OPEN-SOURCE FIRST POLICIES, PRINCIPLES AND FRAMEWORKS

KEY ACTIONS

• Increase the development of new open-source policies and principles that advocate for considering open-source first before building new, or procuring proprietary products

• Strengthen the implementation and active use of both new and existing open-source policies by governments and organisations

WHY THIS

Having a structured institutional approach to open source, through policies and principles, can enable, accelerate, and improve the abilities of governments and organisations to discover, develop, use, and invest in digital public goods at scale.

WHY NOW

Increasingly, countries around the world and international organisations have recognised the value of open-source software and digital public goods, especially in regards to preserving digital sovereignty, reducing duplication, and enhancing transparency and interoperability. As digital public goods and open source become more ubiquitous, entities are also beginning to see the need for more structured approaches. These include open- source program offices (OSPOs) and open-source policies and principles, which allow them to better coordinate and accelerate their work. Additionally, these strategies help fulfill the commitments made in the Global Digital Compact regarding the use of digital public goods.

HOW TO SUPPORT

• Support country governments to create, adopt and implement open-source policies.

• Accelerate the adoption of open-source policies in and throughout the UN system.

• Strengthen the evidence base for adopting OS policies, for instance by sharing and initiating relevant research and case studies.