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At the SDG Digital: “A Digital Future for All” event held at the United Nations Headquarters, influential voices from various sectors showcased groundbreaking digital solutions and announced renewed commitments to building a brighter, more inclusive digital future. Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the event emphasized the role of digital innovation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted the power of digital technologies in transforming societies, stating, “The commitments and solutions on display at SDG Digital send a powerful message to the world that we will do what’s necessary to rescue the SDGs and build a better digital future for all, now and for generations to come.”
A central feature of the event was the Advisory Group’s presentation of 17 transformative digital solutions. These innovations demonstrated how a sustainable, inclusive, and responsible digital future can be realized through global collaboration.
Commitments for Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure
Brazil and Malawi made headlines by announcing their adoption of universal digital public infrastructure (DPI) safeguards to ensure the safe and inclusive design of digital foundations. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, emphasized that DPI is revolutionizing service delivery worldwide, urging nations to adopt safeguards to protect individuals and the environment as digital infrastructure scales up globally.
DPI, encompassing systems such as digital identity platforms, payment gateways, and data exchanges, is the backbone of modern digital interaction. It enables individuals, businesses, and governments to thrive in the digital age, making it crucial to secure these systems with safeguards.
Celebrating Innovation: Advancing the SDGs through Digital Solutions
SDG Digital highlighted the pivotal role of collaboration in using digital technologies to accelerate the SDGs. The event also underscored the urgent need for global capacity-building support for developing countries, ensuring all can benefit from the digital revolution.
The SDG Digital GameChangers Awards recognized organizations using digital tools to drive sustainable development. From UNICEF’s Oky Period Tracker App, which empowers girls in 12 countries, to the K-water AI Water Purification Plant in South Korea, these innovations are already making a significant impact. Nigeria’s Tech4Dev Women Techsters program, which has equipped over 155,000 women in 22 African countries with digital skills, was celebrated for its contribution to prosperity through job placement in marginalized communities.
New Investments in Connectivity for Underserved Communities
The event also featured announcements of USD 1.05 billion in pledges for connectivity, infrastructure, and digital skills development, with significant contributions from the global South. Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency pledged to connect all public schools by 2026, while Nigeria’s NIGCOMSAT committed to providing internet access for local government offices, expanding digital services across the country.
These pledges contribute to the Partner2Connect (P2C) initiative, which has amassed over USD 52 billion in commitments, aiming to achieve universal meaningful connectivity by 2026.
The SDG Digital event, part of the digital track of the UN Summit of the Future Action Days, co-convened by ITU, UNDP, and the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, underscored how digital technologies can pave the way for a sustainable, inclusive, and responsible future. Through ongoing innovation, collaboration, and investment, the global community is actively working to make this vision a reality.
