Across Africa, a silent revolution is underway. It’s not just about mobile money or digital identity in isolation; it’s about the foundational digital rails—the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—that connect these systems to create powerful, inclusive ecosystems. For organisations like AfricaNenda Foundation, dedicated to advancing inclusive digital payment systems, the DPI conversation is central. The recent discussions at the United Nations (UN) highlighted a crucial, non-negotiable truth: for DPI to truly deliver on its promise in Africa, safeguards and interoperability must be its heartbeat.
The momentum is undeniable. From the halls of the UN to the implementation roadmaps of African nations, a new consensus is emerging: DPI is a powerful engine for development, but it must be built to be safe, inclusive, and trustworthy by design.
Africa’s DPI Journey: From Policy to People-Centric Platforms
The narrative is shifting from whether Africa should build DPI to how it can be done right. We are moving beyond siloed digital projects towards integrated, national-scale platforms that put citizens at the centre.
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South Africa’s “MyZA”
South Africa is building its DPI Roadmap Playbook alongside AfricaNenda Foundation, the Better Than Cash Alliance, and CDPI to develop this DPI Roadmap Playbook around its people. The “MyZA” platform is envisioned as a single digital front door for government services, built on digital identity, payments, and data exchange. As the South African delegation emphasised, their vision is a “people-centred digital government” where safeguards are critical to ensure no one is excluded. Their commitment is backed by a signed letter with the United Nations, outlining a concrete implementation roadmap for universal DPI safeguards.
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Nigeria’s National ID (NIN) Revolution
Nigeria is demonstrating the power of a robust digital identity as a core DPI component. With over 126 million Nigerians enrolled, the NIN is now the key to accessing everything from government grants and financial services to agricultural support. The recent disbursement of 330 billion Naira to 15 million households was facilitated by this verified identity system. With the NIN, over 105 million Tax Identification Numbers (Tax-IDs) have been harmonised across federal and state levels, enabling the verification of three-million farmers. The development of the NINAuth app now enables enterprises to connect through the platform to verify users’ identities. It also allows users to share and control their own data— a fundamental safeguard that builds trust.
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Rwanda’s Integrated Approach
Rwanda is systematically weaving safeguards into its DPI fabric. It began with a strong data protection law and the training of relevant personnel, including data protection officers within every institution. These officers are empowered to understand and uphold the rights of citizens, especially regarding the protection of personal data they host.
Next comes the rollout of a single digital ID. Pre-enrollment has already started, and individuals can register from their own locations. The initiative will provide a new ID for everyone—Rwandans, 14 million refugees, marginalised citizens—ensuring no one is left behind.
To ensure responsible use of this data, the digital ID system is being designed with key safeguards: data minimisation principles, a consent management system, and the right for individuals to choose what information they share. Crucially, users can revoke access to their data at any time from any institution hosting it.
This digital ID is also integrated with a critical DPI building block: a secure data-sharing platform. By combining this with a data-sharing platform, Rwanda aims to unlock transformative use cases in agriculture and healthcare, proving that DPI is about creating tangible value in citizens’ daily lives.
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Sierra Leone’s Institutional Foundation
Sierra Leone’s digital transformation began with the establishment of the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation. Beyond institutional setup, the country prioritised robust policies and frameworks to guide its digital development. A pivotal milestone was the launch of the National Innovation and Digital Strategy in 2018. A concise 10-page document outlining three foundational pillars: Digital Identity, Digital Governance, and the Digital Economy.
The strategy emphasised the importance of a unique digital identity for every citizen, enabling access to services across education, finance, and healthcare. Today, over 90% of the population is registered with a digital ID, including citizens in remote areas. To ensure inclusion, Sierra Leone adopted a mobile-first approach, recognising that many users rely on basic mobile devices rather than smartphones.
