Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, Rwanda
H.E. Luis Gallegos, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Global UN Partnership for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
C.V. Madhukar, CEO, Co-Develop

Panelists:
Anna Herken, CEO, GIZ
Eileen Donahoe, Coordinator for Digital Freedom, US State Department
Cristina Duarte, Under-Secretary-General, UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
Carla Montesi, Director, Green Deal, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission
Rodger Voorhies, President of the Global Growth & Opportunity Division at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Moderator:
Adam Lupel, Vice President and COO, International Peace Institute

Closing Remarks:
Amandeep Singh Gill, Under-Secretary-General, Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology