Digital Platforms for Public Benefit in SEA

About this programme

Examining how digital platforms can support more inclusive, sustainable, and publicly beneficial outcomes through collaboration across the public and private across Southeast Asia.

Highlight

From Payment for Goods to Payment for Good: Digital Giving in Southeast Asia – An Exploratory Study

On 29 October 2025, the Tech for Good Institute (TFGI), supported by ANT International, convened a Focus Group Discussion on Digital Giving in Southeast Asia.
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Platforms of Progress: How Digital Platforms Are Reshaping Service Delivery In The Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the Philippines’ digital transformation, compelling a strategic shift toward digital platforms for public benefit. Key thought leaders recently convened to
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Digital Transformation: Building Future-Ready Government and Policy

Digital technology is transforming how governments serve their citizens. In this article, Chairul Saleh, Assistant Deputy for Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic
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Digital Platforms Benefit for Policy Implementation: Transforming Public Service Delivery

Digital platforms across Southeast Asia (SEA) have transformed from basic transaction facilitators into integral components of national digital infrastructure. This shift presents significant opportunities for
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Enhancing Sustainability in Indonesia through Digital Platforms

This article draws upon insights shared during a seminar titled “Digital Platforms and Impactful Innovation: Towards Sustainable Development in Indonesia”, organised by

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Featured authors

EP

Erlangga, also known as Elang, serves as a Programme Analyst at the Tech for Good Institute, where he focuses on supporting government entities in implementing digital transformation and innovative working methodologies. His expertise centres on facilitating the internal adoption of digital platforms and modernised operational frameworks, ensuring these transitions prioritise equity and empowerment.

Read insights by Erlanggasakti Putra

FA

Programme Fellow at Tech For Good Institute

Read insights by Fairoz Ahmad

CN

Citra Nasruddin is the Programme Director at the Tech For Good Institute, where she leads research on the responsible and inclusive development of digital economies in Southeast Asia. She is an expert in fiscal policy, financial services, and digital innovation. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked in Indonesia’s public sector, supporting cross-sectoral initiatives with government agencies, international organisations, and the private sector.

Read insights by Citra Nasruddin

Research

Rigorous studies and data that inform regional tech policies

Report 19 May 2026

From Payment for Goods to Payment for Good: Digital Giving in Southeast Asia–An Exploratory Study

The study explores the unique intersection between technology and philanthropy in SEA and uncovers the digital giving paradox: The mismatch in scale between digital spending (payment for goods and services), and digital giving (payment for good). Drawing on regional stakeholder consultations, the report identifies conditions under which digital giving scales, surfaces barriers that hold it back, and offers practical recommendations for non-profits, philanthropic intermediaries and regulators.

The report was launched on 19 May 2026 at the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2026. Please read the official press release for more information.

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Report 02 Apr 2026

Digital Platforms for Public Benefit: From Digitalisation to Platform-Enabled Governance

Digital Platforms for Public Benefit is a research series by the Tech for Good Institute exploring how governments and commercial digital platforms across Southeast Asia can work together to deliver public goods and services. The series documents collaboration models, implementation challenges, and practical guidance for policymakers in the region.

Following the first report released in 2024, the 2026 edition examines how governments in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia are partnering with commercial platforms to strengthen policy implementation and deliver public benefit at speed and scale.

The report is accompanied by a downloadable playbook, which provides a practical guide for government officials and policymakers to apply the report’s four-phase collaboration pathway.

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Insights

Expert analysis on regional emerging trends

Country Spotlights 16 Mar 2026

When Platforms Become Policy Infrastructure — Driving Practical Implementation

In this commentary, Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi, Managing Director of EconWorks Advisory, reflects on insights from the Digital Platforms for Public Benefit roundtable organised by TFGI and PIKOM in Malaysia in November 2025, examining how platform-government collaboration is reshaping policy implementation and why managing the trust, accountability, and privacy trilemma is central to building durable platform-enabled governance.

Country Spotlights 27 Feb 2026

Building Southeast Asia’s Digital Backbone: Governance, Platforms, and the Public Interest

As governments across Southeast Asia increasingly treat digital identity, payments, and data systems as foundational public infrastructure, this article examines what it means when digital public infrastructure takes on structural roles once reserved for the state, and the implications this shift has for governance, accountability, and inclusion in the region’s digital future.

Country Spotlights 12 Nov 2025

Platforms of Progress: How Digital Platforms Are Reshaping Service Delivery In The Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the Philippines’ digital transformation, compelling a strategic shift toward digital platforms for public benefit. Key thought leaders recently convened to discuss leveraging these platforms beyond commerce to enhance governance and social inclusion. In this article, Monchito Ibrahim, Lead Convenor of ATIN, explores how public-private partnerships are streamlining aid, expanding education, and empowering MSMEs, and shares strategic recommendations for building an inclusive, citizen-centric digital state.

