By: Kanto Kai
Okanta
The United Nations Office
for Digital and Emerging Technologies (UN ODET) has highlighted the need for
stronger safeguards, governance and sustainable financing to ensure digital
public infrastructure (DPI) remains safe, inclusive and accessible as countries
expand digital public services.
The office made the call
during the 2026 Regional Digital Public Infrastructure Forum in Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic, where governments and partners from across Latin America
and the Caribbean exchanged experiences on DPI governance, interoperability,
digital public goods, verifiable credentials and proactive public services.
As Secretariat of the DPI
Safeguards Initiative, UN ODET participated in the forum as a strategic
partner, contributing to discussions on integrating safeguards throughout the
digital public infrastructure lifecycle.
A central issue was how to
finance safe DPI at population scale beyond initial technology investments,
with discussions highlighting the need to account for inclusion, data
protection, oversight, user support and redress.
The discussions underscored
the importance of treating safeguards and governance as core components of
digital public infrastructure from the outset and maintaining them throughout
its operation.
UN ODET expressed
appreciation to the Government of the Dominican Republic and the forum’s
partners for supporting the regional dialogue on building digital public
infrastructure that is safe, inclusive and sustainable.
