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ICT4D - ICTs for Development

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E-empowerment tips for facilitators: Information and communication technologies for farmer field schools

Rome: FAO (2024), viii, 56 pp.

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Laptops in the Long-Run: Evidence from the One Laptop per Child Program in Rural Peru

Santiago Cueto, Diether W. Beuermann, Julian Cristia, Ofer Malamud, Francisco Pardo

Inter-American Development Bank (2024), 38 pp.

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Rural communication services: Trends and experiences in Asia and the Pacific

Rome: FAO (2024), vii, 79 pp.

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Principles for Digital Development
Key Guides

Principles for Digital Development Working Group (2024)

"The Principles for Digital Development serve as a compass for those working to promote sustainable and inclusive development in today’s complex digital landscape. Using these Principles as a starting point, policymakers, practitioners, and technologists will be better equipped to ensure that all ... people can benefit from digital initiatives and from the broader digital society. Originally developed in 2014, the Principles are officially endorsed by more than 300 organizations, including donors, international organizations, and civil society organizations. During the first decade (2014-2024), they widely influenced funder procurement policies and the design and implementation of development programs. In 2024, the Principles were updated in consultation with a diverse set of individuals and organizations. Through this effort, the community expressed the need for the Principles to better reflect that people today largely interact with technology outside of development programs. Today, all people – even those who do not yet have access to or use technology – live in societies that are increasingly shaped by digital ecosystems that can bring both immense benefit and immense harm. Therefore, the refreshed Principles recognize the need for radical inclusion and local ownership; elevate issues arising from the generation and use of digital data; emphasize that open approaches to innovation can support the realization of the nine Principles; and intentionally speak to the original audience while resonating further with the full diversity of individuals and organizations that exert power over the design, deployment, and governance of digital systems and solutions. The Principles are mutually reinforcing, as they emphasize the actions needed to ensure no one is left behind in an increasingly digital world." Ultimately, when designing and implementing a policy, solution, system, or intervention, endorsers of these Principles commit, at minimum, to do no harm, and at best, to ensure their work maximizes the agency of people and communities to drive their own development. To achieve these objectives, each endorser will define how these Principles can be operationalized in their work, sphere of influence, and specific initiative. " (Introduction) more

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Digital Development Guidebook

Christopher Neu, Nora Lindström, Ziad Al Achkar, Yohan Perera

NetHope; Catholic Relief Services (CRS) (2024), 56 pp.

"The three themes selected for exploration in this guidebook are: digital public goods, digital localization, and digital skills and rights. While none of these are new themes in technology and international development programming, they each represent increasingly important considerations for optim ... izing digital investments and rethinking the way. and rethinking the way digital development actors operate and create change through leveraging technology. DIGITAL LOCALIZATION. In response to growing development challenges with scarce resources, digital development practitioners are increasingly recognizing the benefits of greater access for local actors to resources, partnerships, decision making, and capacity strengthening. Exploring best practices for digital adaptation to specific contexts, reviewing lessons learned in fostering local ownership and local tech leadership, and understanding donor perspectives and consensus agreements such as the Grand Bargain will all be key steps in planning technology strategies effectively. It is important to note that the sector lacks a common definition of localization and its intended outcomes. DIGITAL PUBLIC GOODS. As digital development organizations have come to integrate technology into their strategy and approach, the reliance on proprietary solutions has brought challenges for sustainability and working with local partners from smaller NGOs to government entities. Building on developments in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Digital Public Goods (DPGs) offer implementers new opportunities to reimagine approaches to better serve communities in need. DIGITAL SKILL AND RIGHTS. Digital transformation and local ownership must be built on a foundation of digital rights and digital skills to help create a more informed, equitable, and connected society. This past decade highlighted the need to apply international human rights to the digital arena and the interconnectedness of digital rights with physical protection. Donors and implementers must both align on issues such as access to information, privacy and security, and freedom of expression if digital investments are to yield sustainable societal outcomes and development impact. Local governments have an essential role to play in enabling the environment that allows a digital ecosystem to flourish and be free. Broad regulations such as GDPR, as well as organizational strategies by Oxfam and others to prioritize these insights will be key." (Introduction to key themes, pages 17-18) more

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Future directions for context in ICT4D: A systematic literature review

Sonel Pyram

Information Development (2024), 21 pp.

