The Future of Digital Cooperation

As the world enters the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, inclusive digital public infrastructure (DPI) has emerged as a key mechanism to transform service delivery and increase resilience for future crises. Digital public goods (DPGs) are rapidly becoming indispensable digital cooperation tools, helping countries shorten their learning and adoption curve as they build DPI. From cash transfers and food distribution to tech-led models of education and vaccine delivery, the last decade has seen a surge in the digitalization of public and private sector services. DPI systems have become critical to enabling meaningful delivery of public and private services and underpinning the achievement of a range of SDGs, including poverty reduction, financial inclusion, and climate resilience. ‍ As global digital cooperation accelerates and more countries build inclusive DPI, there is a significant opportunity to align investments, share technology and implementation insights, and learn from the pioneering countries championing the use of DPGs for DPI. Contributions from countries will be important inputs to the Global Digital Compact and be complemented in DPG Charter efforts. ‍ While DPI and other digital systems can unlock immense value, they can also expose people to risks such as privacy violations, data-driven behavioural manipulation, identity theft and fraud, and exclusion from essential public services. This event will garner commitments to put rights and inclusion at the centre of digital transformation and digital cooperation.