Oxford Dives into Studying Digital Public Infrastructure
Many development experts and technologists have discussed the huge potential impact of digital public infrastructure (DPI). For example, reports have projected that DPI could drive GDP growth by as much as 3-13%.
But it's not enough to project impact. As these systems roll out on the ground, the DPI ecosystem needs a systematic approach to measuring their economic and social impact.
That's why Co-Develop funded the creation of Oxford's Digital Public Infrastructure Research Lab (OxDPI). The lab will investigate the impacts of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) on inclusion and wellbeing in low- and middle-income countries.
Digital Public Infrastructure refers to foundational digital systems like identification, payment platforms, and data exchange mechanisms crucial for service access and economic participation. This initiative aims to understand the impact of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) on inclusion and the wellbeing of populations in countries where it is being deployed. This includes examining how DPI affects various sectors and societal outcomes, such as financial access, social protection, and refugee integration.
Building on previous efforts by the University's Digital Pathways at Oxford and the Pathways for Prosperity Commission, which examined the challenges of digital transformation and governance in low- and middle-income countries, this new lab extends that work, focusing specifically on the implementation and impact of DPI.
The lab is based at the Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE) at the Blavatnik School of Government, and will involve researchers from across the University and actively engage with researchers in Ethiopia. The lab is co-directed by Professor Stefan Dercon (Blavatnik School of Government and Department of Economics) and Dr Christian Meyer (Oxford Martin School).
The initial focus will be Ethiopia's Fayda system, a digital ID initiative aiming to register all residents by 2026. In collaboration with the World Bank's Identification for Development (ID4D) team, the project will coordinate research efforts between the Ethiopian government, the World Bank, and Ethiopian and international researchers
The lab will act as a liaison supporting the Ethiopian government's National ID Authority (NIDP) and other relevant bodies to facilitate and bundle research efforts, It will also work with the government to design the DPI roll out in ways that enable rigorous evaluation. By providing rapid feedback on findings and facilitating studies from mixed teams of local and international researchers, the initiative aims to inform government implementation decisions and build a robust evidence base for DPI.