Background

In at least one past keynote, Dries has described Drupal as a public good, like a park: https://youtu.be/4NN5EM4CYVE?t=764.

In 2019, a UN report recommended "that a broad, multi-stakeholder alliance, involving the UN, create a platform for sharing digital public goods, engaging talent and pooling data sets, in a manner that respects privacy, in areas related to attaining the SDGs” and "the governments of Sierra Leone and Norway, alongside UNICEF and the Indian think-tank iSPIRT, launch the DPGA [Digital Public Goods Alliance]." (Source: https://digitalpublicgoods.net/who-we-are/).

"The Digital Public Goods Alliance is a multi-stakeholder initiative with a mission to accelerate the attainment of the sustainable development goals in low- and middle-income countries by facilitating the discovery, development, use of, and investment in digital public goods." (Source: https://digitalpublicgoods.net).

The DPGA defines digital public goods as "open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable laws and best practices, do no harm by design, and help attain the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals]." (Source: https://digitalpublicgoods.net/who-we-are/).

There are 9 standards a software submitted to the DPGA's registry should include, described here: https://digitalpublicgoods.net/standard/

Although Drupal was created far in advance of the SDGs, Drupal is used heavily to advance the SDGs (though not always explicitly and certainly not exclusively*), and based on several people's read (in a Twitter discussion), Drupal meets the criteria for inclusion in the DPGA's registry of Digital Public Goods.

* Other software included in the registry, such as DHIS2, can be used for motives outside the SDGs.

Motivation

There are several reasons to apply for inclusion in the DPGA's registry:

  • Appropriateness: as mentioned in the background, Drupal is a public good (at least according to Dries) and it meets the criteria for the DPGA. It's also worth noting that a Drupal distribution called FarmOS (correct me if this is not technically accurate) is already included in the registry.
  • Recognition: Drupal has been serving as a digital public good for more than a decade - it deserves recognition
  • Funding Opportunities: donors such as the UN and USAID pay attention to the software in this registry and may require the use of it or directly fund development of certain feature sets in an existing Digital Public Good. See the USAID and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Digital Square project: https://digitalsquare.org/solicitations

Next Steps

  1. Anoop John put together a Google Doc for coordinating an application. We need users to contribute to it: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WkrLTARANc4t9cD4xWY062sX96BmQ2CB8xkN...
  2. We need a process for determining when the document is sufficiently complete for the purposes of submitting to the DPGA.
  3. We need a person responsible for making the submission.

Comments

andileco created an issue. See original summary.

anoopjohn’s picture

anoopjohn commented

It looks like FarmOS is already listed as a Digital Public Good. The form also looks like it is a multi-step form or there are additional steps after the submission of this form. I have looked at the FarmOS submission from the registry - https://digitalpublicgoods.net/registry/farmos.html - and have added the questions from that completed submission. Likely they will ask these as well in subsequent steps of the form. I have also copied over the sample data for FarmOS to the end of the document.

I have updated the answers for the additional questions identified based on the FarmOS data from the registry. Please review.

As it stands it looks like we will need a one liner statement of why we think each of the SDG goals are being promoted by Drupal and the public evidence for the same, a URL which can be validated. I think we are done once that is done.

What is going to be the process for submitting this? Once we put together the content, one of us just submits this? Tim submits this?

rachel_norfolk’s picture

rachel_norfolk
Primary language English
Location UK
commented

Yes, FarmOS is listed as a DPG.

I think LocalGov Drupal should be, too. That would definitely be a good move. I wish I had heard about the work taking place to build a portal for Sierra Leone earlier as it would have been a good candidate.

For core Drupal, though, I think we need to be able to clearly express what benefit listing as a DPG brings to the successful completion of the Sustainable Development Goals.

It’s not impossible but it’s harder than the two other examples as they fulfill clear needs.

In the meantime, it would be useful for a volunteer to update the Drupal entry on the Catalog of Digital Solutions, that’s used by many govs and NGOs.

This will be consulted by members of the DPG Alliance.

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

@anoopjohn @rachel_norfolk - thank you for your input! Basically all the sites I work on (excluding intranets) aim to advance the SDGs, so I will add them to the Google Doc and will work to update the DIAL catalog.

