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Modernising Child Protection Case Management in Mexico

In Mexico, Child Protection Authorities (CPAs) are responsible for protecting children who experience violence, abuse, or neglect. In 2024, UNICEF and the Federal Child Protection Authority (FCPA) estimated that more than two million children require immediate protection. Meeting need is particularly challenging given significant budget gaps and limited case traceability. Case management practices have historically relied on fragmented, inconsistent paper-based approaches, further constraining coordination. While CPAs manage approximately 260,000 cases each year, actual demand exceeds two million children—underscoring the need for robust, scalable digital systems to improve both coverage and quality of care.To address these challenges, the FCPA and UNICEF Mexico developed the National Case Management Model (MOGEC) to standardise and strengthen child protection procedures nationwide. MOGEC establishes minimum standards, operational steps, and technical criteria to support the implementation of legally mandated processes.To operationalise MOGEC, the Government of Mexico leveraged the flexibility and adaptability of Primero, which was recognised as a digital public good in 2020. Adapting Primero, the platform was configured using the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS+) to reflect national procedures, and workflows, enabling standardised case registration, real-time monitoring, and improved inter-institutional coordination. Rollout began at the federal level and across eight states, reaching more than 300 trained users and benefiting an estimated 150,000 children directly and indirectly.With technical support from UNICEF, FCPA customised Primero to guide multidisciplinary teams—including psychologists, lawyers, and social workers—on MOGEC processes. Primero became more than a case registry: it supported the adoption of improved workflows, reduced administrative burden, and strengthened decision-making. Users report improved interdisciplinary collaboration through shared case information and analysis. Offline functionality allows teams to manage cases in areas without internet, while automated reporting replaces manual reporting, saving time and improving data quality. Risk-based prioritisation tools further support teams in identifying urgent cases and tracking follow-up actions more effectively.Using a DPG gave government officials in Mexico greater confidence to adopt the platform. DPG recognition signalled alignment with open-source standards and data protection best practices, while supporting interoperability and avoiding vendor lock-in and high licensing costs. It also reinforced national ownership.In 2026, Mexico will host the FIFA World Cup. Authorities will use Primero to identify and refer to child protection risks during the event. The government is also exploring interoperability between Primero and other administrative systems, including registries of children in residential care, victims’ databases, and systems used by health, education, and justice institutions. Together, these efforts aim to create an integrated digital ecosystem that supports more effective protection for children in Mexico.This content is part of the 2025 State of the Digital Public Goods Ecosystem Report, published by the Digital Public Goods Alliance in early February 2025. Learn more about the Alliance’s latest community highlights and explore the full report here.

Establishing the Foundations of Digital Civil Registration in Somalia

Decades of conflict in Somalia led to the collapse of the national civil registration system, leaving the government with limited population data and citizens without reliable legal identity or proof of civil status. This gap constrained service delivery, social planning, and broader state-building efforts.The initial phase focused on implementing birth and death registration, with a second phase expanding the system to include additional vital events. This phased approach enabled Somalia to reinforce its legal frameworks, develop institutional capacity gradually, and thoughtfully extend the system to encompass additional life events, such as marriage, divorce, and household registration.Each phase involved close collaboration with local partners through co-created workshops to map existing practices, clarify roles and hierarchies, and agree on a pragmatic service model. Early in this co-creation process, residence registration was prioritised as a foundational service, allowing tangible benefits to be realised quickly. Citizens were able to receive official proof of address from the outset, delivering immediate value for both government and citizens: enabling more effective planning for public authorities, and supporting access to services, voting, and dispute resolution for individuals.The initial proof of concept has since evolved into a production deployment of Somalia’s Unified Digital Civil Registration System. Today, OpenCRVS operates in 30 Somali districts and is integrated with 160 hospitals, which play an essential role in registering events such as births at the point of occurrence. To date, the system has facilitated the registration of 28,391 births.OpenCRVS’s collaboration with the Government of Somalia illustrates how digital public goods can enhance state capability in fragile contexts by enabling governments to leapfrog directly to modern, interoperable, and citizen-centred civil registration systems.This content is part of the 2025 State of the Digital Public Goods Ecosystem Report, published by the Digital Public Goods Alliance in early February 2025. Learn more about the Alliance’s latest community highlights and explore the full report here.

Open Data Editor: Making Data Validation Accessible for All

Communities cannot leverage open data or collaborate effectively if they are unable to share and reuse datasets without friction. Created by the Open Knowledge Foundation, Open Data Editor (ODE) is a desktop application that helps address this gap by enabling user-friendly data validation for people without technical or programming skills. In doing so, organisations can automatically detect errors and clearly identify what needs to be fixed before data is published or used for deeper analysis. Organisations using ODE report saving time and achieving significantly improved data quality, without data-engineering dependencies.Throughout 2025, ODE, which is supported in six languages, was adopted by organisations and governments all around the world. Use cases ranged from data verification by municipal workers in Croatia and Nepal to housing analysis in Argentina, investigative journalism in Mexico, and academic library services in India.Across these contexts, ODE was used by journalists, public servants, students, and peace activists—many with no technical background. By lowering the barrier to using and verifying data, ODE enabled users to consume, produce, and reuse high-quality datasets without requiring deep expertise in data algorithms or standards. This had a direct positive impact on the research and activities they were pursuing, while also generating feedback that flowed back to the ODE core team, enabling continued improvements based on real-world use cases and practical requirements.Recognising the importance of data literacy and in support of the goals that ODE helps advance, the Open Knowledge Foundation’s School of Data delivered targeted training sessions in 2025 to equip trainers to introduce and implement ODE in new communities. Rather than focusing solely on individual users, this approach invested in local trainers who can sustain and extend adoption over time. As a result, an estimated 500 people across all continents were trained to use ODE, helping to embed data literacy and practical data skills across diverse contexts.The evolution of ODE remains closely linked to the needs of the communities that use it, reflecting a deliberate emphasis on informed, community-driven development as a core principle of The Tech We Want. Looking ahead to 2026, expected outcomes include establishing a decentralised governance framework to support project sustainability, translating all documentation and literacy resources into four additional languages, and positioning the School of Data as a multilingual AI literacy hub.This content is part of the 2025 State of the Digital Public Goods Ecosystem Report, published by the Digital Public Goods Alliance in early February 2025. Learn more about the Alliance’s latest community highlights and explore the full report here.