Skip to content

Welcome to Open Source guidebook

The guidebook serves as a comprehensive tool to guide UNICEF Country Offices (COs) through the process of evaluating and adopting Open Source (OS) software solutions. It addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of OS software, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s mission, operational needs, and strategic goals. Emphasizing innovation, collaboration, and transparency, the guidebook underscores UNICEF's commitment to the principles of open source software.

:memo: Work in Progress, not complete

What’s not in this book

This book does not aim to provide guidance on open source software development or delve deeply into its technical aspects - except Licensing.

Additionally, it does not intend to offer guidance on the deployment, usage, and contribution to specific open source software projects, as this falls outside the scope of the book.

If you need resources and how-tos of open source, please visit UNICEF Open Source Inventory

Who should read this book?

This book is intended for anyone who wants to better understand the role of Open Source within an organization. More specific examples include:

  • Executives, policy-makers and decision-makers who are responsible for establishing, overseeing, funding or sponsoring an Open Source project
  • Country offices who are outsourcing development of an Open Source Project
  • Country offices who are planning adoption of a project
  • Vendors, developing Open Source solution for UNICEF.