@rachel_norfolk - I know what you mean about Drupal core being a more difficult pitch than FarmOS and LocalGov (and I agree), but I think the fact that DHIS2 is included should qualify Drupal core too. Although the main groups working on DHIS2 are in the international development space, DHIS2 is a MIS platform that could be used in non-development sectors. They hint at that in the "Flexible across sectors" section of https://dhis2.org/about.

I'm going to share this link with the #nonprofits Slack channel to request additional examples of Drupal's work advancing the SDGs.

anoopjohn’s picture

anoopjohn commented

The document looks like in pretty good shape now right? Maybe one more round of reviews and edits and we should be good to go.

Who will submit this and handle subsequent communication / clarification with the registry?

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

I spoke to @hestenet about this and he will check with Dries Wednesday (tomorrow) to decide who should be responsible.

anoopjohn’s picture

anoopjohn commented

I went through with a dummy submission to see what forms come up after you continue from first page. It looks like we need one more piece of information - Link to ownership documentation. Need to add that as well.

There were a few more questions copied over from the additional pages but rest were items we had compiled from the completed submissions from the registry.

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

Thank you @anoopjohn. I added in a link that I think should work for that purpose.

@rachel_norfolk I also updated https://solutions.dial.community/en/products/drupal. It's not perfect or exhaustive but it's a start. If you have any specific suggestions please let me know.

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented

Looping back in here - I'm certainly happy to act as point of contact here for the purposes of submission, and have enough regular touch points with @Dries that I can make sure to incorporate his feedback and advice as we go.

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented

As I review the Google doc, I think this is crucial:

For core Drupal, though, I think we need to be able to clearly express what benefit listing as a DPG brings to the successful completion of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- @rachel_norfolk

We have many examples of organizations built on Drupal that *themselves* are directly impacting the development goals, but we need to also provide clear evidence that their choice of Drupal was not just random, but that Drupal itself specifically lends itself to the SDGs, and therefore was a natural choice for organizations focused on missions that align with SDGs.

I think a lot of the material is there, we should just read/revise with an eye to how we express that.

likethelettuce’s picture

likethelettuce commented

I would love to support this in anyway that I can as the new DA Chief Revenue and Philanthropy Officer.

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

@hestenet - totally see where you and @rachel_norfolk are coming from. Most of the sites I added are actually not representing organizations, but instead are integral components of projects specifically designed to tackle SDGs. Sometimes Drupal is the venue of the work toward the goals, like when it brings organizations together to plan a vaccine or drug roll-out. Sometimes Drupal is acting as a utility to help users make sense out of data and inform policy. There are a lot of reasons why organizations like mine have chosen Drupal, but I don't think the application really has room for that. But anyway, my vote is: clean up what we have in the document, submit the application, and hope for the best.

@likethelettuce we could really use a good copy-edit in the Google Doc and any other insight you might have!

likethelettuce’s picture

likethelettuce commented

I have been working on another grant deadline but I will definitely jump into this today and see what I can work up. Do we have a deadline we are trying to submit this by?

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

Thank you @likethelettuce - maybe we could aim to have it submitted before Dec 14th - that way (assuming it's approved) when we are talking up Drupal 10 we can also mention how it's a digital public good.

likethelettuce’s picture

likethelettuce commented

For core Drupal, though, I think we need to be able to clearly express what benefit listing as a DPG brings to the successful completion of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- @rachel_norfolk

Question @rachel_norfolk do you mean for this application or just for Drupal core in general? I am working on this for the philanthropy core messaging if you mean for Drupal in general but probably won't have anything until early 2023.

likethelettuce’s picture

likethelettuce commented

THIS IS MY FIRST CONTRIBUTION Y'ALL!!!!! Can't wait to get this submitted!

likethelettuce’s picture

likethelettuce commented

It's looking pretty good so maybe we can submit it tomorrow?

andileco’s picture

andileco commented
Status: Active » Reviewed & tested by the community

+1 to submitting today!

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented

I think Dries requested a look at the final application, so I'll see if I can reach out about that shortly.

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

Thank you @hestenet!

mgifford’s picture

mgifford
he/him
Primary language English
commented

Very cool.. If we get this we're going to need to update our Sustainability page.

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

Thanks for that link @mgifford! I've added that page as evidence under the mentioned SDGs (though if anyone wants to take the duplicate links out they are welcome to).

