-
‘Deep Pockets’ vs. ‘Long Pockets’ in DPI: What Instant Payments and Open Finance Tell Us About Sustainable Funding for Digital Public Infrastructure
Digital public infrastructure (DPI) is gaining traction in emerging markets around the world. But as David Porteous at Integral: Governance Solutions and Rafe Mazer at Fair Finance Consulting explain, while the financial cost of building DPI may be modest, operating it at scale requires ongoing costs to be allocated across the ecosystem over time, making DPI sustainability fundamentally a governance issue centered on pricing policies. They explore how two of the three broadly accepted categories of DPI, instant payment systems and open finance, can develop credible mechanisms to finance long-term costs — while maintaining incentives for participants and trust among users.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
-
World Bank Group Launches Initiative to Improve Water Security for 1 Billion People
The platform will align policy reforms, financing, and partnerships to expand reliable water services and strengthen systems against droughts and floods—essential conditions for job creation.
- Categories
- WASH
- Region
- Global
-
Accelerating Climate-Health: How the Sector Can Become Africa’s Next Strategic Investment Frontier
Africa faces a growing dual challenge at the critical nexus of climate and healthcare, as countries and health systems that are already strained by chronic underinvestment must now also deal with climate-related shocks and disease burdens. As Rajat Chabba at the William Davidson Institute and Martin Slawek at Open Capital Advisors explain, without targeted investment in integrated climate-health solutions, these health systems risk becoming overwhelmed, undermining public health and climate resilience across the region. But they also argue that these pressures create a clear opportunity for investors, businesses, and public and development-sector players. They explore why climate-health presents a compelling investment case in Africa.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Health Care, Investing
-
Analysis: Black-Box AI and Cheap Drones are Outpacing Global Rules of War
From 3D-printed drones to Anthropic’s Claude, advanced technologies are making conflict more accessible and less accountable — leaving human oversight at risk.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Global
-
The Trade-offs in African Energy Access are Real: Why Electrification Efforts Must Prioritise Industrial Use over Household Connections
In the face of stagnating progress, a debate has emerged about whether energy access efforts in Africa should prioritize household or industrial and commercial electrification. Taiwo Odugbemi, a power sector regulation specialist and economist, pushes back on the argument that household access should take precedence over industrial uses — and the assertion that Africa can pursue both goals simultaneously. He explains why maintaining a dual focus may not be realistic, given the continent’s grid limitations and constrained public resources, and argues that African electricity policies must evolve to prioritize productive use, particularly in industrial and agro-processing hubs.
- Categories
- Energy
-
Analysis: Who Pays for Dignity? Rethinking India’s Waste Economy
A new wave of startups is working to transform India’s waste management sector and the workers who power it.
- Categories
- WASH
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
The African Development Bank Group and the United Nations Development Programme Have Launched the AI 10 Billion Initiative
The AI 10 Billion Initiative is a co-designed partnership between the Bank Group, UNDP and private partners that seeks to mobilise up to $10 billion by 2035.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Anthropic and the Government of Rwanda Sign MOU for AI in Health and Education
Anthropic says, "Together, these partnerships reflect a long-term collaboration that prioritizes capacity building, responsible deployment, and local autonomy over how new technologies are introduced."
- Categories
- Education, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.