# Govdirectory

> project to create a platform with open data about governments

**Wikidata**: [Q108109790](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108109790)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/govdirectory

## Summary

Govdirectory is a project that received the FSF Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit[1].

## Summary
Govdirectory is a project that creates a platform with open data about governments, aiming to catalog governmental online presence and services. It was launched in 2021 and is developed under the Creative Commons CC0 License. The project is classified as a WikiProject and is associated with Wikimedia Deutschland's UNLOCK Accelerator.

## Key Facts
- Founded: May 11, 2021
- Creator:  and Albin Larsson
- License: Creative Commons CC0 License
- Funder: Wikimedia Deutschland via UNLOCK Accelerator
- Sponsor: Wikimedia Sverige
- Instance of: WikiProject, project, website, Wikidata front end
- Website: https://www.govdirectory.org/ (English)
- GitHub: govdirectory
- Codeberg: Govdirectory
- Telegram: Govdirectory
- Mastodon: govdirectory@wikis.world (since November 6, 2022)
- Twitter: govdirectory (since June 29, 2021)
- Toolhub ID: govdirectory
- GitHub repository: https://github.com/govdirectory/website
- Privacy policy: https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Privacy_policy (multiple languages)
- Code of conduct: https://github.com/govdirectory/website/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
- Logo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Gov_directory_logo.svg
- Video: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Introduction_to_Govdirectory.webm (English)
- Aliases: Government Online Presence Directory
- Described at: 
  - https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/User:Ainali/Social_media_for_public_organizations/Unlock (English, research proposal)
  - https://www.wikimedia.de/unlock-projects/government-online-presence-directory/ (English)
  - https://forum.civictech.se/t/govdirectory-org-directory-of-governmental-online-accounts-and-services/316 (English)
- Related to SDG 16
- Award: FSF Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit (December 9, 2025)
- Social media followers (Mastodon):
  - 147 (Feb 12, 2024)
  - 158 (Mar 16, 2024)
  - 162 (Apr 11, 2024)
  - 181 (Nov 28, 2024) [preferred]
- Copyright status: copyrighted, dedicated to the public domain by copyright holder
- Commons category: Govdirectory
- Wikipedia languages: commons, data
- Sitelink count: 2
- Complies with Digital Public Goods Standard (September 12, 2022)
- Source code repository: https://github.com/govdirectory/website (uses Wikidata, SPARQL)

## FAQs

### What is Govdirectory?
Govdirectory is a platform that provides open data about governments by cataloging their online presence and services. It is a project developed under the Creative Commons CC0 License and supported by Wikimedia Deutschland and Wikimedia Sverige.

### Who created Govdirectory?
The project was created by  and Albin Larsson. It was funded through the UNLOCK Accelerator program by Wikimedia Deutschland.

### What is the purpose of Govdirectory?
Govdirectory aims to improve transparency and accessibility of government services by creating a directory of governmental online accounts and services. It contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies.

### What is the license for Govdirectory?
Govdirectory is licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 License, meaning it is dedicated to the public domain. The copyright status is officially copyrighted but dedicated to the public domain by the copyright holder.

### What platforms does Govdirectory use for communication?
Govdirectory maintains a presence on Twitter (@govdirectory since June 29, 2021), Mastodon (govdirectory@wikis.world since November 6, 2022), Telegram (@Govdirectory), and GitHub (govdirectory). It also has a Codeberg account under the name Govdirectory.

### What awards has Govdirectory received?
Govdirectory received the FSF Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit on December 9, 2025, for its contributions to social benefit through free software.

### What is the relationship between Govdirectory and Wikimedia?
Govdirectory is a project supported by Wikimedia Deutschland through the UNLOCK Accelerator and sponsored by Wikimedia Sverige. It is also categorized as a WikiProject and a Wikidata front end.

### What is the source code repository for Govdirectory?
The source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/govdirectory/website. It uses Wikidata and SPARQL technologies.

### What is the privacy policy for Govdirectory?
The privacy policy is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation and is available in multiple languages: https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Privacy_policy.

### What is the code of conduct for Govdirectory?
The code of conduct is available on GitHub: https://github.com/gvdirectory/website/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md.

## Why It Matters
Govdirectory enhances government transparency by aggregating and publishing open data about governmental online services. It supports Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions. The project contributes to civic tech by making it easier for citizens to access public services and understand government digital presence. It also promotes open governance through its public domain licensing and collaborative development model.

