Almost 30 years ago, I wrote a book called: The road ahead, About the transformative potential of the Internet and other new digital technologies. At the time, I envisioned a world where online payments and e-government would change the way we interact with money, services, and each other. Today, much of this is a reality thanks to the development of digital public infrastructure. In my recent travels around the world, I have seen up close how DPI is revolutionizing the way countries serve their citizens, respond to crises, and grow their economies. And at the Gates Foundation, we believe this is an important part of our efforts to save lives and fight poverty in poor countries.
There are several core components that make up DPI. A digital identity system that securely proves who you are, a payment system that sends money instantly and cheaply, and a data exchange platform that allows different services to work together seamlessly. These systems and platforms are to the digital world what roads, bridges, and power lines are to the physical world: they are the underlying structures that connect people, data, and money online. A strong DPI can move countries forward by making it easier for people to access essential services, participate in the formal economy, and improve their lives. Conversely, if DPI is poorly implemented (or simply absent), it can slow a country’s development and perpetuate inefficiency and inequity.
in 21cent In the 20th century, digital public infrastructure has proven to be as important to progress as traditional brick-and-mortar stores, and its effects have been remarkable around the world, wherever it has been deployed. I am.
Take India, where I spent time earlier this year, as an example. Aadhaar, the country’s digital identity system, gives every resident the ability to prove who they are, and its unified payment interface facilitates instant payments via mobile phone. These programs have dramatically expanded access to financial services. The percentage of adults with a digital bank account has nearly doubled in just 10 years, reaching 78%. Additionally, account ownership rates for women tripled, completely closing the gender gap in account ownership. This is a massive economic empowerment unleashed by the rapid expansion of the country’s mobile network over the past decade.
Agriculture, the largest industry and source of labor in most developing countries, is also benefiting from digital transformation. In Kenya, the National Farm Registry, which registers 6 million geo-tagged farmer locations, sends weekly text messages containing crop- and region-specific weather alerts. In Rwanda, a digital system for tea industry workers has reduced the time between tea delivery and receiving wages from 15 days to up to three days.
In healthcare, DPI is also revolutionizing service delivery and payment systems. Recent polio vaccination campaigns in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali used digital approaches to track vaccinator participation, combined with mobile money for instant payments. More than 99% of vaccine recipients received payment within a week, compared to months under the previous paper-based system. Almost all vaccinators now prefer digital payments, as their efficiency and reliability were so appealing. But this is not just about getting paid on time, it’s also about building trust in our health systems so that life-saving vaccines reach every child.
Health workers enrolling in a mobile money services program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Masala Nsuku, a frontline health worker, will receive her paycheck on her mobile phone, giving her income more certainty.
Health workers enrolling in a mobile money services program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Masala Nsuku, a frontline health worker, will receive her paycheck on her mobile phone, giving her income more certainty.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, we recognized the role DPI could play in crisis response as well. Brazil rapidly developed a smartphone app and website linked to its national ID system, allowing 70 million previously unbanked people (40 percent of them) to register and receive emergency aid. It has become. Togo built a similar system from scratch in just 10 days, increasing the number of people eligible for social assistance from 12,000 to 1.8 million. The contrast was striking. In countries with offline systems, people remain in poverty, while in countries with robust digital ecosystems, aid can be delivered more quickly and efficiently. For many families, DPI was the difference between poverty and putting food on the table.
But digital public infrastructure is not only valuable in times of crisis, it can also significantly improve access to day-to-day government services. A pioneer in digital governance, Estonia launched the X-Road platform in 2001. Currently, 99% of the country’s public services are available online 24 hours a day. As a result, filing a tax return takes 3 to 5 minutes, but registering a business takes only 3 hours.
Because with the right investments, DPI can help countries avoid outdated and inefficient systems and accelerate progress by more than a decade.
In my work in the fields of climate change, technology, and global health, I have the opportunity to meet with leaders of many countries. Their excitement about DPI is palpable. That’s because, with the right investments, countries can use DPI to avoid outdated and inefficient systems, quickly deploy cutting-edge digital solutions, and leapfrog traditional development trajectories. Because progress could accelerate by more than a decade. Countries without large branch banks can move directly to mobile banking, serving far more people at a fraction of the cost. Similarly, digital ID systems will provide legal identification to millions of people who previously did not have official documents, from purchasing SIM cards to opening bank accounts to receiving social security benefits such as pensions. , giving you access to a wide range of services.
I’ve heard concerns about DPI. What do I think about this? Many are concerned that digital systems are tools of government surveillance. However, a well-designed DPI includes protections against abuse and also increases privacy. For example, a good digital identity system allows you to choose what personal information you share and with whom. It does not force anyone to participate. There are tools available that allow you to opt-in because of the many benefits. These systems reduce the need for physical copies of documents that can be lost or stolen, and even create an audit trail that makes it easier to detect and prevent unauthorized access. The goal is to empower people, not limit them.
Additionally, there are concerns that DPI will disenfranchise vulnerable populations, such as rural areas, the elderly, and those with limited digital literacy. But when DPI is well designed and thoughtfully implemented, it actually improves inclusion. In India, millions of previously unbanked people now have access to financial services, with biometric exceptions and enrollment assistance available for people with disabilities and people of no fixed address. I will.
A woman uses her ID to make a transaction at an Indian bank.
Meanwhile, countries can use open source tools such as MOSIP for digital ID and Mojaloop for payments to build a DPI that fosters regional competition and fosters innovation. By providing a common digital framework, we enable small businesses and startups to build services without having to create the underlying systems from scratch. More importantly, countries will be able to explore services that address their unique needs and challenges, without forcing them to rely on proprietary systems.
Digital public infrastructure supports many of the work we are doing at the Gates Foundation, including protecting children from preventable diseases, strengthening health systems, improving the lives and livelihoods of farmers, and empowering women to take control of their economic futures. This is the key to moving the issue forward. That’s why we’re so passionate about DPI and why we’re committing $200 million over five years to support DPI initiatives around the world.
With growing global consensus and the availability of proven solutions, we now have a unique opportunity to address these challenges. The future is digital. Let’s make sure it’s a future that benefits everyone.
