Open tech for inclusion

Digital public goods (DPGs) and digital public infrastructure (DPI) are prime examples of technological investments into 'open' tech that can help governments more quickly develop solutions to big and urgent challenges. Maximising the potential of these technologies will take new mindsets, collaborations and approaches to technological capacity.... It is time to focus on three priorities that delve on the 'how':

Moving from words to action: The global community needs to galvanise the resources, develop suitable interoperable standards and support country-relevant implementations tht have persistent gaps in access and inclusion.

Building deeper country capacity: The availability of technical expertise is a challenge for implementing DPGs and DPIs and their subsequent maintenance and scaling. Global technical cooperation can play a catalytic role to support bottom-up country efforts in this endeavour.


Leave no one behind: If the DPG-DPI movement leaves some people behind or exacerbates the digital divide, it has failed. So, a key priority for international cooperation needs to ensure digital accessibility and affordability, improving digital literacy.

As international cooperation accelerates to implement global digital commons, governments can lead the way by catalysing critical conversations on the role of the global South and local digital ecosystems as builders and implementers of inclusive, equitable and safe digital ecosystems.

From ''Open' Technology Can Tackle the World's Biggest Problems - Here's What's Holding It Back', World Economic Forum