In parallel, the government has invested in digital public infrastructure to support financial inclusion. The FinTech Sandbox, launched in 2018 by the Bank of Sierra Leone, was the first of its kind in West Africa. It has helped scale local fintech solutions and expand access to mobile money and digital payments. More recently, the country introduced a national payment switch to facilitate seamless and affordable transactions.
As digital systems evolved, challenges emerged, particularly fragmentation across sectors. To address this, Sierra Leone partnered with the World Bank to develop a Government Enterprise Architecture, establishing standards and compliance mechanisms to ensure interoperability across platforms.
Looking ahead, Sierra Leone is preparing to launch a National AI Strategy and an Open Source Policy, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive, secure, and citizen-centred digital development. Continuous investment in DPI safeguards remains a priority, recognising that risks evolve as quickly as opportunities. The country is also focused on improving literacy, promoting women’s participation, and generating timely, local evidence to guide policy.
Sierra Leone’s journey reflects a strong commitment to building trusted, inclusive, and resilient digital systems—ensuring that no one is left behind. Sierra Leone’s progress, from establishing a dedicated Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation to launching a national payment switch, shows that intentional policy and institution-building are the bedrock of successful DPI. Their focus on “mobile-first” solutions acknowledges local contexts, ensuring that DPI bridges, rather than widens, the digital divide.
Safeguards: The Unseen Engine of Trust and Adoption
The message from the global stage was clear: safeguards are not a bureaucratic afterthought or a compliance checkbox. They are a proactive driver of adoption, efficiency, and innovation. For Africa, this is particularly critical. As one United Nations official put it, “Trust is the gateway to DPI’s uptake.”
Evidence from 25 implementers across 12 countries shows that safeguards:
- Drive Inclusion: They break down barriers of language, literacy, and connectivity, ensuring marginalised groups, including rural populations and women, are fully included.
- Build Adoption: By ensuring data privacy, accessibility, and transparent processes, they turn sceptics into active users.
- Fuel Innovation: Inclusive design and multi-stakeholder collaboration unlock creative solutions, transforming DPI into a living ecosystem.
The launch of the DPI Safeguards Accelerator, in partnership with the ’50 in 5′ campaign (50 countries, 5 years), is a game-changer. It offers a comprehensive learning exchange to help countries shorten their DPI adoption journey through digital public goods, knowledge exchange, and shared learning. More than 26 countries have already committed to this campaign, ensuring that safety and inclusion are embedded from the start.
The Road Ahead: Co-Creation, Funding, and Local Capacity
The discussions also highlighted key areas requiring focused action:
- Multi-stakeholder Co-Creation: The success of DPI hinges on bringing everyone to the table—governments, private sector (including mobile network operators and fintechs), civil society, and donors. As seen in Uganda, when civil society is empowered, they can mobilise communities, lead advocacy, and hold systems accountable, becoming champions for adoption.
- Innovative and Sustainable Funding: The question of “doing more with less” is pressing. Donors like Belgium are re-evaluating their role, focusing on funding public goods like safeguards that the private sector won’t. The key is flexible, multi-year funding that builds local capacity, not just external expertise.
- Building the Evidence Base: There is an urgent need for localised, timely research. The new Global DPI Insights Community – Center for Financial Inclusion aims to generate country-level evidence to inform policy. Priorities include understanding and mitigating fraud, measuring what sustains long-term trust, and finding the right balance between inclusion, security, commercial sustainability, and innovation.
Africa’s DPI moment is now. The continent has the unique opportunity to leverage its late-mover advantage, learning from global pioneers while tailoring solutions to its own diverse contexts. The journey is not just about technology; it is about governance, inclusion, and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. By championing universal safeguards, fostering South-South cooperation, and investing in local capacity, Africa can build a digital future that is not only technologically advanced but also equitable, resilient, and trusted.
Girum Fekadu Diriba
Digital Financial Services (DFS) Risk Manager at Ethiopost
Digital Frontiers Institute Alum, ambassador at AfricaNenda Foundation Community of Practice
(Article originally shared on Digital Frontiers Institute on 23 February 2026)