Executive Summary
New York City hosts the headquarters of the United Nations and dozens of its agencies — yet the technology teams running city government rarely interact with the digital innovation happening a few miles uptown at UN Plaza.
This guide maps out specific UN programs, events, and frameworks that NYC government technology and operations leaders can participate in, learn from, and contribute to.
Three Categories of Opportunity
- Open source & digital infrastructure — The UN is building a global open-source ecosystem that NYC can both leverage and lead within
- Urban governance & smart cities — UN-Habitat and allied programs are creating frameworks for data-driven, digitally inclusive cities
- Events & convenings — Multiple annual events take place in NYC, requiring zero travel investment
UN Open Source Principles
What it is
A set of principles for open-source software development, use, and distribution adopted by the UN Chief Executive Board's Digital Technology Network (DTN). As of mid-2025, over 60 organizations have endorsed them, including the Open Source Initiative (first endorser, Feb 2025) and the Government of France.
Why it matters for NYC
- Signal leadership — NYC would be among the first U.S. municipal governments to endorse, joining France at the national level
- Align with existing practice — NYC already publishes code on GitHub and contributes to open-source projects
- Create a bridge — Endorsement opens a formal relationship with the UN's digital technology network
How to participate
- Review the principles at unopensource.org
- Submit a formal endorsement through the UN's Digital Technology Network
- Announce the endorsement at UN Open Source Week
UN Open Source Week — June 22–26, 2026
What it is
An annual week-long event at UN Headquarters in New York City, organized by ODET and OICT.
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Monday, June 22 | Community Hackathon |
| Tuesday, June 23 | Open Source × AI (new for 2026) |
| Wednesday, June 24 | Digital Public Infrastructure Day |
| Thursday, June 25 | OSPOs for Good |
| Friday, June 26 | Community-led side events |
Why it matters for NYC
This event happens in your city. It brings together hundreds of technologists, policymakers, and open-source leaders — a 15-minute subway ride from City Hall.
- Present NYC's open-source work — Showcase tools NYC has built
- Participate in the hackathon — Send developers to collaborate on Digital Public Goods
- Host a side event — Friday is reserved for community events
- Recruit talent and ideas — Connect with the UN's global developer community
How to participate
- Register at unopensource.org
- Contact ODET to propose a city-led side event or panel
- Send a delegation of 5–10 from OTI, Cyber Command, and agency IT leads
Open Source Program Office (OSPO)
What it is
A dedicated unit within an organization that guides open-source adoption, manages licensing, develops digital skills, and coordinates contributions to the open-source ecosystem. The UNDP has integrated OSPOs into its strategy, and the "OSPOs for Good" initiative focuses on public-sector OSPOs.
Why NYC should establish one
- Centralize governance — Coordinate licensing, security audits, and contribution policies across 130+ agencies
- Adopt Digital Public Goods — Leverage UN-vetted open-source tools from the DPG Registry instead of buying proprietary alternatives
- Join a global network — Connect with OSPOs at the UN, EU Commission, and France
- Support the UN Common Policy Framework (released Nov 2024 by ITU) — the blueprint for this kind of institutional setup
How to participate
- Attend "OSPOs for Good" sessions at UN Open Source Week (June 25, 2026)
- Connect with UNDP's digital team to learn from their implementation
- Pilot a lightweight OSPO within OTI — start with an inventory of existing open-source usage
UN-Habitat: Global Alliance of Mayors for Digital Cooperation
What it is
Launched in 2023 by the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology and UN-Habitat, the GAM-4-DC brings together mayors worldwide to collaborate on using digital technologies to advance the SDGs and improve urban governance.
NYC is already connected. The city is a founding member of the related Cities Coalition for Digital Rights (co-founded by NYC, Amsterdam, and Barcelona in 2018, now 45+ cities). The GAM-4-DC extends this into operational digital cooperation.
