ECLIPSE FOUNDATION
Global voices in open source software
Celebrating innovators from the
Global South
& beyond
Global Voices celebrates open source contributors from the Global South. Their ideas are changing the world, one line of code at a time. Discover how local voices are driving global impact.
Featured journeys
OSCAFest 25: building bridges with open source in Africa
At OSCAFest 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria, the Eclipse Foundation marked a milestone — its first sponsorship of an African open source conference. Representing the Foundation at the Women in Open Source Brunch, Aurélie Caron shared her journey from event operations to leading global events, emphasizing that you don’t have to be a coder to belong in open source.
Global realities: What the data tells us
The State of open source in the Global South report offers a groundbreaking look at how open source software is shaping the Global South. It highlights the pivotal role OSS plays in fostering innovation, fueling economic development, and advancing societal progress across low- and middle-income countries.
Voices in motion
Featured videos from open source gatherings and thought-leading events, highlighting journeys from local action to global impact. Explore conversations from OSCAFest, deep dives into the state of open source in the Global South, and keynote reflections on how community roots can grow into global change.
What is the Global South?
The Global South refers broadly to regions of the world that are often classified as low- and middle-income economies – including countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Oceania. While historically rooted in geopolitical and economic frameworks, the term has evolved to highlight more than income or geography – it emphasises shared experiences, development challenges, and growing opportunities.
Key characteristics
Across the Global South, collaboration, adaptability, and local innovation power solutions that meet shared global challenges. Here are some standout features:
Geographically diverse
Thriving across continents, in countries as varied as Brazil, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya, and more.
Growing fast
Developer communities in the Global South are expanding rapidly, with younger developers joining open source projects at record pace and shaping the next wave of global creativity and progress.
Rich in innovation
From grassroots tech solutions to large-scale digital infrastructure, many countries in the Global South are hotbeds of creativity and resilience.
Underrepresented but rising
Developers and communities here often face barriers such as limited access to infrastructure, funding, or mentorship – yet continue to contribute meaningfully to global innovation.
Why it matters for open source
Open source thrives on inclusion, collaboration, and access – values that align closely with the needs and strengths of Global South communities. Empowering these voices: