LocationsThrough UNDP’s newly launched AA4DPI programme, delegations from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zambia came together to exchange knowledge and learn from India’s experience with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Sharing reusable implementation knowledge on safeguards and digital public goods is critical to keeping DPI focused on accelerating Africa’s development priorities.
UNDP’s AA4DPI Programme Deepens South-South Cooperation on Digital Public Infrastructure
September 8, 2026
BENGALURU, India, 7 September 2026 – Delegations from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia, alongside representatives from the African Union, concluded a two-week immersive South-South Cooperation learning mission to India focused on advancing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for inclusive and sustainable development.
Convened as part of the Africa Accelerator for Digital Public Infrastructure (AA4DPI) programme, the learning mission brought African policymakers and practitioners into direct dialogue with institutions, innovators and ecosystem builders that have helped shape India’s DPI journey.
DPI refers to foundational digital systems, such as digital identity, digital payment and data exchange systems, which enable people to access public and private services and empower governments and businesses to deliver them more efficiently.
Across New Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru, delegates explored use cases related to these core digital systems such as those in areas of agriculture, maternal healthcare, rural development and social protection.
The visit provided an opportunity to move beyond theory and examine how DPI works in practice: the institutions and partnerships behind it, the challenges involved in scaling solutions, and the conditions required to ensure that digital systems deliver meaningful benefits for people.
“India’s digital transformation offers valuable lessons, but every country has its own priorities and context. The real opportunity is to learn from India’s experience, adapt what works, and translate that knowledge into practical solutions that improve people’s lives,” said Angela Lusigi, UNDP India Resident Representative.
India’s digital transformation offers valuable lessons, but every country has its own priorities and context.Angela Lusigi, UNDP India Resident Representative
In New Delhi, the delegations engaged with institutions including the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Land Resources and the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, among others.
In Pune, delegates saw the potential of DPI to translate digital innovation into impact on the ground, including through MahaVISTAAR, an agricultural digital platform supporting farmers with actionable information. The visit highlighted how people-centred digital systems can support women farmers, strengthen climate resilience and improve access to knowledge and services.
The Bengaluru leg shifted the focus towards the ecosystems required to make DPI work at scale. Engagements with the Government of Karnataka and the broader technology, academia, open-source and innovation community highlighted the importance of collaboration across government, the private sector, academia and civil society. The engagements offered delegates an opportunity to hear directly from some of the thinkers, enablers and practitioners who have contributed to India’s digital transformation.
Countries may be at different stages of their DPI journey, but many face similar challenges and share a common ambition to use DPI to deliver better outcomes for people and communities. This reinforced the value of South-South cooperation for exchanging evidence, learning from different experiences and adapting approaches to national contexts.
This visit is part of a broader effort by UNDP to foster cooperation and partnerships with countries such Brazil, Estonia, Norway, Singapore and South Africa and others that are leveraging DPI to advance inclusive and transformative societal outcomes.
"No two countries are at the same point in their DPI journey, and that is exactly what makes coming together valuable. India offers lessons learned over more than a decade of building at scale; each country in this delegation brings its own priorities, context and momentum. What a mission like this creates is a transfer of knowledge and a coalition, where we learn from each other's strengths and sharpen our shared sense of what we can build together," said Madhuchandra R, Chief Operating Officer, the Centre for Open Societal Systems (COSS).
What a mission like this creates is a transfer of knowledge and a coalition, where we learn from each other's strengths and sharpen our shared sense of what we can build together.Madhuchandra R, Chief Operating Officer, the Centre for Open Societal Systems (COSS)
“The economics of DPI are now impossible to ignore. UNDP estimates that it could raise GDP in emerging economies by 20 to 30 percent by 2030 by cutting transaction costs, formalizing activity and unlocking productivity. For a continent where 500 million people lack a verifiable digital identity, that is not abstract. This is the motivation that gave birth to the Africa Accelerator,” said Jide Okeke, Director, UNDP Regional Programme for Africa.
The economics of DPI are now impossible to ignore. UNDP estimates that it could raise GDP in emerging economies by 20 to 30 percent by 2030 [...].Jide Okeke, Director, UNDP Regional Programme for Africa.
As African countries continue developing their own digital ecosystems, the lessons exchanged through the mission will contribute to ongoing efforts to build DPI that responds to national priorities while keeping people at the centre of design, governance and implementation.
About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.
About the Africa Accelerator for Digital Public Infrastructure (AA4DPI)
The Africa Accelerator for Digital Public Infrastructure (AA4DPI) is a regional initiative jointly led by UNDP's Regional Bureau for Africa and the UNDP Digital, AI and Innovation Hub. The programme supports African countries in designing, implementing and scaling trusted, interoperable and inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure through technical assistance, policy support, capacity development and strategic partnerships.
For media enquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Amrah Ashraf, Head of Communications and Strategic Partnerships, UNDP India
Ugochukwu Kingsley Ahuchaogu, Regional Communications and External Engagement Specialist, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa
ugochukwu.kingsley@undp.org
Dwayne Carruthers, Global Knowledge & Strategy Lead, UNDP Digital AI and Innovation Hub, dwayne.carruthers@undp.org
Aarthi Ramachandran, Head of Marketing and Communications, Centre for Open Societal Systems (COSS)
aarthi@coss.org.in