By Sarah Farooqi

Ecosystem Survey: On the Case for a Digital Public Goods Foundation

We want to hear from you! What would a foundation focused on Digital Public Goods mean for your project? Is it necessary? About this survey: This survey is seeking the insight from open source projects focused on social good, and those who support them, on the need for the creation of a dedicated support organization, […]

By Heath Arensen

5 Things Digital Public Good Software Projects Need to Scale

The need to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has led to investment in digital tools that support social objectives. As this software is increasingly deployed, open source licensing has been widely embraced by countries, the UN system, and international NGOs to avoid vendor lock-in, enable global adoption, while allowing local actors to […]

By Open Source Center, ClearlyDefined

Using Open Source Tools To Fight COVID-19

As we all adjust to living with the new realities that COVID-19 has brought, we are reminded how fragile our world can be. However, many open source tools and technologies have been developed that are being used to fight this crisis around the world. Two of these tools are: SORMAS (the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management […]

By Steve Conrad

Providing Technical Assistance to Support Open Source Software

The Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) is committed to improving the state of open source software in the ICT4D space. In reaching this goal, DIAL created the Open Source Center to convene a vibrant and inclusive community for builders of free and open source software, promoting knowledge sharing, collaboration and co-investment in technology and human capacity […]

By Maurice Sayinzoga

Where Africa Connects: A Dynamic Week at the Africa Tech Summit

The excitement at the African Tech Summit (February 13-15, 2019) at the sprawling Kigali Convention Center in Kigali, Rwanda was electric and palpable.  An annual three-day conference that showcases the best of Africa’s growing influence in the tech sector, the Summit brings together representatives from the private sector, universities, civil society organizations and other influential stakeholders. As […]

By Maurice Sayinzoga

Towards A More Gender-Inclusive Open Source Community

For over two decades, free and open source software has given us the ability to empower anyone to become collective owners of impactful technology with the freedom to study, change, and share technology solutions for social good. At the Digital Impact Alliance, we strongly believe in what these freedoms can offer to those working in […]

By Michael Downey

Celebrating 20 Years of Open Source at O’Reilly Open Source Convention

In the technology field, late Summer and early Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere is the traditional conference season — a time for colleagues to pause to reconnect with each other, learn about trends and challenges in the industry, and of course, build new relationships and strengthen old ones. For the past 20 years now, one […]

By Michael Downey

The Power of Community: 23 summer interns bring impact & support to DIAL Open Source Center projects

At the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) Open Source Center, one of our values is the belief that the techniques evolved by the free and open source software movement are one of the best ways to create inclusive, collaboratively-designed software. One of the most critical aspects of collaboration in open source projects is building an inclusive […]

By Michael Downey

DIAL’s Open Source Center on the Road

The DIAL Open Source Center (OSC) team has been busy scaling up its services since the beginning of the year. Our mission is to convene a vibrant and inclusive community for builders of free and open source software, promoting knowledge sharing, collaboration and co-investment in technology and human capacity to support positive social change in […]

By Maurice Sayinzoga, David McCann

Open Source in the Field: Two Case Studies from Open Data Kit (ODK)

Open Data Kit (ODK) is a suite of mobile data collection tools designed to replace paper-based forms when gathering data of all kinds in low connectivity areas. The idea to develop ODK stemmed, in part, from observing and trying to solve data collection problems in rural and resource poor communities. ODK exemplifies the qualities of […]