Robert Opp

Digital technologies – from mobile phones, to more emerging innovations leveraging artificial intelligence and other technologies – are having exciting and important impact around the world. Halfway to the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), digital could also play a crucial role in getting progress against the SDGs back on-track – with progress against many of the Goals slowing or even reversing in recent years. The SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda – developed by ITU and… Show more

Digital technologies – from mobile phones, to more emerging innovations leveraging artificial intelligence and other technologies – are having exciting and important impact around the world. Halfway to the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), digital could also play a crucial role in getting progress against the SDGs back on-track – with progress against many of the Goals slowing or even reversing in recent years. The SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda – developed by ITU and UNDP, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Boston Consulting Group - explores the transformative potential of digital. The publication highlights how digital is already positively impacting lives and livelihoods around the world. It showcases 34 global digital solutions that are already delivering progress against the SDGs and sets out key ‘Digital Transformation Enablers’ to support governments, the private sector, and civil society in driving a whole-of-society digital transformation that leaves no one behind. Show less

The world is approaching the midpoint implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but only 12% of the targets are on track. Digital public infrastructure (DPI) has emerged as a critical enabler of digital transformation and can turbocharge progress to deliver on the SDGs. But to do so, it is paramount to understand where DPI has had success and where potentials exist in order to best leverage learnings and experiences on a global scale. This compendium presents a snapshot of… Show more

The world is approaching the midpoint implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but only 12% of the targets are on track. Digital public infrastructure (DPI) has emerged as a critical enabler of digital transformation and can turbocharge progress to deliver on the SDGs. But to do so, it is paramount to understand where DPI has had success and where potentials exist in order to best leverage learnings and experiences on a global scale. This compendium presents a snapshot of digital solutions in action around the world that can help move the needle and get us back on track. Mapped across all 17 SDGs, the solutions include a mix of mature DPI and others that could potentially become ones, all sharing the common characteristics of interoperability, open standards, societal scale, and robust enabling rules and regulations. With a whole-of-society approach for driving DPI in mind, this compendium is designed as a first of its kind knowledge resource and guide that decision-makers and practitioners in government, international development, private sector, or civil society can use to inform their efforts towards accelerating SDGs through DPI.

This compendium and a complementary playbook on DPI were released as part of India's G20 Presidency to help countries advance their digital transformation journey. Show less

Digital public infrastructure (DPI) has gained momentum globally. It is a potential game-changer that can help countries achieve their national development priorities. For countries in the early stage of their DPI adoption journey, or may be just beginning to embrace this novel concept: where should they start? Beyond the definitions and principles, what are some practical steps they need to consider? This DPI playbook is designed as a practical and public resource that low and middle-income… Show more

Digital public infrastructure (DPI) has gained momentum globally. It is a potential game-changer that can help countries achieve their national development priorities. For countries in the early stage of their DPI adoption journey, or may be just beginning to embrace this novel concept: where should they start? Beyond the definitions and principles, what are some practical steps they need to consider? This DPI playbook is designed as a practical and public resource that low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in particular can utilize in building an inclusive and rights-based DPI. Building on the common framework on DPI, insights from consultations with LMICs, coupled with the international experiences from countries leading in the DPI space, this playbook provides a first of its kind blueprint that can help countries kickstart their journeys with respect to the technology, governance and community components of DPI. Key features include checklists and assessment tools with case studies and best practices to guide government officials across ministries and agencies on how to go about designing and implementing DPI. Show less

Digital transformation must be intentionally inclusive if it is to contribute to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals. This policy brief explores the concept of inclusive digital transformation and what it involves in practice. The brief emphasizes the importance of approaching digital transformation in an inclusive whole-of-society way and outlines its illustrative benefits for countries and societies. The brief also provides some inspiration for how countries can accelerate inclusive… Show more

Digital transformation must be intentionally inclusive if it is to contribute to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals. This policy brief explores the concept of inclusive digital transformation and what it involves in practice. The brief emphasizes the importance of approaching digital transformation in an inclusive whole-of-society way and outlines its illustrative benefits for countries and societies. The brief also provides some inspiration for how countries can accelerate inclusive digital transformation and mitigate its potential harms, through case studies and ten emerging good practices. Show less

Despite dramatic advances in technology, some of the world's largest problems are still with us. How can innovation be brought to bear on the Sustainable Development Goals?