Digital Impact Alliance

🇳🇬 We're proud to have worked with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission- NDPC to strengthen inclusive data governance and responsible data sharing practices. Across Africa, governments are accelerating their use of data and #DPI to deliver faster, smarter, and more accessible public services. The momentum is growing—and with the rise of #AI, new possibilities are emerging to solve complex challenges and reimagine how public systems can work for everyone. But with this rapid progress comes a delicate balancing act. Many countries face tough decisions: ❓Where to focus limited resources ❓How to build strong data governance frameworks ❓How to ensure that investments in a DPI approach deliver shared, long-term value rather than isolated gains At the heart of this transformation lies a critical question: How do we protect people’s rights while unlocking the full public value of data? As vast amounts of personal data are generated and used at unprecedented scale, data protection is an essential bridge between safety and innovation – helping innovators build trust with users and government partners, and in turn, reducing barriers to adoption. Learn more about our work and insights in our latest paper 👉 https://lnkd.in/d58GzQyx

In case you missed it, we’ve just launched new research exploring the intersection of AI and DPI — two forces reshaping how societies connect, govern, and grow. Through consultative interviews, desk research, and use case analysis, this work tackles one of the most pressing questions for the DPI community: How can we harness AI’s transformative potential while ensuring equity and responsible implementation? 📍 Today at the DPI Summit, we’re hosting a consultative workshop to dive deeper into these synergies and shape a shared understanding of how AI and DPI can work together to advance inclusive digital development. The research will culminate in a comprehensive report and policy brief, featuring actionable recommendations for policymakers — to be published alongside the AI Impact Summit in February. AI’s influence is growing rapidly. Let's ensure that growth translates into positive, sustainable impact. Learn more and read our expert comment: https://lnkd.in/e-aQQyK5

As we work to advance trusted data sharing, usage, and governance, we’re pleased to partner with the Government of Benin. 🇧🇯 With Benin entering a new phase of digital transformation, we’re helping the government uncover key insights into their national data exchange, including what’s working well, what challenges have constrained further progress, and how the current system is helping drive towards Benin’s overall development goals. This collaboration reflects the goals of our country engagement work more broadly, as we explore the different components of good data ecosystems and, most importantly, help advance them. Our ongoing efforts include partnerships with countries across the continent: 🇸🇱 In Sierra Leone, we’re developing an updated National Data Strategy that aligns with continental priorities. This effort aims to strengthen national data governance, promote the responsible use of data, and support regional integration. 🇳🇬 In Nigeria, we’re exploring how AI can be responsibly integrated with DPI. Through this work, we aim to build a shared understanding of the opportunities and risks of AI in public systems, while laying the groundwork for scalable, locally relevant solutions. 🇪🇹 In Ethiopia, we’re helping create a national data governance framework that promotes responsible data sharing and improves public service delivery. And, to illustrate this framework in practice, we’re prioritizing high-impact use cases that demonstrate how data can drive economic growth, spur innovation, and generate social impact. Learn more about our efforts in Benin 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/efYQBRE4 And, dive into our country engagement work 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dBcYZCfq

Our consultation on AI and DPI in Cape Town tomorrow is an official Pre-Summit Event of the India AI Impact Summit. 🚀 📅 “Shaping the Future of AI and DPI Synergies: A Consultative Workshop” will take place tomorrow on Day 2 of the #GlobalDPISummit from 5:00-6:00 p.m. During this interactive session, we’ll explore innovative ways that #AI and #DPI can be leveraged – together – to advance inclusive digital development, foster trust, and spur innovation. And, this consultation will directly feed recommendations that will be launched in February at the 2026 India AI Impact Summit. We're so grateful to our partners who are supporting this session: Gates Foundation, Centre for Communication Governance, Global Network Initiative, United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, UNDP, International Telecommunication Union, and EkStep Foundation. We hope to see you there! 🔗 Learn more @ https://lnkd.in/dApnUZT6

