During the high-level week of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), a key event titled “Digital Public Infrastructure: What’s Next After the Global Digital Compact?” was co-hosted by the United Nations Office of the Secretary-General Envoy on Technology (OSET) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
The discussion, opened on behalf of H.E. Under-Secretary-General Amandeep Gill, convened a distinguished high-level panel of global leaders and experts:
High-Level Panel Participants:
- H.E. Veronica M. Nduva, CBS – Secretary-General, East African Communities.
- H.E. Paula Ingabire – Minister of Information, Communication, Technology, and Innovation, Rwanda.
- H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud – President of Somalia.
- H.E. Jutta Urpilainen – EU Commissioner.
- H.E. Ambassador Luis Gallegos – Chairman of G3ict, the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs, GIA Longevity, and UNITAR.
Additional Panel Discussion Members:
- Anna Sophie Herken – CEO, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).
- Eileen Donahoe, JD, PhD – Special Envoy for Digital Freedom, US State Department.
- H.E. Cristina Duarte – UN Under-Secretary-General, Office of the Special Advisor in Africa.
- C.V. Madhukar – CEO, Co-Develop.
- Rodger Voorhies – President, Global Growth & Opportunity, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Focus of the Event:
The session explored how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is becoming a cornerstone of global development, emphasizing the need for equity, safety, and inclusion in digital systems. The event highlighted the launch of the “Universal DPI Safeguards Framework”, a comprehensive guide to building safe and inclusive DPI for societies.
Key Takeaways:
- Universal Safeguards for DPI: Establishing guidelines ensures population trust and widespread usage.
- Driving Development: Well-constructed DPIs can act as catalysts for socio-economic progress.
- Trust in Digitalization: The pace of digital adoption globally hinges on the trust of the people.
This event underscored the importance of DPI as a tool to drive global development and foster inclusive societies while addressing challenges of digital equity and safety.
United Nations General Assembly Website
