Open-Source key to sustainable digital services.

For several decades, open source has been a quiet revolution that has been democratizing people's ability to innovate and improve their communities. What began as a counter-cultural movement by AI researchers few decades ago has evolved today into a powerful global phenomenon. The concept of software freedom allowed programmers to do better work faster by explicitly permitting others to use, study, modify, and share their work. But as the discussions in New York reminded us all, open source is more than software development. It is about promoting transparency, collaboration, and innovation. By adopting open-source solutions, governments and organizations can create more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable digital services. UNDP and ITU are excited to be engaging with the open-source community as we move the OSEE initiative forward.