Page 26 - Building digital public infrastructure for cities and communities

city systems and services with national/federal governmental systems and services (e.g., national
federated identity systems).

2.4 Tools and support from the U4SSC and UN agencies

The U4SSC initiative and its network of key partners contribute to the smart sustainable cities’ global
agenda and dialogue, through converging several viewpoints including infrastructure resilience,
environmental stewardship, inclusive governance and innovation. Across UN agencies, there is a
clear demand for integrated approaches that leverage data, partnerships and cross-sector synergies
to maximize cities’ contribution to the 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda.

The overarching insight is that a truly smart sustainable city is defined not merely by its digital
infrastructure, but also by its ability to harmonize resilience, equity, environmental health, innovation
and inclusive prosperity. Agencies’ strategic plans and flagship programmes together create a
global architecture where urban governance must be anticipatory (climate-smart), participatory
(inclusive and rights-based), productive (innovation-driven) and regenerative (nature-based). Cities
must thus develop integrated strategies that cut across infrastructure, digitalization, environment,
gender, culture, and economic transformation to meet the multiple and interconnected demands
laid out by the UN agencies and global frameworks. In essence, achieving smart sustainability is
about systemic transformation rather than sectoral excellence.

3 Implementation challenges: developing inclusive and sustainable DPI
policies

Establishing inclusive and sustainable DPI governance is essential for long-term success. Since
DPI increasingly serves as a key enabler of inclusive development, efficient public service delivery
and economic resilience, governments worldwide face growing challenges in ensuring its
effective implementation. Developing sustainable DPI goes beyond technical solutions; it requires
navigating complex political, financial, institutional and ethical landscapes. Although there is a
broad recognition of DPI’s potential as a digital public good, implementation often stalls because of
fragmented governance, limited funding, outdated legacy systems and overreliance on proprietary
technologies. This chapter identifies and unpacks the key challenges that hinder the inclusive and
sustainable deployment of DPI and discusses how cities can ensure all residents benefit from digital
services, how governance models can promote SDGs, and which funding and partnership models
can support DPI deployment.

3.1 Accessibility and digital inclusion

Despite the transformative promise of DPI, certain communities continue to face challenges
that prevent them from fully benefiting from these systems. One significant issue is the digital
divide, particularly in terms of access to devices and reliable connectivity. For example, in parts of

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