Open-source software products – Building blocks for effective e-government structures

When issuing ID cards, transferring tax money, providing unemployment benefits, social assistance or educational services, digital technologies are a must-have. They allow, for example, cash payments to vulnerable households or individuals even in remote areas. Required are different basic components, such as information about registered recipients, payouts and the like in databases that are provided in form of digital building blocks.

To scale these kind of lighthouse projects as easily and inexpensively as possible to then apply them elsewhere, the GovStack approach uses references from partner countries such as Ukraine, Rwanda, Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya. These pilot projects ought to serve as guideposts for further implementations.

The practical realisation calls for the provision of a sandbox made of software components – a digital test environment in which one’s own systems can be adjusted or even emulated safely and in isolation without compromising the existing development environment. To this end, an open-source IT infrastructure that is accessible to all, securely and independently of existing cloud providers must be built.

The concept of a sandbox needed to be visualised in a simplified way to move from idea to product. For this purpose, a front-end simulation with use cases was developed, so that also non-technical people, mostly decision-makers, could experience and understand the available user functions.

The process involves an iterative design approach that is reciprocally influenced by practice and theory. Since hardly any comparable projects exist in the public sector, not all requirements could be detailed in advance. Application reports and rough technical specifications were readily available; however, a clearer picture only emerged after consultation with experts and comprehensive documentation.

The simulation is the result of the “Fail Early, Fail Fast” principle without traditional, predefined development methods. The basis for developing the prototype remains the requirements of an e-government system, which are being worked out and further refined by various working groups. By collecting and evaluating user feedback, the product can be continuously tested and improved.

With the development of open-source software products, Goforeans participate globally in the development of e-government systems. The aim is to accelerate the digital transformation within government and administration. Simultaneously, social inequalities are reduced. Citizens can get their due access to public services, which often depends on the provision of ID, payment, or similar IT services.

The cooperation between the GIZ and Gofore as part of the GovStack initiative began in October 2022. So far, research has been carried out, wireframes created, prototypes built, and the integration of different software components by various developers coordinated.