Page 12 - Building digital public infrastructure for cities and communities

Executive Summary

Cities and communities around the world are undergoing a profound transformation. As urban
populations grow and the demands on public services intensify, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
has emerged as a foundational enabler of inclusive, efficient and sustainable urban development.
DPI for Cities refers to a suite of trustworthy, secured, and interoperable people-centric digital
systems – including digital identity, payments, data exchanges, and service platforms – that serve as
public goods and enable the delivery of essential services in the digital age as well as the inclusive,
open, sustainable, fair, safe and secure engagement between people, and the city’s processes, and
its underlying technologies.

This framework document provides a strategic roadmap for city leaders, ministers and policymakers
to understand, design, and implement DPI that delivers real impact for people and communities.
Grounded in global experiences and aligned with key international frameworks – the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), the Pact for the Future, and the Global Digital Compact (GDC) – the
document positions DPI for Cities as a critical tool for shaping the cities of tomorrow.

Key insights include:

• DPI is not just technology infrastructure – it is a policy and governance imperative: When
designed as public goods, DPI systems promote transparency, inclusion, accountability, and
innovation in city services and governance.
• Benefits are wide-ranging: From improving access to health, education, and financial services,
to enabling real-time urban management through Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics,
to boosting civic participation through digital engagement platforms.

• Challenges remain: Fragmented legacy systems, lack of interoperability, digital inequality,
weak data governance, and capacity constraints – particularly in low-resource environments.
These must be addressed proactively to ensure DPI benefits all.

• Case studies offer practical examples of DPI for Cities delivering measurable outcomes – such
as streamlining subsidy delivery, enabling smart mobility, expanding financial inclusion, and
enhancing service integration.

• Inclusive governance, legal frameworks, and standards are essential to ensure DPI is trusted,
rights-based, and future-proof. International standards (from International Telecommunication
Union, and others) provide a solid foundation for cities to build scalable, interoperable systems.

• Global alignment is more urgent than ever: DPI supports many of the SDGs directly, while
also offering a tangible mechanism for cities and nations to localize the principles of the Pact
for the Future and Global Digital Compact – including digital inclusion, responsible innovation,
and the recognition of Digital Public Goods (DPGs).

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