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This technical note is intended to contribute to understanding of how to leverage open source software (OSS) for global public goods particularly in resource-constrained environments. The aim is to enable a more deliberate approach to building information systems that can serve as a global public good, rather than reinventing the wheel every time. Despite business processes being largely the same in various country contexts, each new project is typically built from scratch, as if there were no templates, code libraries or models, or lessons learned on which to base new implementations. Implementations in some domains are dominated by a few IT vendors that present significant switching costs and lock-in to governments that are already resource constrained. OSS solutions have the potential to address the challenges mentioned above and facilitate efficiency, robustness, security, and interoperability of information systems. Governments in the digital age are interested to learn how OSS solutions can help build open, robust, interoperable, and secure service delivery platforms. Digital technology is increasingly the way citizens interact with government. From submitting passport applications to paying parking tickets and registering for social assistance, prior in-person interactions are now occurring online. For governments, modern identification (ID) systems allow for more efficient and transparent administration and service delivery, a reduction in fraud and leakage related to transfers and benefits payments, increased security, accurate vital statistics for planning purposes, and greater capacity to respond to disasters and epidemics. Equally important, social protection systems, programs, and policies help buffer individuals from shocks and equip them to improve their livelihoods and create opportunities to build a better life for themselves and their families.

ICT Applications --- Information and Communication Technologies

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Approximately one billion people globally lack government-recognized identification. As a consequence, they face barriers to accessing critical services and exercising their rights. Robust, inclusive, and responsible foundational identification (ID) systems2 can be transformative for a country's development and for the welfare of its poorest and most vulnerable populations by enabling financial inclusion, the empowerment of women and girls, access to basic services, social safety nets, and political participation. Moreover, at a systemic level, leapfrogging traditional paper-based approaches in favor of digital identification systems can generate significant benefits across the public and private sectors by increasing efficiency and accountability (chiefly through the reduction of fraud, leakages, and waste in public programs) as well as driving innovation in service delivery (through the use of mobile or digital payments, for instance). As governments across the globe are implementing new, digital foundational identification systems or modernizing existing ID programs, there is an urgent need to develop accurate estimations of the associated costs. There are a handful of existing analyses that have attempted to estimate the overall cost of foundational ID systems: for instance, Gelb and Diofasi Metz (2018) estimate that it is likely to cost a low income country roughly 0.6 percent of GDP to build a foundational ID system, or about USD 4-11 investment per registrant for enrolment and credential issuance. The same study cites figures for a few countries suggesting recurrent costs of around 0.06-0.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). As the authors point out however, few data points exist and these figures may not apply to different types of systems or to all countries.

Digital identity --- ICT applications --- ICT policy and strategies --- Information and communication technologies --- Information technology

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The 2020 G20 Presidency mandated the Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) to develop an agenda to accelerate the adoption and application of technology-enabled infrastructure (InfraTech). This agenda supports two existing IWG initiatives-the Roadmap to Infrastructure as an Asset Class, and the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII). Technology supports the roadmap by providing enhanced data, tools, and transparency for investors. In addition, it creates new investment opportunities by creating new markets, business models and potential for enhanced revenues. InfraTech also supports QII, as many technologies maximize the positive impact of infrastructure by enhancing sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. The potential economic efficiencies that new technologies offer also help attain value for money across the project lifecycle and potentially reduce upfront or recurring public financial outlays. InfraTech also provides valuable tools for governments to respond to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) health and economic crisis. This reference note supports the InfraTech Agenda by outlining priority areas and tools for policymakers to implement the agenda. This paper focuses on the transport, energy, water, and digital infrastructure sectors.

ICT Applications --- ICT Legal and Regulatory Framework --- ICT Policy and Strategies --- Information and Communication Technologies --- Information Technology --- Infrastructure Economics and Finance --- Infrastructure Finance

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This paper examines empirically the links between adoption of information and communications technology (ICT), defined as usage by firms, innovation, and productivity using firm-level data for a sample of six Sub-Saharan African countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Although adoption of information and communications technology in these countries is still lagging behind OECD countries, there is significant heterogeneity on adoption rates across the countries. Kenya has the largest adoption rate of computer, software, and Internet usage. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania experience lower adoption rates. The degree of internationalization of the firm, use of technology, and extent of competition are important factors explaining firm-level use of ICT. The results of the estimates suggest that ICT use is an important and robust enabler of product, process, and organization innovation across all six countries. However, the final impact on productivity depends on the degree of novelty of the innovation introduced by the firm.

Information And Communications Technology (Ict) Use --- Innovation --- Productivity

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Providing universal coverage and barrier-free access to ID systems is one of the three pillars of the Principles on Identification for Sustainable Development and is vital to achieving Target 16.9 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to "provide legal identity for all" by 2030. Large-scale registration campaigns can help achieve this objective by making identification accessible to large segments of the population within a short timeframe and by often being able to reach individuals and population groups who, for various reasons, face difficulties in obtaining IDs in the absence of concerted outreach efforts. Without sufficient planning, coordination, and the adoption of appropriate policies and measures for inclusion and building trust in the system, however, registration drives may be unable to boost the coverage of the system to achieve a critical mass and can thus became a waste of (public) resources, while exacerbating exclusion. This note aims to help practitioners learn from past efforts, promote the adoption of good practices, and reduce the risk of failure.

ICT Policy and Strategies --- Information and Communication Technologies --- Voter Registration