Governance of digital transformation for sustainable development: aligning digital innovation with the sustainable development goals

The accelerating pace of digital innovation presents new governance challenges, necessitating the establishment of robust policy, legislative, and institutional frameworks to mitigate risks and maximize sustainability benefits. This study examines the intersection between digital transformation (DT), governance, and sustainability within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The purpose of this study is to synthesize and critically evaluate the evidence on how DT governance influences progress toward the SDGs. Using a systematic mapping and structured qualitative evidence synthesis, aligned with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the study reviews peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2024 on the governance of DT in relation to the SDGs. Sixty-five studies were analyzed across governance scales, digital technologies, and sustainability dimensions. The findings reveal strong optimism regarding DT contributions to the SDGs, alongside persistent governance gaps, contextual inequalities, and underexamined trade-offs. To address these gaps, the study proposes an evidence-informed framework for sustainable DT governance that integrates inclusivity, adaptability, transparency, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The framework is positioned relative to existing digital and sustainability governance models and highlights implementation challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income country contexts. The results advance policy-relevant insights for aligning digital innovation with long-term sustainability objectives.