The Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) model provides interesting tools and processes with which people can create, exchange, share and exploit software and knowledge efficiently and effectively. FOSS can play an important role as a practical instrument for development as its free and open aspirations make it a natural component of development efforts in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The UNESCO FOSS Portal provides a one-stop access point to reference documents on FOSS movements, as well as to websites hosting the most popular and useful FOSS packages in UNESCO’s fields of competence.