Digital ID on its own isn't enough to satisfy the World Bank; it must be made interoperable with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in order to control access to all life services.

Without being connected to every service that governments and corporations require of their citizens and customers, digital ID on its own isn't very useful, but rather it's the first step to unlocking what the World Bank calls "its full potential" — to plug it into the digital control grid known as DPI.

"Digital ID is a vital building block of digital transformation, but on its own it can't unlock its full potential. Its value lies in a broader Digital Public Infrastructure—the systems that make digital services work together: digital ID, digital payments, and data sharing"World Bank, "Unlocking opportunity: How digital ID can transform lives in Sierra Leone," December 2025

DPI is a civic technology stack consisting of three main components: digital ID, fast payment systems, and massive data sharing between public and private entities.

Last month, the World Bank published a blogpost entitled "Unlocking opportunity: How digital ID can transform lives in Sierra Leone," in which the authors showcased the West African country of Sierra Leone as a testbed for DPI.

For Sierra Leone, "Digital ID shows promise for public services, but gaps remain," the authors argue.

In order to unlock the "full potential" of digital ID, the World Bank says that:

Impact drives adoption—people turn to digital ID when it makes life easier.

Interoperability matters—systems must connect to deliver value.

Trust needs protection—data protection and security are essential.

Barriers must fall—cost, distance, and poor connectivity can be eased through social protection programs.