Rethinking Open Source at UNICEF
The advantages of open source—transparency, reliability, and cost savings—are often touted as universally beneficial. However, as Saurabh, my friend from ECARO and an Open Source ally has pointed out: those general benefits don't necessarily align with what we do. Our core mission is to save children and provide emergency relief. The generic Open Advantages blogposts that talk about scale, security, community, etc don't map well with us!
Here are some generic misalignments of general open source benefits I could think of:
We're Not a Software Company: We don't develop software in-house. We procure or hire vendors for our tech needs, which naturally raises questions about the direct relevance of open source for us. We can't maintain them, how does being Open Source add any benefit?
Security Concerns: The idea that open source is inherently more secure isn't straightforward for us. Without an in-house team of developers, security becomes a potential concern rather than a given benefit.
Resource Constraints: Our main focus is on emergency action and direct interventions. We don't have the bandwidth to build a community around open source projects - and without community, without the advantages of community, making software Open Source adds overhead.
Resource Constraints v2: Developing Open Source software costs more.
These (most of these) are indeed valid concerns! But.. the story doesn't end there. I want to write, more accurately brainstorm some of the benefits of Open Source for us!
Speed of Deployment: In emergency scenarios, the ability to adapt and deploy solutions quickly is invaluable. Open source projects can be customized rapidly to fit our unique needs.
Data Interoperability: Open source platforms usually comply with global data standards, which is crucial when we're dealing with multi-country operations and diverse systems.
Vendor Flexibility: With open source, we aren't tied to a single vendor. If a service provider falls short, we can easily switch to another to scale or adapt the software. This offers us a safety net and greater operational agility.
Community as an Extended Team: Even though we don't actively build communities, the global open source community can act as an extended task force, providing both insights and hands-on contributions. Think DHIS-2 and Covid!
Knowledge Sharing: Open source projects allow us to empower local communities by leaving behind sustainable, adaptable tools as part of our legacy.
Strategic Partnerships: Our role in evaluating startups aligns well with the agility and innovation often found in open source-based startups.
Best Practices: Concern is that going open source will require extra work to ensure security, adding costs. What does that say about our current practices? Implicit in that argument is an admission that we've been cutting corners, relying on bad practices, or even developing subpar software. So, in a way, the 'extra work' that open source might demand is a call to action for us to step up our game and produce higher quality, more secure solutions.
While the general benefits of open source may not be a perfect fit for us, there are tailored advantages that align closely with our unique operational context. By acknowledging these nuances, we can better leverage open source for effective, meaningful impact.
Doing what's easy has never been our business. Our very existence centers on tackling the hard problems, reaching the unreachable, and upholding what is morally right. From remote villages to conflict zones, our mandate compels us to be where help is most needed.
When we invest in a startup through Venture Fund, it's never about chasing profits. It's about fueling companies that are doing the right thing while striving for sustainability. Our approach to software isn't led by feature lists or business gains - it's guided by ethical considerations and our commitment to public good - Digital Public Goods!
That's why open source aligns so deeply with who we are (IMO). It goes beyond practicality, it's about morality! Public money should equate to public code. Open source isn't just an alternative; it's a more ethical way to develop software. By making our tools and platforms openly accessible, we allow others: be they NGOs, governments, or other stakeholders - benefit from what we've already built and tested.
Imagine a country where we lack the capacity to scale but where our solution is desperately needed. With open source, there's no need to reinvent the wheel. Our work can be adopted, scaled, and even improved upon, minimizing resource waste and avoiding the trap of redundant innovation.
I hear a lot about reputational risk - to me, it translates to ego! It shouldn't be about that; it's about understanding the broader impact of our actions. Open source allows us to extend our reach far beyond our immediate scope, transcending borders and bureaucratic limitations. It amplifies our ability to do good, to uphold what is right, and to act as responsible stewards of public trust and resources.
We're in the business of doing what's morally right. Open source gives us an avenue to manifest that commitment in every line of code we influence, every partnership we form, and every life we touch.
So, why should we do Open Source? because alternative is building solution that ONLY we can use to do good.. strong words - but let's not capitalize on our capacity to do good! Be Open, Embrace Open!