What is a Digital Public Good (DPG)
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Definition | A digital solution (software, data, AI model, standard, or content) that is open-source, meets privacy and other applicable best practices, and is designed to help achieve the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). |
| Open Source | The core code, content, or datasets are freely available, licensed under recognized open licenses like MIT, GPL, CC-BY, etc. |
| Meets Standards | DPGs respect user privacy, are documented, and ideally align with best practices for security, interoperability, and accessibility. |
| Contributes to the Public Good | It solves societal problems – e.g. improving education, health, agriculture, financial inclusion – and does not prioritize commercial profit as its primary goal. |
| Hosted in a Transparent Way | The development process, governance, and ownership are transparent and inclusive, ideally welcoming contributions from others. |
| Examples | Mifos (financial inclusion), DHIS2 (health), OpenSRP (maternal health), KoBoToolbox (data collection), Common Voice (language data), GBIF (biodiversity), OpenCRVS (civil registration). |
What is not a Digital Public Good
| Misconception | Reality |
|---|---|
| “Anything free is a DPG” | False. Free access doesn’t make it a DPG unless it is open source and meets DPG standards. For example, WhatsApp is free but not a DPG. |
| “Any app used for good is a DPG” | Not necessarily. An education or health app isn’t a DPG unless it meets DPG technical standards and openness criteria. |
| “Open source automatically means DPG” | Not always. Open-source tools must also be safe, privacy-respecting, well-documented, and geared toward SDGs to qualify as a DPG. |
| “DPGs can’t generate money” | Incorrect. DPGs can be monetized through services, integrations, or hosting, but their core must remain openly accessible. |
| “It must be a software or app” | Wrong. DPGs include datasets, AI models, content (like textbooks or videos), and standards – not just software. |
| “Once open, always a DPG” | A project may start open but shift away from transparency, stop maintaining standards, or privatize its core – disqualifying it as a DPG. |
Quick Test: Is it a DPG?
Ask:
- Is the core (code, content, or data) openly licensed?
- Is it designed to serve the public good, not just private gain?
- Does it meet DPG Technical Standards (privacy, security, documentation, etc.)?
- Is it actively maintained and governed transparently?
If all are yes, it’s very likely a DPG.
Bottom Line
DPGs are digital solutions for the common good, built openly, governed transparently, and aimed at solving pressing global problems. They are not just free tools, and not every good tech is a DPG.