About Us

The Centre for Open Societal Systems (COSS) is dedicated to transforming lives around the world by harnessing the power of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). COSS is a collaborative initiative between EkStep & IIIT-B with the intent to bring global, societal, positive, inclusive, and sustained transformation through adoption of Digital Public Goods. We bring the vital components and partners to make the adoption of DPGs by a country a success. Countries On This Transformation Journey Work With DPGs, Independent Service Providers, Technology Infrastructure Providers, Project Management Organisations, And Thought Leaders To Develop Their Digital Public Infrastructure (DPIs) From The Open Source And Publicly Available DPGs.

Our Mission is to drive global societal transformation with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). We aim to improve the lives of 1 billion people globally by 2030 through adoption of Digital Public Goods (DPGs).

How COSS Works

Intent

Digital Public Goods (DPGs) have the potential to transform societies for better and COSS was created with the sole intent of enabling global societal transformation through DPG adoption.

COSS offers pro-bono services to nations, starting from helping countries understand the various DPGs to craft their respective journeys, to leveraging relevant DPGs to solve challenges in their societies. In this entire journey, COSS remains an independent partner to the country.

Approach &
Methodology

While execution is only 20% of a DPG initiative, 80% of success hinges on planning, communication and roll-out, and scale and speed of adoption of DPGs. Hence COSS remains especially focused on enabling large scale adoption of DPGs, which is also one of its core competencies.

We are the point of convergence that connects the myriad constituents of the DPG ecosystem to work together on a program initiated by a country - starting with Digital Public Goods (DPGs), to thought leaders, subject matter experts, to independent software vendors (ISVs), system integrators (SIs), to funding agencies, philanthropic organisations, and more. With COSS as a partner, countries work seamlessly and efficiently with these various constituents to develop the right adoption path that addresses their distinctive needs.

COSS is also well equipped to leverage existing relationships with funding entities such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and other philanthropic organizations such as BMGF, NORAD etc. to secure funding for programs, if needed.

Our approach to any program starts with defining clear objectives and ends only when the objectives are achieved for our partnering countries. Here is our methodology in brief:

Program initiation: Starts with defining the objectives and a clear focus on DPG adoption. The phase ends with signing of MoU with COSS and other supporting organizations.
Program kick-off: Starts with initial planning of project and resources, identification of program milestones and phases, budget analysis and addressing the gaps etc. The end of this phase involves final project, resource, and risk mitigation plan, Identification and selection of SI/ISV/cloud provider, and formal agreements with departments / ministries / organizations necessary to fulfil adoption goals.
Program closure: achieved after the execution of the entire program, including successful adoption as per the goals defined at the initiation of the program.