India-Africa: Leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure For Economic Growth (2025)

Policy Update
Aashvee Prisha

Background

India- Africa cooperation has long emphasised development through technology and capacity-building. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)- the interoperable building blocks of digital identity, payments and data platforms- has been central to its Digital India transformation. Since Aadhar’s Launch in 2009 and UPI in 2016, India has lifted formal banking inclusion from 25% in 2008 to over 80% by 2023.

The concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) combo rails of identity payments and ata exchange is gaining traction worldwide. Under India’s G20 presidency, global bodies (UN, World Bank, G20) recognized DPI as a key enabler of inclusion and SDG progress. India’s homegrown DPI exemplars have driven massive digital inclusion at low cost. India’s Aadhaar system now covers over 1.3 billion people and has slashed welfare fraud. Its Unified payments Interface (UPI) processes tens of billions of transactions per month, radically expanding access to finance. During the COVID-19 crisis, India’s CoWIN platform managed 2+billion vaccine doses nationwide, providing the power of DPI in public health. Policymakers at India-Africa forums increasingly hold up these successes as templates for collaboration.

Against this backdrop, India and African nations are foreign deeper DPI partnerships. At the 2025 GITEX Africa summit in Marrakech, India’s leadership highlighted the synergy between India’s DPI stack and Africa’s digital ambitions. As Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal noted in 2023, “India’s… Digital Public Infrastructure (including) UPI, CoWIN…and ONDC” can be replicated and living. India’s strategy emphasised South-South cooperation: sharing open-platforms, co-developing standards, and providing technical assistance. Through initiatives like India’s Bharat Africa Setu and e-VidyaBharati / e- AarogyaBharati, India is investing in joint infrastructure to link markets and knowledge.

India’s DPI Pillars and Case Studies

India’s digital identity platform (Aadhaar) is the world’s largest biometric ID system. Aadhaar provides every resident a 12‑digit ID to authenticate services and subsidies. It underpins programs like the universal bank account scheme (Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana), which opened over 500 million new bank accounts since 2014. Aadhaar has also enabled CoWIN’s rapid rollout by securely verifying users. These DPI building blocks have transformed India’s governance and economy: the World Bank estimates Aadhaar and related reforms save the government over $1 billion per year in leakage.

India’s digital payments infrastructure (UPI) links Aadhaar IDs, bank accounts, and mobile wallets through a simple identifier (a Virtual Payment Address). UPI transactions have exploded from 100,000 per month in 2016 to hundreds of millions per day by 2025. In 2024 alone UPI handled roughly 172 billion transactions (up 46% year-on-year), worth over $2 trillion. UPI’s low-cost, interoperable QR/mobile model has brought millions of rural and MSME businesses into the digital economy, improved credit scoring, and streamlined retail trade. Other DPI components include DigiLocker (secure digital documents), ONDC (an open e-commerce network for small merchants), and DIKSHA (an education content portal). Collectively, these platforms constitute an India Stack – an open-standards, modular DPI approach that India is exporting.

In the health sector, India’s DPI has also been groundbreaking. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is creating unified digital health records, while CoWIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network) demonstrated the power of digital registries and certificates. India’s CoWIN app registered 1.3 billion vaccine doses in under a year, showing that digital registries can achieve unparalleled scale. During the pandemic, Prime Minister Modi offered CoWIN as a digital public good to other countries (e.g. via GAVI/G7). India’s public/private health providers (like Apollo Hospitals) have pioneered telemedicine (eSanjeevani) and AI diagnostics, proving the feasibility of interoperable health tech for low-resource settings.

In education and skills, India has likewise leveraged DPI. Through the e-VidyaBharati/e-AarogyaBharati programs, India provides tele-education and telemedicine to African students and doctors via satellite links. Since 2009 India’s Pan-African e-Network project has delivered tele-education and telemedicine services to 53 African countries. India’s DIKSHA platform (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) offers interactive learning content for school education. India has also trained tens of thousands of African professionals through its Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, spreading digital and ICT skills. These efforts create human capacity that complements DPI hardware.

Functioning

India-Africa DPI cooperation operates through multiple channels and stakeholders. Key elements include:

Capacity building and governance: Initiatives like the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program train African professionals in ICT, and India has dedicated 50,000 ITEC slots for African. The Ghana- India Kori Annan Centre in Accra exemplifies joint education efforts. Governments collaborate via summits and MOUs: e.g. India and Ghana signed agreements on digital payments and standards during the 2025 state visit.
Technology transfer and open-source DPI: India offers open source DPI components to partners. The Modular Open-Source Identity Platforms (MOSIP)- inspired by Aadhar- is being adopted by many African nations. Nine of the eleven countries worldwide implementing MOSIP are in Africa. Likewise, India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been licensed abroad and is being exported to Africa via NPCI International. These public goods reduce Costs and ensure interoperability across nations
Program Delivery: India’s public agencies implement projects like e-VBAB, while financial infrastructure is deployed by institutions like NPCI. In Africa local regulators partner with NPCI/ Reserve Banks to roll out UPI-style systems. India also engages through development finance and bilateral grants: between 2010-24 India extended over $13 billion in concessional aid for African projects. Private firms and startups collaborate under these frameworks, and civil society groups help with digital literacy.

