Democracies Driving Digital Development

On December 9-10, 2021, the Biden Administration will be hosting the first-ever Summit for Democracy, bringing together governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector to spur democratic renewal and address challenges to democracies. The Summit also serves as an opportunity to discuss and support a global digital architecture that would enable more democratic and inclusive societies.

In the last three years, the United States has launched a series of initiatives to improve socio-economic development and humanitarian outcomes by deploying digital solutions and digital public infrastructure. These include the USAID Digital Strategy (2020), the Department of State’s Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (2018), as well as the ICT connectivity efforts supported by the U.S. Development Finance Corporation.

In that context, CSIS is hosting this timely event to examine how the United States can work with partner countries and allies to help shape global digital development such that governance and investments in the digital infrastructure can create open and inclusive societies.