On the Generativity of Digital Public Goods: DHIS2 and OpenMRS in Ethiopia

Digital Public Goods (DPG) is an emerging concept gaining traction in the global development sector, promoting the discovery and deployment of open-source technologies for low and middle-income countries (LMIC) in particular. DPG owners develop these solutions to fit everyone's needs globally, yet they are expected to be implemented locally. Because local contexts differ in various ways, a mismatch between the global expectation and the local reality challenges implementation and may lead to sub-optimal use. To understand this global-local challenge, this study examines implementations of DHIS2 and OpenMRS in the healthcare context of Ethiopia through the lens of generativity. By comparing the implementations of these systems, we aim to draw practical lessons for both DPG owners and implementing countries. Theoretically, we contribute to the DPG discussion by bringing generative architecture, governance, and community as implementation mechanisms of DPG platforms.