Digital public goods and resilience in practice: learning from South–South–North collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for robust digital health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the swift implementation of digital public goods (DPGs) was vital for pandemic response initiatives. This paper investigates the execution of transnationally required DPGs via empirical evidence from Sri Lanka and other Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) that utilized the DHIS2, a reputed DPG for managing information and associated digital health solutions during the pandemic. The research employs a socio-technical framework to identify four critical factors for fostering resilience: agile governance and development, in-country capacity, transnationally mandated networks of support, and flexible, free, and open-source platforms. The paper details processes that establish resilience, such as adaptive decision-making, collaborative implementation frameworks, and iterative system development. Notwithstanding these facilitators, governance inefficiencies, resource limitations, and technology constraints persist as substantial obstacles to the enduring viability of DPG deployments. The results indicate that attaining resilience in digital public goods requires a multifaceted approach, including governance frameworks, stakeholder collaborations, and adaptable technologies to maintain digital health ecosystems beyond crisis responses. This work enhances information systems research by broadening empirical understanding of digital resilience and providing practical recommendations for policymakers, global health organizations, and digital health practitioners aiming to institutionalize robust DPG-based solutions.