As the global movement for safe and inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) continues to gain momentum, this edition captures the spirit of reflection, innovation, and collaborations moving the needle on inclusive digital transformation. From hands-on workshops and milestone moments at the UN General Assembly to the launch of our updated Universal DPI Safeguards Framework 2.0, the DPI community continues to shape pathways for responsible adoption.

We also look ahead to the Global DPI Summit and celebrate the growing network of partners, many of whom will convene at the DPGA Annual Meeting and through the 50in5 collaboration, who are driving real-world impact.

📢 UNGA80: Every DPI with Safeguards

📌 Safeguards in Action: A Global Commitment to Inclusive Digital Infrastructure

During the ​High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the UN​ General Assembly, the DPI Safeguards initiative  took center stage at  Digital Cooperation Day, hosted in New York City by the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET). The event marked one year since the adoption of the Global Digital Compact, and brought together leaders from across government, civil society, and global institutions to explore how Universal DPI Safeguards are accelerating progress toward the SDGs.

The morning session, “Guardrails to Accelerate Progress on the SDGs,” spotlighted how countries like Brazil, Rwanda and South Africa are embedding safeguards into their national digital strategies, making digital services more inclusive, interoperable, and trustworthy.

“Safeguards are the heartbeat of digital public infrastructure,” said Keyzom Ngodup Massally, UNDP’s Head of Digital and AI Programmes. 

Safeguards were also front and center in country showcases from India, Malawi, Nigeria, and Uganda, where emerging lessons demonstrated how inclusive design and multi-stakeholder collaboration can unlock creative, locally adapted solutions. During the event, Brazil and South Africa formally committed to adopting the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework, joining a growing network of implementers.

🚀 Product Launches: Tools for Real-World Implementation

The session also marked a major milestone: the launch of three new global resources designed to help countries and institutions implement safeguards more effectively:

1. Universal DPI Safeguards Framework v2.0
   Expanded through country pilots and ecosystem feedback, the updated framework reflects real-world needs and maintains relevance across diverse contexts.

2. Pathways to DPI Safeguards Implementation
   A practical guide showing that safeguards must flow through policy, institutions, people, processes, and technology.

3. DPI Safeguards Indicator Library
   A dynamic tool to evaluate DPI effectiveness using actionable metrics across governance and user impact.

💡 Financial Inclusion & Governance: Trust at the Core

The afternoon panel, “DPI Safeguards for Financial Inclusion,” turned the spotlight on governance, trust, and the risks that grow alongside digital expansion. Speakers from Sierra Leone, Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), Accion, and Co-Develop emphasized the need for clear rules, resilient trust, and context-specific evidence to guide DPI investments.

“We’ve seen extraordinary progress in reducing poverty but that progress has stalled,” warned Michael Schlein, CEO of Accion. “There’s urgency now to harness technology and safeguards to reignite inclusive growth.”

🌍 Spotlight: Partnership with 50-in-5

Momentum for safe and inclusive DPI continues to grow and one of the most exciting developments this quarter is the launch of a new DPI Safeguards Accelerator for country action, a joint effort between the 50-in-5 initiative and the DPI Safeguards Initiative.

This partnership is designed to help countries move from commitment to implementation, fast. By combining the convening power of 50-in-5 with the technical depth of the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework, the Accelerator offers tailored support to governments ready to embed safeguards into their digital infrastructure strategies.

Countries are increasingly recognizing that safeguards are not just a technical add-on, they’re a prerequisite for trust, inclusion, and long-term impact. The Accelerator helps governments navigate the complexities of DPI implementation by offering:

• Hands-on guidance using the newly launched Universal DPI Safeguards Framework v2.0

• Support to apply the Pathways to DPI Safeguards Implementation

• Access to the Indicators Library to measure progress and impact

• Technical assistance will include structured sprints - activation and training on safeguards, catalytic work and long-term sustenance

• A platform to share lessons, challenges, and innovations with peers

The Accelerator is already engaging with countries across regions, helping them build capacity, align stakeholders, and design DPI systems that work for everyone.

“This is about turning principles into practice”, said the DPI Safeguards Secretariat. “We’re excited to work with governments that are ready to lead and learn as they build digital infrastructure that’s safe, inclusive, and future-ready”.

As more countries join the 50-in-5 movement, the Accelerator will serve as a critical engine for scaling safeguards globally, ensuring that DPI delivers on its promise as a public good.

👉 Learn more about the Accelerator and partnership here

🏢 Looking Ahead: Global DPI Summit 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa

The journey toward safe and inclusive digital public infrastructure is picking up speed and the Global DPI Summit, themed “DPI in Practice: Implementing Tomorrow’s Digital Society Today,” is where the world comes together to shape what’s next.

Hosted by the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET), UNDP, The World Bank, The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Co-Develop, this year’s Summit is more than just a gathering. It’s a space for countries, innovators, civil society, and global institutions to share what’s working, what’s challenging, and what’s possible when we put people at the center of digital transformation.

“Every DPI With Safeguards: From Vision to Practice”, will take place on Day 1 diving into a critical question: How do we make trust the foundation of every DPI project? Because without trust, there’s no uptake and without uptake, there’s no digital dividend.

The session will spotlight real stories from countries already putting safeguards into action, and set a bold collective goal: 50 countries adopting DPI safeguards by 2028. It’s a call to move from principles to practice, together.

Whether you're a policymaker, technologist, civil society leader, or funder, the Summit offers a chance to connect, learn, and contribute to shaping the future of DPI, one that’s safe, inclusive, and built to last.

👉 ​Follow the conversations with #GDPIS2025

 📅 Events Highlights

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• 19th Ministerial Meeting on Digital Government, Guatemala, October 28-29: A regional ministerial forum advancing equitable digital transformation through consensus-building, cross-border identity infrastructure and governance innovation. Click here to learn more.
  
  
• DPGA Annual Members Meeting, Brasilia, 24-26 November: The flagship gathering of the Digital Public Goods Alliance will bring together members for three days of collaboration, learning, and action on DPGs (including sessions on safeguards, open-source policy, and DPI). Click here to learn more.

October Highlight

• “Putting Safeguards in Practice” Webinar, Online, 22 October: The webinar explored practical pathways for adopting and assessing safeguards, focusing on how principles can be translated into measurable outcomes. The interactive session featured country-level insights and a live demo of new tools designed to turn safeguards into actionable results.
   
  Click here to watch the recording.
  

📣 Call to Action

Submit practices for the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework

We invite civil society organizations interested in advancing DPI safeguards adoption in their countries to reach out. There will be upcoming DPI safeguards-focused sessions that could be relevant to your work and engagement.

If you're a digital public good (DPG) provider or from the private sector working on DPI implementation and have documented practices around safety or inclusion measures (such as the pieces by MOSIP or Mojaloop), we’d love to hear from you.

💡 Innovation in Digital Tools and Platforms

The DPI Safeguards Initiative is focused on driving adoption by creating user-friendly, accessible digital tools that offer guidance and knowledge throughout implementation - whether by government authorities, technology providers or civil society advocates. To ensure these tools are fit-for-purpose and responsive to user needs, we are building a community of testers to provide valuable feedback that will help refine and improve our digital products.

Sign up now  to share your insights and help us build better digital solutions.