"The digital divide between the Global South and North has been a major concern for researchers from various fields in the past two decades. This divide has led to an increased focus on research related to information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) and other relevant discipline ... more

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Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA): Ghana

Reyn Anderson, Yaroslav Eferin, Kate Gromova, Vlad Manoil, Victor Teppeh

USAID, Digital Frontiers Project, external version (2024), 149 pp.

"Ghana is among Sub-Saharan Africa’s leaders in digital transformation. Over the past decade, the government has put the key institutions, legislative frameworks, strategies, and policies in place that are necessary to drive change. The Ministry of Communications and Digitalization leads and coord ... inates development and implementation of a core set of policies and strategies that are digitally transforming the government, economy, and society. The ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD) Policy has guided this journey for more than a decade. A new Digital Economy Policy is drafted and under review to drive the next stage of Ghana’s digital development. The National Financial Inclusion and Development Strategy and the National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy have also been key. Ghana adopted an inclusive approach to developing its cybersecurity strategy, which contributed to improved cybersecurity capacity and considered citizens’ online safety and freedoms. However, a clear strategy for protecting critical national infrastructure is missing. Ghana has been a pioneer and champion of digital government transformation in West Africa over the past decade, with funding and support from the World Bank. Important whole-of-government platforms and services have been put in place, including the Government Wide Area Network (GWAN), which provides internet connection to more than 1,000 district assemblies, hospitals, police stations, and post offices across the country; a National Data Center; the Smart workplace suite, which includes email and productivity tools for government employees; and Ghana.gov portal, a one-stop-shop for citizen services. Still, digital government transformation is incomplete. Easy, efficient, online government services are in demand, but the Ghana.gov portal options are limited, and most major government service providers have their own separate online services portals. The national identity Ghana Card could enhance digital service delivery by providing a universally recognized, secure, and easy-to-use means of digital identification and authentication for citizens when accessing both public and private digital services, but the current identification system is not integrated with other government-operated databases, significantly reducing its many potential applications. The Regional Coordinating Councils, and metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) are just now embarking on the digital transformation journey. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development coordinates their efforts. Challenges for Ghana’s remaining efforts at digital government transformation include adequate funding to manage and maintain its connectivity and data center infrastructure, affordable internet for regional governments, inadequate digital literacy and skills among mid-level and regional staff, or related national training programs. A big skill gap exists in cybersecurity; Ghana faces a deficit of skilled cybersecurity professionals. The government also needs to improve efforts at stakeholder engagement and awareness-raising when developing new policy proposals." (Executive summary, pages 11-12) more

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Artificial Intelligence and International Cultural Relations: Challenges and Opportunities for Cross-Sector Collaboration

Octavio Kulesz

Stuttgart: Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) (2024), 120 pp.

"The integration of AI systems has profoundly transformed multiple dimensions of international cultural relations (ICR). Notably, changes in recent years have accentuated imbalances among languages, affected the situation of cultural sectors, and impacted the integrity of information while also prov ... more

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Guide on digital agricultural extension and advisory services: Use of smartphone applications by smallholder farmers

Rome: FAO (2024), IX, 57 pp.

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AI for Good: Impact Report

Geneva: ITU (2024), viii, 80 pp.

External Link (150)

Google Scholar (118)

WorldCat (140)

Mapping Participation in ICT4D: A Meta-Analytic Review of Development Communication Research

Michael Dokyum Kim, Kyung Sun Lee

International Communication Gazette, volume 85, issue 2 (2023), pp. 141-163

"We conducted a meta-analytic study of recent (2009 to 2020) information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) research in the field of development communication. Our aim was to explore the conceptualization of participation in the context of ICTs and globalization in contemporary s ... more

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Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA): Tanzania

Goodiel Moshi, Muriuk Mureithi, Judyth Engels, Susannah Horto

USAID, Digital Frontiers Project (2023), 123 pp.