Sierra Leone ranks among the 10% of countries most vulnerable to climate change, and its capital, Freetown, sits at the frontlines of this challenge. This fast-growing coastal city of 1.3 million residents faces mounting climate risks: intensifying heat, floods and landslides driven by erratic rainfall, and severe deforestation that strips away more than 500,000 trees each year. Since 2018, under Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr’s leadership, Freetown has become a model for data-driven, community-centered climate action. From planting over one million trees to developing digital tracking systems that link reforestation, heat management, and waste-to-energy initiatives, Freetown is showing what’s possible when data, trust, and local leadership come together. Our latest Climate Data Joint Learning Network spotlight examines how Freetown is harnessing data to drive transformation — and what lessons its journey holds for other cities navigating the complex realities of urban climate resilience. 💡 Key insights: - Data only drives impact when it’s connected, shared, and translated into action.  - Building trust in data systems is as vital as building the systems themselves.  - Local knowledge, when paired with smart data-sharing technologies, can accelerate progress toward sustainable and inclusive climate solutions. Freetown’s example underscores a vital truth: resilience is not built from data alone, but from how cities use that data to empower people, inform policy, and inspire collective action. Our deepest thanks to our colleagues and collaborators in Freetown – and especially Claudine Davies - for their contribution to this paper. 🌍 Read the full Freetown spotlight here: https://lnkd.in/e38VDTfj

Interested in exploring insights around DPI, data sharing, and more? Dive into our Fellowship. 🌟 Over the past months, our Fellows have conducted in-depth research into pressing topics in digital transformation, including the challenges of open-source adoption for DPI, digital technology’s role in accelerating clean energy adoption, and the benefits of responsible dark data management and governance. Diving into their chosen topics, they’ve documented, analyzed, and shared their findings with the digital transformation community. We’re excited to leverage their knowledge and expertise to inform our broader work driving good data governance and digital infrastructure. 👉 Learn more and read their work @ https://lnkd.in/eimBGvik Kassim Vera Risper Onyango Arjun Gargeyas Manuel Aguilera Heather Openshaw

I’ve been thinking about how easy it is to lose sight of people when we talk about #DPI and #AI. We often focus on the technology, the governance and the regulation - all important - but give less attention to how these systems translate into value and trust for ordinary people. When we shift the lens to people, to if and why they need this technology in the first place and the form in which they can best experience and derive value from it, we begin to refocus on what digital transformation should ultimately be about. People's interests should shape technology and governance, not the other way around. This is also true for #dataprotection. When we humanise technology, protecting personal data stops being just a compliance exercise and becomes a design practice and act of accountability. That is the idea behind my latest expert comment linked below. https://lnkd.in/d-rf3jtv

As a global alliance, our work is made possible by the collaboration, support, and dedication of our community. That’s why we’re taking a moment to reflect on the incredible milestones achieved by our donors. 👏 We’re thankful to our alliance – both past and present – for their commitment to driving real, measurable impact for people across the globe. 👉 Through their work on MPesa, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is revolutionizing financial inclusion for people across Kenya. By enabling people to digitally send and receive money without a bank account, they’ve brought 34 million Kenyans into the formal economy. 👉 USAID’s efforts in Ukraine have allowed Ukrainians to access and use critical digital credentials – including passports, proof of education, and health records – during times of war. These capabilities are contributing to the country’s incredible resilience and supporting millions of displaced citizens. 👉 Through their partnership with the World Bank’s Findex, the Gates Foundation has been instrumental in building the world’s first comprehensive database measuring digital progress, access, and inclusion. These efforts also set the foundation for gauging the impact of digital technology on elements like satisfaction, choice, and trust. 👉 Sida has sparked incredible progress in women’s digital empowerment, identifying their unique needs, barriers, and social constraints, and, most importantly, determining how digital tools can leveraged to advance gender inclusion. As risk takers, catalyst for new ideas, and global change-makers, our donors’ work informs – and strengthens – our own, while also driving benefits for individuals, communities, and our planet. We are grateful today – and everyday – for their contributions. Ulrike Pokorski Sanjay Jain Deon Woods Bell Ciro Vasquez Lauren Woodman Alessandra Lustrati Ricci Coughlan Sebastian Mhatre Christopher Burns True Schedvin Nanjira Sambuli

Did you know? 💡 The success or failure of a national digital transformation effort can often be traced back to a single choice: which use case to start with. Use case-based approaches ground digital investments in people’s needs, institutional realities, and pathways to measurable impact. And, most importantly, they transform abstract policy goals into concrete outcomes. With such importance, having a clear, well-defined definition of what makes a good use case is critical. That’s why we developed the Use Case Prioritization Framework – a replicable evaluation tool designed to help governments identify feasible – and impactful - use cases that can solve real-world problems. Learn more about the framework and dive into our insights on use cases here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eUcAVKgv