Together these mechanisms ensure that digital diplomacy and development coverage: INDIA shares proven DPI frameworks while capacity building ensures African stakeholders can adapt them to local needs

Performance

In the past three years (2023–2025) India–Africa digital initiatives have accelerated. Major milestones include:

Digital payments adoption: Namibia became the first African country to license UPI in April 2024, with an official rollout slated for Sept 2025. During PM Modi’s 2025 visit to Ghana, India committed to “share its experience of UPI” with Ghana, and Uganda, Rwanda and Mozambique have expressed interest. These corridors promise to boost trade: India–Namibia trade already grew from <$3 million in 2000 to ~$600 million by 2024, aided by digital payment links.

Project counts and reach: The e-VBAB network now has MOUs with 11 African countries, and thousands of African students are enrolled in Indian courses online. On the digital identity front, over 85% of African countries have some digital-ID system, and Indian-backed MOSIP efforts cover hundreds of millions of people.

Digital economy growth: Africa’s Internet and payment markets are exploding. For example, Mastercard projects Africa’s digital payments economy will hit US$1.5 trillion by 2030. Internet usage in Africa is growing ~20% annually, and bank account ownership is rising steadily. While not solely due to India, Indian DPI tools (Aadhaar, UPI models, e-commerce) have demonstrably contributed: India’s Aadhaar program alone cost $1.5B but saved $42B through reduced fraud and leakage, freeing resources for growth. Similar efficiency gains are expected in Africa as DPI spreads.

Policy and partnerships: India’s advocacy at international forums (G20/AU) has elevated digital issues. Many African countries have signed the Digital Public Goods Charter and joined initiatives like 50-in-5. India’s ministries report DPI themes in Africa strategies (e.g. aligning with the AU’s 2020–2030 Digital Transformation Strategy). Collectively, India’s ICT development assistance and soft power have reinforced Africa’s own digital agendas: the AU digital-ID framework echoes India’s interoperable-ID principles.

Impact

India’s DPI driven outreach is yielding concrete socio-economic effects. Financial Inclusion is expanding : digital IDs and UPI style payments open banking to the unbanked. For example, linking UPI to local IDs could immediately extend instant payments to millions of Africans, mirroring India’s experiences. Trade and commerce benefit from reduced friction cross borders remittances and merchant service become cheaper and faster enabling small businesses to participate in regional markets. Indeed,India- Namibia trade surged alongside the UPI deal. Educational and health gains are visible too: African students accessing Indian MOOCS and hospital consultations remotely improves human capital and well-being. Over 50,000 African professionals have been trained under ITEC/ related schemes, building local digital expertise.

These impacts align with broader trend: World Bank/ IFC analysis links digital adoption to higher productivity and growth. Firms using digital tools intensively see large output gains, and bridging Africa’s connectivity gap could “redefine its place in the global digital economy”. India’s DPI investment in Africa also strengthens strategic ties and India’s standing in the Global South. In sum, the India- Africa digital partnership is catalysing inclusive growth, by extending basic services via technology and by extending basic services via technology and by unlocking innovation on both continents

Geopolitical and Economic Implications

India–Africa DPI collaboration carries strategic and economic weight. Politically, India projects itself as a South–South partner offering technology over debt, positioning its open-source digital stack as a trusted alternative to China’s Belt and Road model. Africa is often called a “top priority” by PM Modi, with DPI framed as a form of soft power. Economically, DPI reduces transaction costs, boosts remittances, and opens markets for Indian firms, while aligning India’s Digital India with Africa’s Digital Strategy and AfCFTA could help double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2030.

For Africa, digital IDs can save billions by curbing leakages, while e-health and e-education enhance welfare at low cost. Indian firms such as Tech Mahindra and Bharti Airtel are already expanding infrastructure on the continent, showing clear win-win outcomes. Still, India must navigate competition from China and Western powers, as well as concerns over data privacy and cybersecurity. Building trust through open standards and inclusive innovation will be critical to sustaining this partnership.