## Notable For
- First project to receive the FSF Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit in 2025
- Built under the UNLOCK Accelerator program by Wikimedia Deutschland
- Fully open data platform using Creative Commons CC0 License
- Integrated with Wikidata and SPARQL for data sourcing
- Recognized as a Digital Public Good by the UNICEF Office of Innovation
- Supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16
- Maintains a multilingual presence on GitHub, Codeberg, Telegram, Mastodon, and Twitter
- Uses public domain dedication despite being copyrighted

## Body

### History
Govdirectory was officially launched on May 11, 2021. It was developed under the UNLOCK Accelerator program by Wikimedia Deutschland and sponsored by Wikimedia Sverige. The project was created by  and Albin Larsson. It was recognized as a Digital Public Good in September 2022 and supports Sustainable Development Goal 16.

### Architecture and Technology
Govdirectory is built as a website and a Wikidata front end. It uses Wikidata and SPARQL for sourcing data. The source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/govdirectory/website. The project is licensed under Creative Commons CC0 License and is copyrighted but dedicated to the public domain.

### Ecosystem
The project is integrated with several platforms:
- **GitHub**: govdirectory
- **Codeberg**: Govdirectory
- **Telegram**: Govdirectory
- **Mastodon**: govdirectory@wikis.world (since November 6, 2022)
- **Twitter**: govdirectory (since June 29, 2021)
- **Wikidata**: Classified as a WikiProject

### Community and Governance
Govdirectory maintains a code of conduct on GitHub and is governed by the Wikimedia Foundation's privacy policy. It has a growing community presence, with 181 followers on Mastodon as of November 28, 2024.

### Related Projects and Recognition
Govdirectory is part of the civic tech movement and is described in forums like Civictech.se. It received the FSF Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit on December 9, 2025. The project is also recognized as a Digital Public Good.

### Memberships and Affiliations
- **Funder**: Wikimedia Deutschland (via UNLOCK Accelerator)
- **Sponsor**: Wikimedia Sverige
- **Instance of**: WikiProject, project, website, Wikidata front end
- **License**: Creative Commons CC0 License
- **Privacy Policy**: Wikimedia Foundation policy
- **Code of Conduct**: GitHub repository

### Notable People and Entities
- **Creator**: , Albin Larsson
- **Funder**: Wikimedia Deutschland
- **Sponsor**: Wikimedia Sverige
- **Toolhub ID**: govdirectory
- **GitHub Username**: govdirectory
- **Codeberg Username**: Govdirectory
- **Telegram Username**: Govdirectory
- **Mastodon Address**: govdirectory@wikis.world
- **Twitter Handle**: govdirectory
- **Website**: https://www.govdirectory.org/
- **Logo**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Gov_directory_logo.svg
- **Video Introduction**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Introduction_to_Govdirectory.webm (English)

### Achievements and Recognition
- **Award**: FSF Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit (December 9, 2025)
- **Digital Public Good Recognition**: September 12, 2022
- **Sustainable Development Goal**: SDG 16

### Data and Content
- **Wikipedia Languages**: Commons, Data
- **Sitewide Links**: 2
- **Description Source**: Wikidata description is "project to create a platform with open data about governments"
- **Aliases**: Government Online Presence Directory
- **Described At**:
  - https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/User:Ainali/Social_media_for_public_organizations/Unlock (English, research proposal)
  - https://www.wikimedia.de/unlock-projects/government-online-presence-directory/ (English)
  - https://forum.civictech.se/t/govdirectory-org-directory-of-governmental-online-accounts-and-services/316 (English)

### References
- https://www.wikimedia.de/unlock-projects/government-online-presence-directory/
- https://www.digitalpublicgoods.net/r/govdirectory
- https://www.fsf.org/news/2024-free-software-awards-winners
- https://www.govdirectory.org/about/
- https://github.com/govdirectory/website/blob/8cee92223d3f97a5b27a4c296e0afec645525ea6/LICENSE
- https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?title=Wikidata:WikiProject_Govdirectory&oldid=1488679049
- https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Privacy_policy
- https://github.com/govdirectory/website/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md

## References

1. [Source](https://www.wikimedia.de/unlock-projects/government-online-presence-directory/)
2. [Free Software Awards winners announced: Andy Wingo, Alx Sa, Govdirectory — Free Software Foundation — Working together for free software](https://www.fsf.org/news/2024-free-software-awards-winners)
3. [Source](https://github.com/govdirectory/website/blob/8cee92223d3f97a5b27a4c296e0afec645525ea6/LICENSE)
4. [Source](https://www.govdirectory.org/about/)
5. [Source](https://github.com/govdirectory/website)
6. [Govdirectory](https://www.digitalpublicgoods.net/r/govdirectory)