Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is the cornerstone of modern governance, offering the potential to transform public service delivery and fast-track the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, this transformative power hinges on a critical question: Will DPI serve all citizens equally—or will it replicate the inequalities of the physical world in the digital realm?
Bridging Physical and Digital Divides
History offers a sobering lesson. From energy grids to public transportation, physical infrastructure has often overlooked the unique needs of women and girls. For instance, inadequate public transport systems disproportionately impact women’s safety and mobility, limiting access to education and employment. Similarly, poorly designed schools lacking proper sanitation can lead to higher dropout rates among girls.
This gender disparity extends to the digital world. Women and girls face barriers such as limited financial resources, lower digital literacy, and safety concerns, all compounded by discriminatory norms. If unaddressed, these challenges will be embedded in the fabric of DPI, leaving half the population underserved.
Transforming Gender Inequality Through DPI
Here’s the opportunity: DPI doesn’t have to mirror the inequities of the past—it can actively dismantle them. By prioritizing gender-responsive strategies, DPI can empower women and girls to access services, obtain digital IDs, and engage in digital economies. For example, inclusive digital payment systems can provide unbanked women with economic opportunities, while interoperable data systems can revolutionize maternal and women’s healthcare.
But none of this happens by chance. DPI must be intentionally designed to challenge gender norms, address gatekeeper restrictions, and ensure online safety and privacy.
A Gender-Responsive Blueprint for DPI
To ensure DPI serves all citizens equitably, these five strategies are essential:
- Learn from the past: Incorporate lessons from inclusive physical infrastructure—such as engaging communities and monitoring gender impacts—to guide digital design.
- Avoid digitizing inequality: Holistic approaches that tackle legal, cultural, and systemic barriers are necessary to address the root causes of gender disparities.
- Prioritize women-focused interventions: Ensure digital IDs and services deliver tangible benefits for women, such as increased safety, job access, and financial independence.
- Involve women in creation and design: Diverse teams foster innovative solutions. Designing with and for women ensures usability, accessibility, and relevance.
- Bridge the digital divide: Invest in connectivity, literacy, and safety training tailored to women’s needs, while addressing harmful norms and online violence.
A Global Call to Action
Organizations like Norad and the Co-Develop Fund are leading the charge. As Bård Vegar Solhjell, Norad’s Director General, emphasizes: “Ensuring that digital public infrastructure works for women and girls is key for the advancement of inclusive DPI everywhere.”
Tim Wood of the Co-Develop Fund adds: “Gender equity must be the blueprint, not an afterthought. DPI offers a chance to rewrite the rules of inclusion.”
The Road Ahead
DPI has been hailed as the “digital highway” for achieving SDGs. But highways are only valuable when they connect everyone. Let’s ensure women and girls are not left by the roadside. Instead, let DPI become a tool that not only delivers services but also drives equality, empowerment, and transformative change.
