Digital Public Goods: A Critical Step to Promote Digital Transformation in Asia and the Pacific
Leveraging digital public goods will not only help ADB enhance its internal processes but also better support Developing Member Countries.
Asia and the Pacific countries are becoming increasingly more reliant on digital tools to survive and thrive given the increasingly complex issues faced by communities across the globe. Digital public goods (DPGs) can be leveraged to further unlock the potential of the region to help them not only in addressing their immediate needs but to have a better and more resilient future.
DPGs, which include open-source software, as well as open standards, data, content collections, and artificial intelligence (AI) systems, can spur international development. Enabling key stakeholders, such as government and nongovernment entities, to have open access to data and technology will enable them to make data-driven decisions or use innovative tools to respond to challenges, including large-scale issues such as poverty and climate change. In addition, digital tools can also be customized based on contexts and needs, allowing users to tailor them to specific issues and opportunities.
DPGs have the power to transform the digital landscape. Recognizing this, ADB is announcing its membership to the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA), a UN-backed initiative that promotes open-source technologies to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) through DPGs.
What is DPGA?
DPGA is a multi-stakeholder initiative dedicated to accelerating the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting the discovery, development, and use of DPGs. Its membership includes multilateral development banks such as the Inter-American Development Bank, governments, private sector technology experts, and civil society organizations. Joining the DPGA will enable ADB to build stronger ties with a wide array of stakeholders and help ensure that digital solutions in Asia and the Pacific will be used for the public good.
What joining DPGA can mean for ADB and Developing Member Countries
Joining the alliance is in line with ADB’s Strategy 2030, which serves as the bank’s guide for achieving its goal of helping address the evolving needs of Asia and the Pacific. Strategy 2030 specifies digital transformation as a key driver not only in optimizing internal systems but also enhancing the bank’s overall effectiveness, efficiency, and resilience.
One of the targets of ADB as a member of the DPGA will be aligning some of its relevant digital initiatives with the DPG Standard. This set of specifications and guidelines determines whether a digital solution qualifies as a digital public good, ensuring that these solutions drive impact towards sustainable development. The DPG Standard will help ADB enhance its digital product offerings.
Aside from identifying potential DPGs, ADB will also work towards the development of an internal DPG policy to serve as guidelines that consider the unique context that the bank operates in. Other activities that ADB will also be pursuing in the near-future are advocating for DPGS in climate action, organizing DPG events, and exploring the development of AI-related frameworks and tools that would be made accessible as DPGs.
By embracing digital transformation and joining initiatives like the DPGA, ADB is better positioned to drive sustainable development and foster inclusive economic growth across Asia and the Pacific. In the same vein, promoting DPGs will also empower governments, communities, and other stakeholders.