Open Source for Global Public Goods
This technical note is intended to contribute to understanding of how to leverage open source software (OSS) for global public goods particularly in resource-constrained environments. The aim is to enable a more deliberate approach to building info...
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| Format: | Report |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2020
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/672901582561140400/Open-Source-for-Global-Public-Goods http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33401 |
| Summary: | This technical note is intended to
contribute to understanding of how to leverage open source
software (OSS) for global public goods particularly in
resource-constrained environments. The aim is to enable a
more deliberate approach to building information systems
that can serve as a global public good, rather than
reinventing the wheel every time. Despite business processes
being largely the same in various country contexts, each new
project is typically built from scratch, as if there were no
templates, code libraries or models, or lessons learned on
which to base new implementations. Implementations in some
domains are dominated by a few IT vendors that present
significant switching costs and lock-in to governments that
are already resource constrained. OSS solutions have the
potential to address the challenges mentioned above and
facilitate efficiency, robustness, security, and
interoperability of information systems. Governments in the
digital age are interested to learn how OSS solutions can
help build open, robust, interoperable, and secure service
delivery platforms. Digital technology is increasingly the
way citizens interact with government. From submitting
passport applications to paying parking tickets and
registering for social assistance, prior in-person
interactions are now occurring online. For governments,
modern identification (ID) systems allow for more efficient
and transparent administration and service delivery, a
reduction in fraud and leakage related to transfers and
benefits payments, increased security, accurate vital
statistics for planning purposes, and greater capacity to
respond to disasters and epidemics. Equally important,
social protection systems, programs, and policies help
buffer individuals from shocks and equip them to improve
their livelihoods and create opportunities to build a better
life for themselves and their families. |
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