Author(s): Datasphere Initiative
The Sandboxes for DPI report explores the role of sandboxes in the design and governance of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
Digital Public Infrastructure refers to society-wide digital capabilities, specifically digital identity, payments, and data exchange, that are essential for participation in modern society and markets. Often described as the roads and bridges of the digital era, these systems facilitate essential services at a societal scale.
However, because these systems are foundational, their design choices can unintentionally lock in inclusion or exclusion for millions, making robust governance critical before they are entrenched.
Building on the typology established in the Datasphere Initiative’s 2022 Sandboxes for Data report, this analysis refines the classification for experimentation by sharpening the distinction between Regulatory, Operational, and Hybrid sandboxes, while proposing the first-ever formal definition of a “DPI Sandbox.”
This conceptual framework is supported by the first global mapping of sandboxes specifically designed for DPI. The research identifies 16 pioneering initiatives, comprising 14 national and 2 multi-country projects, ranging from India’s Aadhaar ecosystem to the European Digital Identity Wallet.
The report concludes with practical recommendations for governments, the private sector, and civil society to engage in collaborative experimentation. By highlighting how sandboxes can bridge the gap between policy objectives and technical code, the work provides a strategic framework for building more reliable infrastructure. These findings help practitioners move from high-level principles to the operational realities of managing digital systems that serve the public interest.