ITU Open Source Programme Office (OSPO) is committed to harnessing the power of open-source technologies to empower nations, organizations, and individuals to leverage cutting-edge digital solutions for the sustainable development.
- Open Source Programme Offices (OSPOs) are dedicated entities within organizations, tasked with managing and promoting the use, development, and release of open source technologies. They serve as focal points to drive open-source strategies, ensuring that organizations maximize the benefits of open source while navigating its challenges. Utilizing, developing, and championing open-source technologies can significantly amplify the impact of organizations and governments in many critical areas. However, effectively using, developing, and releasing open source technologies requires internal capacity.
ITU stands at a pivotal juncture, uniquely positioned to contribute to the open-source technology landscape. Through its experience, expertise, and global reach, ITU has the capability to support both national and international stakeholders in the creation, adoption, and implementation of open-source solutions, policies, and frameworks.
ITU's extensive network comprises members and partners from the public and private sectors worldwide. Through a dedicated Open Source Programme Office (OSPO), ITU aims to actively contribute to the global open-source ecosystem and to empower a diverse range of astakeholders to both leverage and create open-source technologies for equitable and sustainbale digital transformation.
- A primary focus of the ITU Open Source Programme Office will be championing the adoption and promotion of digital public goods (DPGs). DPGs play an important role in addressing the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and have garnered significant endorsement from national governments. The ITU OSPO will actively collaborate with Member States and their respective ICT ministries to advocate for the use of DPGs—both those developed by ITU and external entities—that bolster digital infrastructure and enhance service delivery.
In addition, ITU OSPO aims to:
- Ensure technology solutions for poverty reduction and economic inclusion align with local contexts, fostering inclusive software design and development in LMICs.
- Support the public with relevant learning and capacity-building resources on open-source technology adoption for public services.
- Support existing initiatives by offering OSS community development, code review, licensing and legal guidance, and OSS implementation assistance.
- Collaborate with UN agencies focused on eliminating prejudice, supporting environmental protection, and promoting human rights through open-source technologies.
ITU OSPO currently supports the following projects and initiatives:
ITU OSPO latest activities and events:
28 October 2024 - ITU OSPO contributed to the development and release of the Open-Source AI Definition (version 1.0). This effort aims to provide clarity and structure around what constitutes open source AI, establishing principles for AI projects that emphasize transparency, openness in development, and adherence to open source licenses. Learn more about the release here and provide your comments and contributions.
12 July 2024 - Building on collaborative insights from global stakeholders and the success of the community chalenge on Retrieval Augmented Generation, ITU OSPO is launching a working group to harness the potential of opne-source AI for public services. The working group will focus on developing a standards-based blueprint solution to adress key use cases in the public sector, leveraging fully open-source models, frameworks, and infrastructure for generative AI.
28 March 2024 - ITU OSPO in partnership with AI for Good held a webinar on Open-Source AI for Education. The invited panelists included representatives of UNESCO, UNDP as well as representatives of online education platforms. 
18 January 2024 - ITU OSPO in partnership with AI for Good held a webinar on Open Source (generative) AI for Public Services Innovation. The invited panelists included representatives of Mexico, Germany, and Estonia.