"The Tanzania DECA report presents the findings and recommendations of the Tanzania DECA. It outlines the key aspects of Tanzania’s digital ecosystem and provides 13 recommendations for creating a more inclusive, safe, and enabling environment. Guided by USAID/Tanzania priorities: i) foundational ... more

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The Digital Transformation of Small and Micro-Businesses in Bangladesh

United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) (2023), iii, 43 pp.

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Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages
Deep Insights

Key Guides

Genner Llanes-Ortiz et al.

Paris: UNESCO; Global Voices (2023), 193 pp.

"This toolkit has been co-designed in close partnership with both established and emerging networks of Indigenous digital practitioners, language advocates, and collaborators, within the framework of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032. The toolkit promotes the foundation of l ... more

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Preparing International Development Professionals for the Digital Age

Romina Bandura

Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) (2023), 12 pp.

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Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA): Bangladesh

Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, Raiyan Kabir, Connor Mackenzie, Olga Morawczynski

USAID, Digital Frontiers Project (2023), 116 pp.

"The Bangladesh Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA) report presents the findings and recommendations of the Bangladesh DECA. It outlines the key aspects of Bangladesh's digital ecosystem and provides 10 recommendations for creating a more inclusive, safe, and enabling environment. Guided by ... three USAID/Bangladesh priorities, which include i ) improved democratic systems that promote transparency, accountability, and integrity; ii) enhanced opportunities for an inclusive, healthy, educated society, and a robust economy; and iii) strengthened resilience to shocks and stressors, the DECA process included desk research, consultations with USAID/Bangladesh technical offices, and 81 key informant interviews with stakeholders from civil society, academia, and the private and public sectors. Key findings include: Bangladesh’s digital ecosystem has steadily evolved over the last decade; the Government of Bangladesh (GoB)'s Vision 2021 and Vision 2041 underscore the importance of Digital Bangladesh and have been drivers for digital transformation across the country. However, undefined roadmaps and uneven knowledge of digitalization among government officials undermine GoB’s efforts; limited digital literacy is a key barrier across all aspects of the ecosystem; connectivity is affected by poor quality of services and lack of affordable data; a growing ecosystem of locally relevant content is key to closing the usage gap; barriers in terms of funding and understanding user needs remain; Bangladesh ranks Number One in South Asia on the e-government academy’s National Cybersecurity Index (NCSI) in terms of the availability of necessary laws and policy, but there is significant room for improvement when it comes to the strength of implementation across the ecosystem; misinformation and disinformation are widespread in the digital sphere; mobile financial services are expansive in Bangladesh and increasingly inclusive; e-commerce and the tech startup environment have grown quickly due to an increase in international and domestic investments and an active private sector; an expansive digital talent pool exists, but they are not trained to their fullest potential, hindering their income potential and Bangladesh’s growth trajectory." (https://www.usaid.gov/digital-development) more

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Digital Change

D+C: Development and Cooperation, issue 4 (2023), pp. 19-33

"For nations to make the most of digital technology, governments must play their role. Formal education is becoming increasingly important. Yes, some apps serve illiterate people, but those who read have access to far more information. International discourse is held in languages like English, Frenc ... more

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SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda
Key Guides

ITU; UNDP; Boston Consulting Group (BCG) (2023), 87 pp.

"This Agenda explores how digital technologies are already being used to accelerate progress toward the SDGs, and how inclusive digital transformation can be scaled further. The Agenda also showcases 34 digital solutions, two for each SDG, highlighting the power and potential of digital. The solutio ... more

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Libro Blanco de la Transformación Digital del Tercer Sector en América Latina

Fundación Telefónica (2023), 165 pp.

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Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA): El Salvador

Raiyan Kabir, Iris Palma, Peter Johnson

USAID, Digital Frontiers Project (2023), 90 pp.

"The El Salvador Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA) report presents the findings and recommendations of the El Salvador DECA. It outlines the key aspects of El Salvador’s digital ecosystem and provides 10 recommendations for creating a more inclusive, safe, and enabling environment. Guide ... more

Principles for Digital Development Key Guides

Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages Deep Insights Key Guides

SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda Key Guides

Principles for Digital Development
Key Guides

Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages
Deep Insights

Key Guides

SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda
Key Guides