Engagements

Dialogues connecting policymakers, researchers and industry

Digital Platforms for Public Benefit in SEA 11 Dec 2025

Report Launch: Digital Platforms for Public Benefit

Digital Platforms for Public Benefit 18 Nov 2025

From Payment for Goods to Payment for Good: Digital Giving in Southeast Asia – An Exploratory Study

Across the region

Country Spotlights 16 Mar 2026

When Platforms Become Policy Infrastructure — Driving Practical Implementation

In this commentary, Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi, Managing Director of EconWorks Advisory, reflects on insights from the Digital Platforms for Public Benefit roundtable organised by TFGI and PIKOM in Malaysia in November 2025, examining how platform-government collaboration is reshaping policy implementation and why managing the trust, accountability, and privacy trilemma is central to building durable platform-enabled governance.

Country Spotlights 20 Oct 2025

Digital Transformation: Building Future-Ready Government and Policy

Digital technology is transforming how governments serve their citizens. In this article, Chairul Saleh, Assistant Deputy for Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, explores how Indonesia is leveraging digitalisation, innovative policies, and public-private partnerships to deliver more efficient, inclusive, and citizen-centred public services.

Country Spotlights 27 Sep 2024

Enhancing Sustainability in Indonesia through Digital Platforms

This article draws upon insights shared during a seminar titled “Digital Platforms and Impactful Innovation: Towards Sustainable Development in Indonesia”, organised by the Tech for Good Institute (TFGI) in collaboration with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN). The seminar explored the role digital platforms can play in contributing to sustainable development and public benefit in Indonesia.

Country Spotlights 12 Nov 2025

Platforms of Progress: How Digital Platforms Are Reshaping Service Delivery In The Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the Philippines’ digital transformation, compelling a strategic shift toward digital platforms for public benefit. Key thought leaders recently convened to discuss leveraging these platforms beyond commerce to enhance governance and social inclusion. In this article, Monchito Ibrahim, Lead Convenor of ATIN, explores how public-private partnerships are streamlining aid, expanding education, and empowering MSMEs, and shares strategic recommendations for building an inclusive, citizen-centric digital state.

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Focus areas that might interest you

Digital Economy

Tech Governance

Examining how Southeast Asia is shaping tech governance through evolving regulation, policy innovation, and regional cooperation to support responsible digital development.

Digital Economy

Responsible AI Adoption

Examining how AI can be adopted responsibly to strengthen businesses, improve livelihoods, and address emerging risks across Southeast Asia.

Digital Society

Inclusive Digital Growth

Exploring how Southeast Asia can foster more inclusive digital growth through stronger readiness, participation, and future-ready digital capabilities.

Digital Economy

Financial Inclusion

Exploring how digital technologies can expand financial inclusion and improve access to financial services for underserved communities across Southeast Asia.

Digital Economy

Digital Sustainability

Exploring how Southeast Asia can harness digital innovation, regional cooperation, and responsible business to advance sustainable development and growth.

Digital Economy

Digital Resilience

Examining how Southeast Asian economies can strengthen resilience against cyber threats through stronger capabilities, coordination, and adaptive governance.

Digital Society

Digital Platforms for Public Benefit

Examining how digital platforms can create public value through inclusive access, cross-sector collaboration, and more effective digital governance in Southeast Asia.

Digital Society

Confident Digital Society

Exploring how Southeast Asia can build a more confident digital society through stronger trust, resilience, and protection against emerging digital risks.

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Mouna Aouri

Programme Fellow

Mouna Aouri is an Institute Fellow at the Tech For Good Institute. As a social entrepreneur, impact investor, and engineer, her experience spans over two decades in the MENA region, South East Asia, and Japan. She is founder of Woomentum, a Singapore-based platform dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs in APAC through skill development and access to growth capital through strategic collaborations with corporate entities, investors and government partners.

Dr Ming Tan

Senior Fellow & Founding Executive Director

Dr Ming Tan is Senior Fellow at the Tech for Good Institute; where she served as founding Executive Director of the non-profit focused on research and policy at the intersection of technology, society and the economy in Southeast Asia. She is concurrently a Senior Fellow at and the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore and Advisor to the Founder of the COMO Group, a Singaporean portfolio of lifestyle companies operating in 15 countries worldwide. Ming was previously Managing Director of IPOS International, part of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore. Prior to joining the public sector, she was Head of Stewardship of the COMO Group.


Ming also serves on the boards of several private companies, Singapore’s National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC), and on the Digital and Technology Advisory Panel for Esplanade–Theatres on the Bay, Singapore’s national performing arts centre. Her current portfolio spans philanthropy, social impact, sustainability and innovation.