About Us
Catalyzing DPI—Locally Driven, Globally Enabled
DPI Catalyst is a demand-led, collaborative initiative driving digital transformation by identifying and resolving systemic bottlenecks in the DPI ecosystem. The ecosystem consists of governments, development partners, funders, DPG/open-source stewards, technology providers, and startups focusing on digital transformation.
The community is action-oriented, advancing through iterative experimentation and grounded in real-world demand from countries and regions.
Why DPI Catalyst?
Over the past decade, more than 100 countries have implemented at least one form of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—from digital identity systems to payment platforms. Nations like Brazil, Estonia, and India have gone further, building society-wide digital capabilities that have transformed governance, service delivery, and economic participation.
These examples show the transformative potential of DPI as a foundation for an inclusive digital society. However, most countries still struggle to scale DPI effectively and realize its full value.
Despite growing recognition, systemic bottlenecks continue to slow adoption, increase costs, cause delays, and reduce the benefits that DPI can deliver.
The opportunity is clear: as technology rapidly shapes every aspect of life, we must ensure it works for everyone—enabling digital transformation that improves the socio-economic well-being of all.
Over the past nine months, a core group of ecosystem players—including DPG stewards, market actors, funders, and development partners—have come together to identify common roadblocks.Â
Bottlenecks Hindering DPI Adoption
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Unclear Value Proposition:
Difficulty in articulating the value of DPI to decision-makers
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Problem-Use Case Disconnect:
Lack of visibility into real-world challenges and actionable use cases
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Limited Exposure:
Few opportunities to explore or experience DPI in practice
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Capacity Gaps:
Insufficient local expertise and institutional capacity to implement DPI
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Strategic Concerns:
Questions around sovereignty, vendor lock-in, sustainability, and long-term viability
DPI Catalyst is an initiative to address these bottlenecks—helping countries move from potential to progress.
What We Do
DPI Catalyst operates through two complementary pillars:
- Country & Regional Cohorts
- Global Enablers
Local Action, Globally Enabled
These cohorts are demand-driven platforms supporting countries or regions to:
- Identify and activate relevant DPI use cases
- Build local government and tech capacity
- Develop country specific adoption models to address concerns like lock-in and sustainability
- Enable joint action with funders, DPG providers, and market players
- Nurture open-source developer ecosystems
- Incubate local startups creating DPI products and services
Accelerating Outcomes through Shared Knowledge and Tools
Global cohorts focus on creating shared frameworks and resources that support all country cohorts. Initial workstreams include:
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Thematic Use Cases:
A map of sector based Use cases, Common problem patterns, solution archetypes, and solution options
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Market DPG Innovation Coalition:
Voluntary collaboration between DPGs and market players to offer modular DPI building blocks
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Experience Hubs:
Spaces to explore, test, and validate DPI use cases in real-world settings
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Trust Framework:
Principles and practices for effective global-local collaboration
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DPG Funding Framework:
Sustaining DPGs through models drawn from open-source and tech ecosystems
- Country & Regional Cohorts
- Global Enablers
Local Action, Globally Enabled
These cohorts are demand-driven platforms supporting countries or regions to:
- Identify and activate relevant DPI use cases
- Build local government and tech capacity
- Develop country specific adoption models to address concerns like lock-in and sustainability
- Enable joint action with funders, DPG providers, and market players
- Nurture open-source developer ecosystems
- Incubate local startups creating DPI products and services
Accelerating Outcomes through Shared Knowledge and Tools
Global cohorts focus on creating shared frameworks and resources that support all country cohorts. Initial workstreams include:
-
Thematic Use Cases:
A map of sector based Use cases, Common problem patterns, solution archetypes, and solution options
-
Market DPG Innovation Coalition:
Voluntary collaboration between DPGs and market players to offer modular DPI building blocks
-
Experience Hubs:
Spaces to explore, test, and validate DPI use cases in real-world settings
-
Trust Framework:
Principles and practices for effective global-local collaboration
-
DPG Funding Framework:
Sustaining DPGs through models drawn from open-source and tech ecosystems