Digital Standards

Digital standards

The UNDP Digital Standards provide guidance for UNDP teams on best practices when creating digital solutions for development. We are sharing them publicly as they may help other teams think through the process.

Our standards

1. Start with the need

Building something that is not needed is the most significant risk in digital. Most technology startups and products fail. This is not because the technology doesn’t work.

2. Bridge the digital divide

To build inclusive digital services, be intentional about tackling the digital divide, and follow accessibility best practices. Be aware of your own bias, solutions co-created with the people and communities help us meet our shared objectives.

3. Test early and often

We test things to reduce the risk of failure later on. Every product or service is built on a series of hypotheses and assumptions. The larger the assumption, the more likely it needs to be tested.

4. (Perhaps) Don’t build it

Most of the time, building something new is a mistake. There is no need to “re-code” the wheel. The three options for any project: use an off-the-shelf platform, build on top of existing platforms, and build something new.

5. Do no harm

It is easy to get excited about the power of technology for good and to forget that there can be severe potential negative consequences as well. Be aware of risks and unintended consequences, including threats to people and the planet.

6. Form the right team

Launching a digital product requires a diverse set of skill sets. Learn the three core skill sets required for any project in this Digital Standard.

7. Measure what matters

Every project needs a clear, upfront definition of success and failure. This means attaching numbers to measurable outcomes. You can then implement changes to move a project toward success.

8. Follow the UNDP Data Principles

UNDP should manage data responsibly and effectively through the data lifecycle from collection to sharing, to maximize the value of data.

9. Default to open

Building solutions ‘in the open’ allows for better collaboration and reduces silos. This applies both to the methodologies of the work and the digital solutions we use and build.

10. Plan for the long term

Before you start a project, there are two key things that you need to consider: the cost of maintenance and end-users adoption.

Why digital standards are important for UNDP

Digital Standards provide a framework for innovation and improvement. By setting standards for how digital information is managed and exchanged, and how digital products are created, UNDP can help ensure that new technologies are used effectively, efficiently, and ethically, to support our development goals.

Digital Standards also help UNDP to keep pace with the rapidly changing technology landscape. They provide a way for UNDP to evaluate new technologies and ensure that they are compatible with existing systems. This helps UNDP to avoid investing in outdated or incompatible technologies.

The Digital Standards build upon the Principles for Digital Development — but are UNDP-specific and leverage the experience and breadth of the organisation.

Finally, by adhering to digital standards, UNDP can help build trust with our partners and stakeholders. When UNDP uses standard formats and protocols, it demonstrates our commitment to open communication and collaboration. This helps UNDP to establish itself as a reliable and trustworthy development partner and a thought leader in digital.

UNDP's digital standards are therefore an important part of its overall strategy for using technology to achieve its development goals. The UNDP Digital Standards have been created by extensive consultations with internal and external experts, and with a real-world understanding of a variety of UNDP projects.

Principles for

Digital Development

UNDP’s Digital Standards build upon the Principles for Digital Development, which have been endorsed by the international development community. The Principles for Digital Development are a set of living guidance intended to help practitioners succeed in applying digital technologies to development programmes.

digitalprinciples.org