Why it matters for NYC
- Peer learning — Direct exchange with Barcelona, Amsterdam, Seoul, and Helsinki on digital service delivery and AI governance
- Influence global standards — NYC's experience with 311, open data, and digital equity can shape UN guidance to other cities
- Mayoral visibility — Positions the Mayor's tech agenda on a global stage
How to participate
- The Mayor's Office for International Affairs is the natural liaison
- Request formal engagement through the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology
- Propose a NYC-hosted convening during UN General Assembly week
World Urban Forum 13 — Baku, May 17–22, 2026
What it is
The world's largest conference on sustainable urbanization, organized by UN-Habitat. WUF13 focuses on "Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities" with significant programming on digital transformation, data-driven governance, and smart city infrastructure. The Smart Cities Council is organizing a formal delegation.
Why it matters for NYC
- Digital governance track — Sessions on data-driven cities match NYC's analytics infrastructure
- Housing × tech — HPD and NYCHA face the same challenges discussed at WUF
- Smart city showcase — NYC's 311, LinkNYC, and open data portal are world-class examples
- 10,000+ urban leaders from 160+ countries
How to participate
- Register a delegation at wuf.unhabitat.org
- Submit abstracts for side sessions showcasing NYC tech
- Join the Smart Cities Council delegation for structured introductions
- Coordinate with the Mayor's Office for International Affairs
Additional Opportunities
Our research surfaced several more high-value collaboration points:
Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA)
A multi-stakeholder initiative (UNDP, UNICEF, Norway) maintaining a registry of vetted open-source software, data, AI models, and standards. In 2025 , DPGA launched "DPI Essentials for Public Sector Leaders" — short courses designed for this exact audience.
NYC action: Nominate NYC-built tools to the DPG Registry. Survey the registry for tools NYC could adopt. Enroll OTI leadership in DPI Essentials courses.
digitalpublicgoods.net →GovStack — Modular Digital Government
A UN-backed initiative (ITU, GIZ, Estonia) providing reusable "building block" specifications for common government digital services — identity, payments, data exchange, registries, consent management.
NYC action: Use GovStack's building-block approach to inform how the city standardizes shared services across 130+ agencies.
govstack.global →UN Global Compact Leaders Summit — NYC, Sept 22–23, 2026
A major summit on sustainable business and climate-resilient growth during UNGA week. Directly intersects with Local Law 97 compliance and NYC's green economy plan.
NYC action: Send procurement and sustainability leads. Connect with vendors committed to sustainable practices.
unglobalcompact.org →Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
In December 2025, member states voted to make the IGF a permanent UN forum. Covers digital inclusion, AI governance, cybersecurity, and human rights online.
NYC action: Present NYC's digital equity programs and influence how internet governance frameworks address municipal priorities.
Calendar Summary
| Date | Event | Location | NYC Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17–22, 2026 | World Urban Forum 13 | Baku, Azerbaijan | Send delegation, present NYC tech |
| June 22–26, 2026 | UN Open Source Week | UN HQ, NYC | Present, hackathon, side event |
| Sept 9–25, 2026 | UNGA 81 + Science Summit | UN HQ, NYC | Align city events with UNGA week |
| Sept 22–23, 2026 | UN Global Compact Summit | NYC | Procurement + sustainability leads |
| Ongoing | DPI Essentials courses | Online | Enroll OTI leadership |
| Ongoing | GAM-4-DC | Virtual + events | Formalize NYC membership |
Recommended First Steps
Endorse the UN Open Source Principles
Low effort, high signal. Position NYC as a leader among U.S. municipal governments.
Send a delegation to UN Open Source Week
June 22–26, 2026. It's in your city — no flights needed.
Establish a lightweight OSPO
Start with an inventory of what NYC already uses and contributes to open source.
Enroll leaders in DPI Essentials
Quick professional development win for OTI staff and agency CIOs.
Propose a NYC side event during UNGA
Tech-focused, co-hosted with the Mayor's Office for International Affairs.
This guide was prepared by WeGovNYC, a nonprofit program of Sarapis, dedicated to making New York City the world's best municipal government.