CKAN is now a Digital Public Good

This blog post was originally posted on blog.okfn.org on June 15, 2023

Summary

CKAN has recently been acknowledged as a Digital Public Good (DPG). This designation by the Digital Public Good Alliance not only elevates CKAN's visibility but also enhances support for open projects aimed at reaching the United Nations (UN)' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognized for championing open source principles, CKAN serves as an effective platform for managing and publishing data collections, essentially democratizing knowledge, promoting transparency, and helping society make well-informed decisions.

Enjoying global recognition and support, CKAN has established a dedicated and active community of contributors and supporters. Its assets are securely held by the Open Knowledge Foundation, while Datopian and Link Digital act project co-stewards, facilitating its maintenance and forward progression. Numerous multilateral and philanthropic organizations including UNHCR, OCHA, WFP, FAO, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and more, trust and utilize CKAN for their data management needs.

Now, CKAN has been acknowledged for its pivotal role in addressing critical worldwide issues. It actively contributes to 9 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals identified by the United Nations, underlining its significant role in global problem-solving and commitment to the advancement of society through open data.

This recognition reinforces the power of open-source technological solutions and bolsters belief in a publishing and data-sharing system combining efficiency and transparency. From its inception, CKAN has evolved into a movement aimed at societal change through openness and transparency. This endorsement encourages the proliferation of new open data projects by institutions committed to the common good.

CKAN: Acknowledged as a Digital Public Good (DPG)

CKAN is now a Digital Public Good (DPG). The Digital Public Good Alliance approved Open Knowledge’s application and has added it to the Digital Public Good Registry. The goal of the DPGA and its registry is to promote digital public goods in order to create a more equitable world. Being recognised as a DPG increases the visibility, support for, and prominence of open projects that have the potential to help attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) put forward by the United Nations (UN). To become a digital public good, all projects are required to meet the DPG Standard to ensure that projects truly encapsulate open-source principles.

CKAN: An Open-Source Tool for Open Data Portals

CKAN is an open-source tool for making open data portals. We help people, institutions, and businesses manage and publish data collections, which means opening information to the public that not only fosters transparency and democratizes knowledge but also helps us as a society to make better decisions.

CKAN: Trust and Support Spanning the Globe

Trusted by hundreds of portals across the world and supported by an active community, it focuses on extensibility and integration with other tools. CKAN assets are held in trust by the Open Knowledge Foundation, while Datopian and Link Digital are co-stewards of the project, working alongside other stakeholders and community members to maintain and bring the project forward.

CKAN: In Service of Multilateral and Philanthropic Organizations

It is currently used by many multilateral organizations like UNHCR, OCHA, WFP, and FAO, as well as philanthropic organisations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Additionally, there are several instances managed by grassroots community movements like Code For Africa, Civic Data Lab and Digital Fems.

CKAN: Addressing Global Challenges Through Open Data

According to the DPG Standards, CKAN is now officially recognised as a data management system that is helping tackle 9 of the 17 global challenges identified by the United Nations (UN):

• SDG1: End Poverty in all its forms everywhere
• SDG4: Quality Education
• SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG13: Climate Action
• SDG16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Celebrating CKAN's Recognition as a Digital Public Good

For us at Open Knowledge, and also speaking on behalf of the hundreds of people involved in the CKAN community around the world, having CKAN recognised as a digital public good – defined 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, and help attain the SDGs – demonstrates the power of truly open source technological solutions for the common good and deepens our belief in a publishing and data-sharing system that combines efficiency and transparency. We couldn’t be happier and more renewed with this public recognition of a central tool in our mission as an organization.

CKAN: A Catalyst for Positive Societal Change

“From its inception, CKAN has been part of a movement which through openness and transparency has had the goal of bringing positive change to society. This recognition is yet another guarantee of CKAN’s public function and an important endorsement to encourage new open data projects in different contexts by institutions whose concern is the common good”, says Adrià Mercader, Open Knowledge’s Technical Lead and a historical contributor to the CKAN project.

CKAN Instances: A Global Footprint

Several hundreds of CKAN instances exist around the world, including National Governments e.g. Canada, USA, Finland, Argentina, Japan, Germany etc., and Sub-national and Local governments e.g. Montreal, Barcelona, and Buenos Aires. A more comprehensive and visual list may be found at https://datashades.info.

Shaping the Future Through Open Collaboration

The acknowledgment of CKAN as a Digital Public Good isn't just a pat on the back - it's a reflection of our commitment to transparency, open-source solutions, and global cooperation. It marks the endless possibilities that openness and collaboration can bring to our interconnected world. It’s a testament to how every single member of our community, through their commitment to the principles of open knowledge, is shaping a future that benefits all.

Thanks for being a part of this incredible adventure!

Stay open!