At the New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2023, the Leaders recognised Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as being vital for financial inclusion, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. Over time, DPI has developed globally through strong technical collaboration between technologists, innovators, governments, and businesses. However, rigorous, multi-disciplinary research has gaps, particularly in economic policy. This limits opportunities for cross-border learning, hindering a comprehensive understanding of the impact of DPI, the associated challenges, and the lessons from use cases.
To address this, a Community of Practice (CoP) on DPI for Development (DPI4D) was launched in September 2024 by ICRIER, in partnership with the Gates Foundation. This CoP, currently comprising 32 member organisations from 17 countries and horizontal associates, fosters a research-based dialogue among global think tanks and academia. Between September 2024 and September 2025, DPI4D convened 12 global virtual seminars, moving beyond definitions of DPI to the realities of designing, governing, and evaluating DPI for development. The following are some core insights that emerged from monthly discussions, highlighting critical tensions, consensus points, and the evolving future agenda for DPI.
