Manifesto for Complementary Digital Infrastructure (CDI)

Preamble

In an era where digital systems form the backbone of economic growth, citizen empowerment, and public service delivery, the term Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has emerged as a powerful guiding concept. However, many mission-aligned private actors—particularly those driven by sustainability, scalability, and innovation—often hesitate to associate themselves with the term public, which connotes “free,” “state-owned,” or “non-commercial.”

To resolve this tension and unlock collaboration between public and private sectors without compromising innovation or commercial sustainability, we introduce a new term:

Complementary Digital Infrastructure (CDI)

CDI is a framework for inclusive, interoperable, and standards-aligned digital platforms operated by non-state actors that complement DPI in serving shared public goals—especially in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Vision

To create a globally accepted category of digital infrastructure that blends public interest with private innovation, enabling aligned yet independent systems to deliver interoperable, citizen-centric services at scale.

What is Complementary Digital Infrastructure (CDI)?

Complementary Digital Infrastructure (CDI) refers to:

Privately owned and operated digital platforms that align with the principles of DPI (inclusion, openness, safeguards, and interoperability), while maintaining sustainable business models.

CDIs are not free-riders on public infrastructure; they are value-adders. They share core design principles with DPI, enabling seamless integration, data portability, shared metrics, and user trust, while preserving commercial independence.

Principles of CDI

1. Interoperability with DPI - CDIs commit to using open standards and APIs to interconnect with public digital systems—such as identity, payment, and data exchanges.
2. Citizen-Centricity - CDIs place the individual at the center—ensuring accessibility, consent-based data usage, and user empowerment.
3. Aligned Outcomes, Independent Models - CDIs are profit-driven or mission-driven platforms that align their KPIs with societal outcomes without requiring full public funding or control.
4. Safeguards & Ethical Design - CDIs voluntarily adopt safeguards—privacy, cybersecurity, non-discrimination, and transparency—inspired by DPI best practices.
5. Standardized Metrics for Impact - CDIs adopt shared frameworks (e.g., GIIN IRIS+, SDG indicators) for reporting their social and economic impact alongside financial performance.
6. Complementarity, Not Competition - CDIs view DPI as infrastructure to build upon—not a rival to be replaced. They aim to fill gaps, serve underserved markets, and innovate faster.

Why CDI Now?

1. Innovation Needs Incentives: Sustainable innovation often requires monetization. CDI provides the language and legitimacy for private actors to pursue public-aligned outcomes without abandoning financial models.
2. Bridging the Public-Private Divide: Many governments struggle to build, scale, or maintain DPI. CDI enables complementary capacity from the private sector without ceding control.
3. Inclusive Language for a Broader Coalition: The term “Complementary” invites ecosystem builders—startups, cooperatives, foundations, and corporations—to contribute without semantic baggage.

The Call

We call on:

1. Governments and DFIs to recognize CDI as a legitimate category for procurement, funding, and partnerships.
2. Private innovators to adopt the CDI label when building DPI-aligned systems—especially in finance, education, health, energy, and commerce.
3. Multilateral agencies to include CDI frameworks in policy discussions, standards bodies, and cross-border digital compacts.
4. Civil society to help co-create safeguards and accountability mechanisms for CDI in the public interest.

The Path Forward

Edzai Zvobwo and the Acalytica team commit to leading this movement by:

1. Publishing integration standards for CDI platforms.
2. Developing a CDI Maturity Model and Impact Scorecard.
3. Convening a Global CDI Coalition of entrepreneurs, platforms, and governments.
4. Collaborating with DPI bodies to ensure aligned development, metrics, and governance.

Closing

In the same way public roads allow private cars to reach citizens, DPI must coexist with CDI to achieve full digital inclusion and innovation. By embracing Complementary Digital Infrastructure, we take a bold step toward a future where private platforms serve public value—without compromising sustainability, innovation, or sovereignty.

Let us build together, innovate sustainably, and serve the citizen first—whether public or private.

Join the CDI Movement.

Complement. Integrate. Deliver.