Introduction
The goal of this project was to collaborate with the Bangladesh government and the a2i digital delivery team to implement a proof of concept for digital government data exchange platform based on X-Road. We provided technical expert-as-a-service support to ensure the platform was tailored to meet Bangladesh's specific requirements. As a result, the data exchange DPI was successfully launched and was operational in Bangladesh by the end of the project in initial scope, with the a2i local team fully onboarded. The work was funded by our good partners from Co-Develop (https://www.codevelop.fund/).
Scope of work
Provided hands-on support in setting up the X-Road data exchange platform in a cloud environment, alongside comprehensive technology reviews and strategic recommendations (incl on policy). The focus was on enhancing a2i's implementation plans for the digital government architecture. Delivered a detailed report outlining next steps and key recommendations for future development.
Our approach and deliverables
The collaboration between Digital Nation and Bangladesh's a2i team began in December 2023 by first co-creating the engagement scope and plans. Active collaboration with the national unit contributed significantly to the project's progress throughout the work.
Weekly meetings ensured smooth project coordination, hands-on work with the X-Road implementation, and presentations on governance and technical aspects, both on-site and remotely. The collaboration reached a high point during DN experts’ visit to Dhaka in spring 2024, where they worked directly with the a2i team and introduced X-Road to a broader technology community through a workshop led by Bangladesh's digital leaders.
A big part of the work was ongoing guidance and mentoring to a2i team to enable them to build up own technical capacity for next stages.
Impact and next steps
The X-Road proof of concept was successfully implemented on the a2i team's infrastructure and cloud environment in Bangladesh. Comprehensive feedback was provided on digital service interoperability and data architecture. Clear recommendations for the next steps were outlined to guide the Bangladesh government in further advancing their digital initiatives.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Digital Nation and Bangladesh demonstrated that innovative approaches can be successfully applied to government services. The X-Road POC project was validated both architecturally and technically for a2i digital services, leading to plans for continued collaboration. Bangladesh engagement is a good case study that if there is a capable local team, then with Digital Nation’s mentorship and technical assistance, they can do Digital Public Infrastructure adoption quick and strong while building up further local capacity.