Executive Summary
OpenMined is proud to have contributed to the development and launch of “Digital Infrastructure Solutions to Empower Citizens: A Toolkit for Policymakers Designing, Scoping and Governing Digital Infrastructure to Advance Data Agency” at the 2025 Global Solutions Summit. The toolkit was officially unveiled during the panel “Catalyzing Digital Infrastructure Solutions for Data Agency,” marking a significant milestone in global efforts to build citizen-centered digital infrastructure.
Our Head of Policy, Lacey Strahm, participated in this initiative, contributing to the consultations that shaped the toolkit’s development. The project represents yet another step in OpenMined’s ongoing mission to ensure digital systems serve the public good while empowering individuals with meaningful control over their data.
A Toolkit for Citizen-Centered Digital Infrastructure
The toolkit provides policymakers with a practical, four-stage framework for developing digital infrastructure that is trusted, used, and responsive to societal needs:
- Assess — Evaluate existing digital infrastructure landscapes and identify gaps and opportunities
- Design — Create systems with citizen empowerment and data agency at their core
- Safeguard — Embed protections that ensure privacy, security, and accountability
- Adopt — Implement strategies for sustainable adoption and continuous improvement
Each stage is accompanied by key questions and considerations to guide policymakers through the complex process of designing digital systems that balance innovation with public trust.
Global Collaboration and Impact
This initiative was global in scope, bringing together experts from across sectors through a series of multistakeholder consultations. The conversations in Paris on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum, in Washington D.C. at Georgetown University, and at the T7 Summit in Waterloo brought diverse perspectives to bear on the challenge of creating digital infrastructure that serves everyone.
We are particularly pleased that the toolkit and its supporting policy brief were highlighted in the official T7 Communiqué. This document will inform the recommendations presented to the Canadian G7 Presidency ahead of the 2025 G7 Summit in Kananaskis, marking another step toward embedding data agency and governance into global policy priorities. The T7 Communiqué emphasized the need for public institutions to steward digital infrastructure in ways that embed transparency and accountability while supporting individual data agency.
Looking Ahead
The launch of this toolkit is not an endpoint but a beginning. The work will continue through engagement at major global forums, including the T20, WSIS+20, and the United Nations General Assembly. These platforms offer opportunities to further refine the toolkit, gather additional insights from policymakers, and expand its reach to governments worldwide.
OpenMined remains committed to supporting this work and the broader mission of ensuring digital infrastructure serves the public good. We extend our gratitude to our partners at the Global Solutions Initiative and Project Liberty Institute for their leadership in convening this effort, and to all the experts who contributed their insights through the consultation process.
We encourage you to explore the toolkit and share it within your networks. If you see opportunities to disseminate it further or would like to collaborate on implementing its principles, please reach out to us.
