{"id":236,"date":"2026-01-19T06:34:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T06:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/newsite\/?page_id=236"},"modified":"2026-02-06T12:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T12:08:13","slug":"our-approach","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/our-approach\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Approach"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"236\" class=\"elementor elementor-236\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a67c8b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0a67c8b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8180629 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8180629\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e83b095 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e83b095\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><div><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\">Our Approach<\/span><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\"><\/span><\/div><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0951b2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0951b2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>GDN leads a Global South research effort on inclusive digital transformation. Under the scientific leadership of senior social scientists, we have assembled a research unit that works systematically with local researchers to answer critical questions about digital transformation that lack rigorous evidence. This ensures that locally-grounded insights shape how digital systems are designed, scaled, and adapted for inclusion and equity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9fd808b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"9fd808b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9613427 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9613427\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27427ff e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"27427ff\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cced14c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cced14c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why This Facility Matters<div><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\"><\/span><\/div><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c89c28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4c89c28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a72ec6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a72ec6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Digitalisation is now central to how economies grow, how services reach people, and how institutions function. The Global South is not just adopting these technologies: it is shaping them. But research systems have often struggled to keep pace. This creates three challenges:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08d4f7c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"08d4f7c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d435782 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d435782\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8f1364 elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"f8f1364\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"#\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/11.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-grow attachment-full size-full wp-image-266\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/11.png 1080w, https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/11-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/11-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/11-768x960.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h4 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\"><a href=\"#\">Knowledge gaps<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Countries are deploying digital systems faster than evidence can explain their effects.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc0e9d2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bc0e9d2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b7b463 elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"5b7b463\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"#\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/12.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-grow attachment-full size-full wp-image-267\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/12.png 1080w, https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/12-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/12-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/12-768x960.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h4 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\"><a href=\"#\">Limited local insight<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Research is often not locally generated, making it hard to understand how digital systems work for real communities.\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86fe66c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"86fe66c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;tilt&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M0,6V0h1000v100L0,6z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e518047 elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"e518047\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"#\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-grow attachment-full size-full wp-image-268\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13.png 1080w, https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13-768x960.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h4 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\"><a href=\"#\">Risks of exclusion or poor design<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Without timely analysis, countries may lock in systems that are costly, ineffective, or inequitable.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa80222 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"aa80222\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ad6d8c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ad6d8c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8d3391 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a8d3391\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cb7ae9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5cb7ae9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16d1a70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"16d1a70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><div><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\">How It Works<\/span><\/div><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c1fbe4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"7c1fbe4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3283991 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3283991\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The facility is designed as a flexible platform that different partners can use and build on:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A platform donors can use to support research in LMICs<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through our re-granting capacity, we channel resources to local research teams, infusing funding with capacity building, mentoring, and scientific collaboration. Donors can support rigorous, country-led research on digitalisation without having to set up new mechanisms from scratch.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A platform to test new theories and approaches<\/b><br \/>Donors and researchers can rely on the facility to test new theoretical ideas and methodological approaches, and to generate comparative and cumulative knowledge from country-level implementation. Local researchers and GDN&#8217;s Theory Unit work in a continuous feedback loop. Led by senior economist Jean-Louis Arcand, the unit develops theoretical frameworks and uncovers rigorous evidence to produce high-quality policy-relevant knowledge.<\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A platform for training and community building for LMIC researchers<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The facility offers structured opportunities for training, peer learning, and network-building among researchers in LMICs working on digitalisation: from early-career scholars to established teams. This strengthens local leadership and creates communities of practice around digital public infrastructure and inclusive digital transformation.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><ul><li><b>A platform for policy engagement at regional and global level<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We provide spaces where evidence from LMICs can inform debates in regional bodies and global fora. By convening researchers, policymakers, and ecosystem actors around concrete findings, the facility helps ensure that insights from implementation travel across borders and into international policy discussions.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99db657 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"99db657\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6053c9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e6053c9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bc75d2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8bc75d2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-191510e elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"191510e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed1edaf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ed1edaf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What We Aim to Achieve<div><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\"><\/span><\/div><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f078c34 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f078c34\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba04389 elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba04389\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The facility is built as a long-term, adaptable platform that can evolve with countries\u2019 needs as digitalisation deepens and technologies advance. Our goals include:<br \/><br \/><\/p><p><strong><span style=\"color: #075caa;\">Strengthening local research leadership<\/span><\/strong><br \/>Digital transformation is complex and fast-moving. We fill critical knowledge gaps by working with local researchers to develop shared research agendas, generate comparative evidence across contexts, and build cumulative knowledge that advances the field.<span style=\"color: #075caa;\"><strong>Supporting clearer, more coherent knowledge on digitalisation<\/strong><\/span><br \/>Digital transformation is complex and fast-moving. The facility helps organise this space by developing shared research agendas, encouraging comparative learning, and promoting methods that make evidence more cumulative and useful.<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #075caa;\"><strong>Expanding access to quality data<\/strong><\/span><br \/>We work toward a future where governments, implementers, and researchers can collaborate around secure, well-governed data systems that support responsible evaluation and innovation.<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #075caa;\"><strong>Embedding evidence into decision-making<\/strong><\/span><br \/>By engaging directly with implementers and policymakers, we ensure that insights shape how digital systems are designed, scaled, and adapted, especially for inclusion, equity, and resilience.<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #075caa;\"><strong>Creating a collaborative platform for future challenges<\/strong><\/span><br \/>As AI, algorithms, and new digital models reshape societies, the facility provides a space where countries can investigate these technologies on their own terms and generate locally grounded knowledge about their impacts.<\/p><p><em><br \/>At its core, the facility aims to help countries build digital futures that are inclusive, trusted, and effective, powered by evidence that reflects local realities and priorities.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce02b84 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ce02b84\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43db613 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"43db613\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f12d5f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f12d5f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><div><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\">Stay Connected<\/span><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\"><\/span><\/div><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05ebe36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"05ebe36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To learn more or explore opportunities, write to\u00a0<br \/><a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"mailto:dpi@gdn.int\">dpi@gdn.int<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2a6662 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e2a6662\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Approach GDN leads a Global South research effort on inclusive digital transformation. Under the scientific leadership of senior social scientists, we have assembled a research unit that works systematically with local researchers to answer critical questions about digital transformation that lack rigorous evidence. This ensures that locally-grounded insights shape how digital systems are designed, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-236","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=236"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":480,"href":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/236\/revisions\/480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gdn.int\/digitalisation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}