Emerging Issues

Despite progress, several challenges arise in execution:

Digital Infrastructure gaps: Roughly half of Africans lack reliable electricity or mobile broadband. Underdeveloped ICT infrastructure remains a barrier. Governments and private investors must expand networks and incentivise competition to lower costs. Multilateral schemes could fund shared connectivity backbones, aligning with India’s proposals at G20 to boost cross border digital links.
Inclusion and literacy: An estimated 500 million Africans still lack official IDs; without legal identity, many cannot fully benefit from DPI. Likewise,low digital literacy in underserved communities limits uptake. India and African governments should co-investing civil registration in civil registration campaigns and digital education. For example, leveraging India’s e-governance outreach to register birth and tech basic digital skills. Donor agencies and NGOs to ensure DPI tools are accessible to women, rural residents and youth.
Regulators and Privacy : The digital partnership raises data privacy and security concerns. Indian and African legal frameworks differ. Engage in bilateral and multilateral dialogues to harmonie standards. For instance, create joint working groups or G20 / AU forums to align India’s Data Protection Act with the AU’s Cybersecurity Convention. Establishing model DPI governance will build trust. India’s and AU countries should share best practices via the 50 in 5 coalition, ensuring DPI remains inclusive and rights protective.
Sustainability and coordination: Large scale DPI projects require sustainable financing and local capacity. Upfront investment can be costly and countries may fear vendor lock in. Promote open source solutions to keep costs low and interoperable. India can offer concessional support contingent on local tech-transfer and training. Encourage African continental bodies to adopt interoperable Indian components, avoiding fragmentation. International agencies can provide technical assistance fit robust deployment and evaluation framework

Each of these issues requires concerted action by governments, industry and civil society. For example, African states must commit budgets to power and Broadband Indian authorities should provide policy supporter and expertise and tech companies can co-invest in markets. By addressing these barriers with targeted interventions , the India- Africa digital partnerships can remain on track towards its economic and social goals.

Way Forward

Looking ahead, India- Africa DPI cooperation should be mainstreamed as a core pillar of bilateral strategy. The shared objectives are clear : bolster inclusive growth, advance Agenda 2063, and deepen South-South ties. With aligned digital startegies cross border DPI can expedite continental integration. Success will depend on maintaining mutual ownership and adaptability: India offers a replicable stack of open solutions but local context must shape implementation.

Ultimately by fostering interoperable digital networks and empowered citizens, this partnership can amplify economic resilience in a New Indian- New Africa era. If executed wisely, DPI collaboration will unlock new markets for Indian businesses and new service for African citizens from mobile banking tone-health-propelling shared prosperity. The journey is underway, and sustained momentum wil ensure that India-Africa digital Iinkages truly become a game change for development and cooperation.

Conclusion

By aligning legal frameworks, building skills, and investing jointly in open, people-centric DPI, India and Africa can accelerate inclusive growth and establish a model of South–South digital cooperation.

References

Government of India. (2019, October 9). Official launch of e-VidyaBharti and e-ArogyaBharti project by External Affairs Minister [Press release]. Ministry of External Affairs. https://www.mea.gov.in
Government of India. (2020, September 22). India–Africa digital partnership speech. Embassy of India, Moscow / Ministry of External Affairs Archives. https://mea.gov.in
India Today. (2025, July 3). India, Ghana ink key pacts during PM Modi’s visit, aim to double trade in 5 years (S. Parashar). https://www.indiatoday.in
Hindustan Times. (2025, August 24). Namibia to roll out digital payments system based on India’s UPI (R. H. Laskar). https://www.hindustantimes.com
The Economic Times (Government). (2025, October 26). India showcases AI talent, digital infra at GITEX Africa 2025: Minister Jayant Chaudhary (IANS). https://economictimes.indiatimes.com
Walters, D., et al. (2025). Digital public infrastructure: A practical approach for Africa. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org
Kumar, A., Chaturvedi, S., et al. (2025, August 27). India’s role in Africa’s digital transformation. Diplomatist. https://diplomatist.com
Lund, S., & Cruz, M. (2025, April 29). Bridging the digital divide in Africa: Enhancing technology adoption for economic growth. Brookings Institution / International Finance Corporation. https://www.brookings.edu
Mastercard Newsroom. (2025, March 25). Digital payments economy in Africa expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030. https://www.mastercard.com/news
Jain, S. (2025, April 16). What happens to an economy with digital public infrastructure? Gates Foundation. https://www.gatesfoundation.org
Kapoor, P., & Sahoo, D. R. (2025). India–Africa cooperation in the digital age: Navigating privacy protection and emerging challenges in the Global South. Atlantis Press. https://www.atlantis-press.com

About the Author : Aashvee Prisha is a Research Intern at IMPRI. She is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Political Science, with a deep interest in international relations, gender diplomacy, and digital storytelling.

Acknowledgement: The author sincerely thanks Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja for her invaluable mentorship and guidance during the development of this article. Special thanks are also extended to her fellow IMPRI interns for their thoughtful inputs, support, and camaraderie throughout the process.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.