Digital Public Good

A Digital Public Good (DPG) is a digital resource designed to be open, sustainable, and beneficial to society. Here’s what makes a resource a DPG:

1. Open Source: DPGs are open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards, or open content.
2. Contributes to Sustainable Development: They are built to support sustainable national and international digital development, often aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
3. Adheres to Privacy and Best Practices: DPGs comply with privacy laws, regulations, and best practices.
4. Does No Harm: They are created with the intention of not causing harm to users or communities.
5. Freely Accessible: DPGs are freely available for anyone to use, modify, and redistribute.

Key Characteristics of Digital Public Goods

• Non-rivalry: Use by one person doesn’t reduce availability for others.
• Non-excludability: No one can be excluded from using the resource.
• Scalability: DPGs can be adopted and scaled in various contexts.
• Adaptability: They can be modified to fit local needs and requirements.
• Collaboration: DPGs encourage knowledge sharing and collaborative improvement.

The Importance of Digital Public Goods

Digital Public Goods play a crucial role in:

• Bridging digital divides: Improve equitable access to digital technologies.
• Fostering innovation and collaboration: Enabling communities to work together to improve these resources.
• Supporting digital transformation: Especially in developing countries.
• Addressing global challenges: Such as those outlined in the SDGs.

Organizations like the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) work globally to promote the creation, use, and maintenance of DPGs. The concept of DPGs represents a shift towards more open, collaborative, and sustainable approaches to digital development and governance.

Resources

• UN Tech Envoy
• Wikipedia on DPG
• DPG FAQ
• UNDP on DPGs and SDGs