Digital Public Infrastructure and Development: A World Bank Group Approach

DPI is an approach to digitalization focused on creating “foundational, digital building blocks designed for the public benefit.” By providing essential digital functions at society scale that can be reused across sectors, DPIs enable public and private service providers to build on these systems, innovate, and roll out new services more quickly and efficiently. Common systems built as DPIs include digital identity and electronic signatures, digital payments, and data sharing. However, to provide DPI functionality, these systems must embed principles such as inclusion, openness, modularity, inclusivity, user-centricity, privacy-by-design, and strong governance.

This paper provides a common framework and primer on DPI for policymakers, practitioners, WBG staff, and the broader development community.

By leveraging the opportunities presented by DPI, countries can accelerate their digital transformation journeys and achieve more inclusive and sustainable development. The World Bank Group is committed to supporting this crucial endeavor. The WBG’s new Global DPI Program will address key knowledge gaps and support countries in building safe, inclusive, and transformative DPI.

Clark, J.; Marin, G.; Ardic Alper, O.P.; Galicia Rabadan, G.A.. 2025. Digital Public Infrastructure and Development: A World Bank Group Approach. Digital Transformation White Paper; Volume 1.