The Digital Public Infrastructure in Crises

(Mains GS 2&3 : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation & Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.)

Context:

Instability due to climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing war in Ukraine have resulted in a cycle of crises in which many countries are experiencing devastating effects on healthcare systems, education, and food security.

Long term effects:

•  According to the United Nations (UN), “Global crises caused by the pandemic of COVID-19, since early 2020, can risk the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and as a consequence, the SDGs’ implementation process can be slowed or even reversed.”
• The residual effect on human welfare will be felt for years to come, but the impacts have so far been disproportionate, with one key differentiator—regardless of income levels, countries that were more digitally prepared were able to adapt better.

Role of Digital Public Infrastructure:

• The ability to respond swiftly and effectively to global crises requires strong digital public infrastructure (DPI). 
• DPI refers to solutions and systems that enable the effective provision of essential society-wide functions and services in the public and private sectors. 
• This includes but is not limited to digital forms of ID and verification, civil registration, payment (digital transactions and money transfers), data exchange, and information systems.
• These foundational digital systems can increase resilience and have indeed often been catalysed at a time of crisis.

Need digital Public Goods:

• Digital public goods (DPGs) are open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards, and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable laws and best practices, do no harm by design, and help attain the SDGs. 
• Digital public goods can help countries to avoid vendor lock-in, leverage existing solutions and adapt them to local needs, and support interoperability between different platforms and solutions.
• According to a survey by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) ID4Africa in 2018, vendor lock-in was the largest concern among national identity authorities in Africa.
• In September 2022 at a UN General Assembly convening organised by the UN Development Programme and the Digital Public Goods Alliance, countries from around the world committed to sharing DPGs and best practices for the implementation of DPI.

Actions needed:

• Access to and dissemination of data is critical to helping governments, NGOs, and multilaterals build resilience and the organisations that collect and process data must lead by example by providing and encouraging open and free access. 
• Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, access to vaccines was a top priority, however, the data related to those vaccines was also crucial to a country’s successful pandemic response and vaccine roll out.
• Taking an open and inclusive approach to DPI can stimulate entrepreneurship, innovation, and productive competition, but the private sector should also take a proactive role in producing and contributing to DPI. 
• Governments should undertake joint investments in, and help establish dedicated governance for, DPI that is needed to fulfil international commitments in areas such as climate change mitigation.
• Digital public infrastructure and other digital systems can unlock value by breaking down data silos and creating shared technology infrastructure, encouraging private sector participation for the delivery of innovative solutions.

Conclusion:

• Digital public infrastructure, when implemented inclusively with safeguards in mind, can contribute to a country’s resilience in the face of crisis, as seen in response to COVID-19 and more.
• Thus, focus on inclusive DPI must remain a central priority for global digital cooperation in the G20.