Page 43 - Building digital public infrastructure for cities and communities

infrastructure and strengthens community preparedness in the face of climate-induced health
threats (Booth & Lautarup, 2024). In addition, maintaining communication during emergencies
is vital. Smart infrastructure such as digitally enabled streetlights or mobile citizen apps can be
adapted into mesh networks or public Wi-Fi hotspots when conventional systems fail. These
networks support the continuity of services, facilitate emergency coordination and enable timely
evacuations – crucial aspects of resilience (Baumgärtner et al., 2019). DPI thus provides cities with
flexible, robust systems that adapt in real time to emerging threats.

Fostering transparency and public trust

While resilience secures continuity, transparency and trust ensure legitimacy. DPI opens new
channels for citizen engagement by enabling transparent, inclusive and participatory governance.
Traditional mechanisms – like in-person consultations or paper-based feedback – often limit public
involvement. In contrast, digital platforms powered by DPI allow real-time consultations, crowd-
sourced policymaking and performance monitoring.

In Hong Kong, research shows that when citizens are actively engaged in digital governance
platforms, their trust in public institutions and satisfaction with services increase (Hartley, 2023).
Similarly, Estonia’s secure digital identity and data systems allow residents to interact directly with
government agencies, track decisions and access public records – enhancing accountability and
administrative responsiveness (European Union, 2023). Cities across Europe are institutionalizing
participatory budgeting through open-source tools such as Decidim. In Zurich and Lucerne,
residents have submitted proposals, voted on priorities and influenced how public funds are
allocated. In Zurich's Wipkingen district, for example, eight citizen-driven initiatives were selected
for funding out of nearly 100 proposals. These experiences show how DPI enables co-governance,
making government more responsive to the needs and ideas of its residents (Barandiaran et al.,
2024; Suter et al., 2024).

Together, these cases illustrate that DPI is not only a vehicle for delivering services, but also a tool
for building cities that are adaptive in crises, transparent in decision-making and trusted by their
citizens. By enabling real-time information sharing, participatory platforms and inclusive access to
services, DPI reinforces the social contract between governments and communities. In doing so,
it transforms urban governance into a more resilient, accountable and citizen-driven system, one
capable of withstanding tomorrow’s risks while deepening public trust today.

5.4 Digital innovation and sustainable economic empowerment

Economic competitiveness increasingly depends on how well cities and countries leverage DPI
to foster innovation, lower barriers to entrepreneurship and enable inclusive growth. DPI acts as a
foundational layer – connecting people, businesses and governments in real time – while reducing
transaction costs and creating a trusted environment for data and financial flows. As UNDP (2023)
notes, DPI is a key catalyst for sustainable digital transformation and a driver of equitable economic
development.

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