Class 1. Introduction to DPI

Course Description

This course is designed to broaden participants' understanding of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) governance. It aims to equip participants with the skills to identify and prioritize risks, recognize key actors, and understand institutional responses necessary for leveraging DPI to achieve inclusive and safe societies. The content is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of DPI, from foundational concepts to the governance challenges posed by digital transformation.

The purpose of Class 1 is to help students understand what DPI is and to explore its principles. This unit will cover foundational DPIs, distinguish them from emerging sectoral DPIs, and conceptualize governance — a sometimes abstract concept— within the context of DPI.

Key Learning Outcomes

Our goal is for students to understand the topics below after completing the first class.

Learning Outcome 1

Participants will understand the infrastructural approach to digitization and the concept of DPI as a fundamental aspect of societal participation in the digital era.

Key topics covered:

• The evolution from siloed government IT systems to integrated digital infrastructures.
• Case studies on payment systems (e.g., UPI vs. M-Pesa) showcasing the move from proprietary to open infrastructure solutions.
• The impact of integrated systems on efficiency and citizen engagement.
• Definition and scope of Digital Public Infrastructure (including their characteristics).
• Core principles and features of DPIs, focusing on inclusivity, interoperability, and public accountability.
• Introduction to key foundational DPIs and their role in modern governance.

Learning Outcome 2

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of foundational DPIs and will explore real-world examples of their successful implementation. Additionally, they will become familiar with sectoral DPIs in key fields such as health, education, and climate, examining how these specialized DPIs are developed and utilized to address sector-specific challenges.

Key topics covered:

• Examples of Foundational DPIs (highlighting success stories).
• Case study on digital identity systems (e.g., Aadhar in India) focusing on the introduction to biometric Digital ID, challenges of governance, and the trade-offs between speed, governance, and trust.
• Exploration of payment systems like PIX as a model for foundational DPIs.
• Exploration of X-Road as an example of data exchange.
• Introduction to Sectoral DPIs (with a focus on successful implementations).
• The role of sectoral DPIs in addressing specific societal needs and their integration with foundational DPIs.
• Sectoral DPI Case Studies (showcasing success in addressing specific challenges).
• Sectoral DPI implementations in health, education, and climate, discussing their unique challenges and successes.

Learning Outcome 3

Participants will understand the risks associated with scaling up the implementation of both sectoral and foundational DPIs and will recognize the critical role of governance in mitigating these risks. They will be able to define governance within the context of DPI and identify the core principles that underpin effective DPI governance. The same cases explored in Learning Outcome 1 will be revisited to analyze the governance challenges, failures, and the lessons learned from these experiences.

Key topics covered:

• Risks in Scaling Up DPI Implementation.
• Examination of challenges such as trust and safety in the context of DPI expansion, drawing on examples from Aadhaar and UPI.
• Potential risks such as exclusion, corruption, and the failure to scale effectively, as seen in various case studies.
• The Role of Governance in DPI.
• Overview of the dimensions of DPI governance, including technical, legal, operational, and oversight aspects.
• Discussion on why DPI is not just a technical solution, emphasizing the importance of proper governance to prevent conflicts and challenges.
• Core Principles of DPI Governance.
• Exploration of core principles such as transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and trust in the context of DPI.
• Emerging Governance Challenges (including examples of failure and policy responses as learnings from those failures).
• Case studies of governance failures, such as issues in the mPesa model and India's Public Distribution System (PDS), to highlight the importance of robust governance frameworks.
• Lessons learned from these failures and how they informed the development of more resilient governance strategies in subsequent DPI projects.

Class Script

If you plan to teach this class on your own, we’ve created a script to guide you through the process. Click here to access it.

Arguments

These are the key justifications that help shape the narrative of this class.

Argument 1

The shift from siloed IT systems and governmental services to integrated Digital Public Infrastructure marks a paradigm shift in governments

Governments worldwide are moving away from fragmented, siloed IT systems toward integrated digital public infrastructures (DPIs). This shift represents not just a technological update but a fundamental change in how government operates and how their governance is structures. The introduction of foundational DPIs like digital identity and payment systems has created an infrastructural backbone, which allows for enhanced interoperability, inclusivity, and public accountability in delivering services and policies.

Argument 2

Foundational DPIs provide the core governance practices for sectoral DPIs

While foundational DPIs like digital identity and payment systems are critical for modern governance, sectoral DPIs address specific societal challenges, particularly in areas like health, education, and climate. These specialized DPIs build on the foundational DPIs and create tailored solutions that can more effectively target sector-specific problems.

Argument 3

Governance is key to mitigating risks in DPIs expansion

As both foundational and sectoral DPIs scale up, effective governance becomes critical in managing risks such as exclusion, corruption, and the potential misuse of data. Governance in the context of DPI must address not only technical aspects but also ensure that these infrastructures are inclusive, transparent, and accountable to the public. Lessons from initiatives which face challenges, such as the Kenyan mPesa model or , demonstrate that without robust governance frameworks, DPIs may fail to deliver on their promises.

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