The Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Summit, held in Cairo, Egypt, has brought Africa to the forefront of digital public infrastructure advancement. With delegates from over 100 countries in attendance, the summit emphasized the importance of safe, inclusive, and resilient DPI in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and driving economic growth.
During the three-day event, world leaders, innovators, and policymakers came together to exchange ideas and strategies to maximize the impact of DPI. The summit concluded with an outcome statement that outlined seven transformative actions to shape Africa’s digital future:
1. Fostering knowledge sharing and cross-border collaboration through technology exchange.
2. Embedding universal safeguards to ensure inclusivity and security in DPI.
3. Championing innovative solutions to develop local DPI technologies.
4. Empowering local digital ecosystems for sustainable growth.
5. Integrating green and sustainable practices into digital infrastructure development.
6. Exploring innovative financial models to support scalability.
7. Ensuring interoperability in digital ID and payment systems through robust frameworks and policies.
The summit highlighted success stories such as Nigeria’s biometric digital identity program, which has improved access to essential services like healthcare and education. These examples showcase the transformative potential of DPI in addressing development challenges.
In addition to individual country initiatives, the summit emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in driving Africa’s digital transformation. Delegates called for new partnerships among African nations, international organizations, and private entities to bring technical expertise, funding, and policy support to scale DPI projects continent-wide.
Co-hosted by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Co-Develop, the summit was supported by the UNDP, ITU, and the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Technology. As DPI gains traction on global and regional agendas, the momentum generated in Cairo is expected to have a far-reaching impact.
The next Global DPI Summit is scheduled for 2025, returning to Egypt to build on the achievements of this year’s event. Africa’s digital renaissance is underway, and the world is eager to see how the continent will seize this moment to redefine its future.
