When you want to listen to your favorite songs, you go to Spotify. When you want to download your favorite games or apps, you head to Playstore Store. But this is not about Spotify or Playstore.
Last week I shared 5 Digital Public Goods for entrepreneurs but did you know there’s also a dedicated platform where you can find every Digital Public Good (DPG) in one place?
With this, you do not need to run endless Google searches whenever you need one, you can go straight to this platform and access any DPG you’re looking for.
So, what’s this platform? It’s called the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA). Some of you might already be familiar with it.
According to the UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, the DPGA is:
“A multi-stakeholder initiative responding directly to the lack of a ‘go-to’ platform for sharing digital public goods, engaging talent, and pooling datasets in a manner that respects privacy, in areas related to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
The Digital Public Goods Alliance maintains a registry of over 200 recognized digital public goods, each vetted against a nine-part standard.
Thanks for this, I have an important clarification - DPG registry is not a platform which curates or lists all DPGs
it’s the source of truth - when a solution goes through the review process, it’s listed on the registry and only then the solution can be recognized as DPG. If they are not on the registry - even if they align with standard, they are just that.. open source solution that align/conform to DPG standard (which is great, but they aren’t DPGs.)
DPGA (alliance) has 2 main functions - one is the standard - which defines what a DPG is with its 9 indicators), and then you have registry - these are reviewed solution that conform to the standard.
There is a review team behind it, when you want to get your open source solution a DPG recognition, you check the eligibility, and submit the application through the portal.
I just checked your post on 5 DPGs you shared - out of 5, 3 are not DPGs (erpnext, odoo and dolibarr). it’s easy to confuse as public goods is an economy concepts - digital is just that in virtual realm.. but important distinction so we don’t dilute the meaning. Just how a solution is not open source unless it’s provided with an OSI approved license.
tl;dr
DPG status is not self declared - it’s an official designation that can only be granted through the DPGA’s formal review proces.
@8086 Let’s organize a webinar on Open Source and DPGs.
Thanks very much for making this important clarification.
You’re absolutely right. the DPGA is not a “platform” in the literal sense. I used that analogy to paint a familiar picture and make the concept easier to grasp. I totally understand that the DPGA is both the standard (with its 9 indicators) and the registry, which is the official source of truth for reviewed and recognized DPGs. And since the registry is essentially a source for reviewed and recognized DPGs, in my view it plays a similar role to an app store for accessing various applications or Spotify for music, a central, trusted place where you can find what you need.
On the earlier list of five “DPGs” I shared, Abdul Rahim had already pointed out that not all of them were actual DPGs. That feedback is actually what pushed me to dig deeper into the DPGA’s process and criteria, and I’m glad I did, because I’m learning so much more now.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to clarify this so we keep the meaning of DPGs accurate and consistent.
And @8086 I second the idea to hold a webinar. Looking forward to that.
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