I do think the sustainability page could be updated now regardless, as we have many examples in areas other than the ones already listed on that page.

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented

Just checking in to let folks know that I've made a few more edits based on feedback, and will send to Tim Doyle (DA CEO) and Dries again soon. I know this is taking a bit longer than we hoped, but I think we'll get there!

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented

Nudged project leadership about the status of the draft - will continue to post updates as I have them.

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

Thank you @hestenet for continuing to keep this on the radar!

dries’s picture

dries commented

I was finally able to look at this!

First of all, thank you for preparing an application.

After review, I only see upside to submitting our application, and no downside. In fact, this sounds exciting to be part of!

I reached out to Tim Lehnen and Tim Doyle from the Drupal Association in email to coordinate how to submit the application.

Thank you, again!

zyxware’s picture

zyxware commented

Great to see this update from Dries. Look forward to getting the application submitted and seeing Drupal in the list of Digital Public Goods.

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented

I have the application about 75% filled out in the submission portal now, and am working with DA CEO Tim Doyle to finalize.

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

Woohoo! Thank you and happy Friday!

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented

The application has been fully entered into their online portal and submitted for review!

I will keep this group updated.

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

Very exciting! @hestenet, did they have a confirmation message that estimated low long to expect for a response?

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented

@andileco - they did not, but I'll be keeping an eye on it for sure. :)

hestenet credited Tim D..

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented
Status: Reviewed & tested by the community » Fixed

The Digital Public Goods Alliance has approved the Drupal project's application as a Digital Public Good.

Now that we're approved we should be showing up on the registry any day now: https://digitalpublicgoods.net/registry/

This is extremely exciting! Thank you to everyone here who helped make this happen.

The Drupal Association is working to coordinate a press release - so look out for that sometime in the upcoming weeks.

andileco’s picture

andileco commented

Thank you for sharing the great news @hestenet! Thanks to everyone for their contributions!

rachel_norfolk’s picture

rachel_norfolk
Primary language English
Location UK
commented

Congratulations!

vimaljoseph’s picture

vimaljoseph commented

Great news. Congratulations to all behind this. It is there in the registry now - https://app.digitalpublicgoods.net/a/10499

anoopjohn’s picture

anoopjohn commented

This is absolutely fabulous.

Drupal agencies should rally behind this. All commercial Drupal organizations, who have the ability to send out press releases, should send out a press release saying this and also cover this in all of their newsletters going out and also on their websites.

Drupal can emerge as the platform of choice for all Government organizations across the world. That would be a huge win for the Drupal community.

Thanks specially to @Daniel for taking that first step and also putting in all the effort through the collection of data for the application. Thanks also to Tim Lehnen, Tim Doyle, Von Eaton, Kristin Romaine, Rachel Norfolk and all the anonymous contributors who have contributed towards the application process and also to Dries for supporting and taking this through formally. Thanks to Tim Lehnen and Tim Doyle for taking this through the formal application process both at DPGA and within DA.

mgifford’s picture

mgifford
he/him
Primary language English
commented

Adding these links:

https://www.drupal.org/association/blog/drupal-officially-achieves-recog...
https://dri.es/drupal-recognized-as-a-digital-public-good

For the Sustainability page, how about adding a paragragh to the end (under the existing statement about the SDG's) that states:

Continuing our commitment to the SDGs, Drupal is now officially a Digital Public Good (DPG). Our community applied to the Digital Public Goods Alliance's (DPGA) DPG Registry, and were approved. Digital Public Goods are ones which create a more equitable world and help attain the United Nation’s SDGs. DPGs represent an opportunity for everyone to access cutting edge features, drive their own digital transformation, and grow local ecosystems. As open source solutions, DPGs can be the basis for community building, knowledge sharing, and joint approaches. Local adaptations and iterations can be shared back with Drupal to help continuously improve it and ensure its long term sustainability. All digital public goods meet the DPG Standard.

hestenet’s picture

hestenet
He/Him
Location Portland, OR 🇺🇸
commented

Good idea, @mgifford. I've added that paragraph to the page.

Status: Fixed » Closed (fixed)

Automatically closed - issue fixed for 2 weeks with no activity.