How Brazil uses GovTech and digital public infrastructure to drive development

To increase efficiency and rebuild public trust, governments worldwide face growing pressure to modernize. People today expect the same level of convenience, speed and transparency from their public institutions as they do from their banking apps and food delivery platforms. Yet, many governments remain hamstrung by outdated bureaucracies and siloed legacy systems.

This urgency has placed digital public infrastructure and GovTech at the heart of a new global agenda. Rather than being viewed as optional digital upgrades, these tools are increasingly recognized as essential for delivering inclusive, efficient and accountable public services.

As a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on GovTech and Digital Public Infrastructure, I’ve seen firsthand how this shift is being prioritized globally. The recent World Economic Forum report, The Global Public Impact of GovTech: A $9.8 Trillion Opportunity, offers a roadmap for rethinking how governments build and operate the core systems that underpin society, from ID and payments to data exchange layers and service delivery.

Some of the most promising examples of digital public infrastructure and GovTech adoption are coming from the Global South. Brazil, in particular, has made substantial progress, combining top-down digital strategy with bottom-up innovation at the local level.

Nationally, Brazil has long been a pioneer in electronic voting and digital tax declarations. More recently, the federal government’s gov.br portal has centralized access to hundreds of services and digital IDs for over 150 million citizens.

But innovation is not limited to the federal level. In fact, many powerful examples are emerging from state and municipal governments working in partnership with civic technology platforms.

Over the past few years, the Colab platform — a Brazilian GovTech I lead — has worked with different levels of government to implement digital public infrastructure-aligned solutions that put citizens at the centre of service delivery.

At the municipal level, the city of Niterói deployed a multichannel digital scheduling system during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling over one-third of its population to book vaccination appointments with assigned times and locations — minimizing crowding and exposure. Today, that same infrastructure supports not only other vaccines, but also a growing range of services — from childcare enrollment and social assistance requests to infrastructure reporting and public consultations — all accessible via app, web portal and WhatsApp.

At the state level, the government of Piauí launched a digital participatory budgeting programme, engaging more than 160,000 citizens in voting on public works and community investments. Over R$80 million ($16 million) has been allocated based on the popular vote, with participation already growing in the current cycle.

At the federal level, Brazil’s Tribunal de Contas da União (Federal Court of Accounts) has initiated a citizen monitoring programme for roadworks. Citizens receive location-based notifications about nearby paving projects and are invited to submit geo-tagged photos and feedback. Verified reports earn micro-rewards and reduce the cost and workload of traditional technical inspections.

These cases show how interoperable, citizen-facing digital platforms can significantly improve how governments deliver services, engage communities and monitor infrastructure in ways that are transparent, scaleable and cost-efficient.

To fully realize the promise of GovTech and digital public infrastructure, governments, international institutions and the private sector must align around a few core priorities:

Just like roads and electricity, digital systems that enable service delivery, such as digital ID, payments and data layers, should be treated as long-term public goods.

Agile, iterative governance is needed to regulate fast-evolving areas, such as AI, data sharing and algorithmic decision-making; especially when public services are involved.

Public servants must be empowered and trained to understand, procure, implement and manage digital systems responsibly and strategically.

GovTech ecosystems thrive when governments co-create with civil society, academia and startups. Partnerships accelerate experimentation, learning and impact.

Digital services should be built around the real needs, journeys and pain points of people, not just administrative logic. A citizen-centric approach increases adoption, satisfaction and ultimately, legitimacy.

Digital public infrastructure and GovTech are more than buzzwords. They represent a fundamental reimagining of how governments function and relate to the people they serve. Done right, they make public services simpler, faster, more inclusive and more trusted.

And, while countries like Brazil still face challenges, they also show that with the right tools, talent and trust, emerging economies can lead — not follow — the next generation of digital governance. How each country chooses to approach this transformation will define the future of its public institutions. Those of us already in the field are here to share, collaborate and help accelerate that journey.