Technology Policy in Action: Exploring Digital Public Infrastructure Development

The Capstone project “Technology Policy in Action: Exploring Digital Public Infrastructure Development” was conducted in partnership with the World Economic Forum, a leader in advancing inclusive and effective digital governance. The project explored Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—a rapidly evolving and multifaceted approach to digital transformation.

Governments and institutions worldwide are increasingly adopting DPI to improve service delivery, enhance governance, and promote financial inclusion through systems such as digital ID, data exchange, and digital payments. Yet many policymakers and industry leaders still lack clarity on its scope, risks, and transformative potential. To address this, the team developed a Value by Design framework that centers societal and institutional benefits of DPI, identifies key enablers for scale, and informs implementation strategies and impact measurement. Designed as a practical tool, the framework supports governments and institutions in planning, designing, and evaluating DPI initiatives. By analyzing a diverse set of global case studies—spanning regions, sectors, and DPI pillars— the team identified patterns of success, common challenges, and actionable insights to guide DPI adoption globally.

Final deliverables include an adaptive framework, a comprehensive report, and strategic recommendations tailored to the Forum’s priorities. The report makes four key contributions: (1) assessing the global DPI landscape and gaps in existing frameworks; (2) introducing a new Value by Design framework; (3) applying it to eight case studies, and (4) distilling cross-cutting lessons into eleven core principles for DPI design and implementation.