Across the world, emerging economies are beginning to build core digital infrastructure such as ID and financial transaction systems. Instead of outsourcing the design of these systems to private companies based overseas, governments in emerging economies are increasingly seeking to build these systems themselves, by using openly available digital tools built by philanthropic and international organizations – digital public goods (DPGs). As DPGs become ever more widespread, it is vital to explore ethical considerations about how and by whom these systems are built. We have drafted best practices for organizations involved in designing and deploying DPGs, whether they are technology designers, development agencies, national governments, or philanthropic funders.