As part of the "CADGov Capacity Building Diploma Programme in Digital Governance, AI Readiness & Innovation for Public Officials" webinar series, the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) is organizing the first session on 21 October, from 16h00 to 17h30 pm (Tashkent time).

Titled "Digital Public Infrastructure: Establishing Trusted Government Platforms", the webinar explores how governments can establish trusted digital public infrastructure by connecting digital identity, interoperable data exchange and shared services with clear institutional responsibilities, effective data governance and people-centred service design.

Drawing on international experience, it will cover the practical foundations of trust, security and inclusion; coordination across government; and the sequencing of implementation. The discussion will highlight choices relevant to Central Asian governments, including prioritising services, developing institutional capacity and sustaining shared digital infrastructure over time.

Pedro H. Tavares (Independent consultant, Portugal) is the invited expert, and Andrew Beklemishev (CADGov SC) and Zoran Jordanoski (UNU-EGOV) are the discussants.

Expert Bio

Pedro H. Tavares is a senior digital development leader and adviser specialising in digital public infrastructure, digital government and national digital transformation. He previously led the Asian Development Bank’s Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Government practice, with a bank-wide remit covering 47 developing member countries across Asia and the Pacific. His experience also includes roles with UNICEF, the Australian Government, and ITU, and leading the development of national digital strategy in seven countries. He currently leads an independent consulting practice, providing strategic advice to governments, the European Union and telecommunications operators, he also serves as the Head of Advisory on Digital Government and Transformation at Timor Telecom.

Pedro is the author of Integrated Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Government – A Complete Guide for Governments, Practitioners, and Partners. The first and only book bringing DPI and digital government together in one integrated framework with this breadth of coverage: digital identity, payments and interoperability; people-centred service design, life events and user journeys; governance, institutions and legislation; cybersecurity, privacy and safeguards; infrastructure and connectivity; digital inclusion, skills and civil society participation. Freely available, it presents the “Digital State Spine” framework alongside practical implementation pathways and roadmaps for governments and development partners. The guide is available at: https://www.pedrohtavares.com/publications/dpi-and-digital-government

Pedro holds an Executive MBA from NUS Business School and an MSc in Information Systems from Universidade do Minho, complemented by a postgraduate certificate in Advanced Project Management from Stanford University. He has completed executive education in digital government at Harvard Kennedy School, fintech at Harvard University, cybersecurity and business process design at MIT Sloan, and data law, policy and regulation at the London School of Economics.