ICT4D Conference Podcast: Global Tech, Local Good

Jessica Agnew, Ph.D., Associate Director of CALS Global, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, explores the potential of blockchain to solve global food security challenges. Introducing their Laser Pulse project’s unique user-based design, creating ‘stickiness’ and encouraging long-term use.

Benedicto Hosea, CEO at Mboni ya Vijana, partnering with Plant Village, explains how have implemented a global AI app to help farmers in Tanzania with detecting pests in staple crops, and further improve their knowledge for resilience.

Worlali Senyo, Head of Corporate Services at Farmerline, explores how to encourage (small-holder) farmers to digitize and inspire social behavioral change for more resilience and agricultural productivity.

Sonja Perakis, Senior Market Monitoring Advisor, and Janeen Cayetano, Data and Geospatial Analyst, at Catholic Relief Services discuss the importance of data-driven response to food security and explain how to get started with a market monitoring dashboard.

Leila Toplic, Head of Emerging Technologies Initiative at NetHope, demonstrates how AI can assist vulnerable communities in adapting to the effects of climate change. She shares three examples on anticipatory action, climate-smart agriculture, and AI for environmental protection. [Publication referenced ‘Digital for Climate Adaptation and Resilience’]

Anthony Whitbread, Principal Scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), demonstrates how big data is being used to support livestock farming.

Franziska Atwii, Team Lead of the Innovation Lab in Kampala at Welthungerhilfe, shares how they are scaling and customizing agriculture extension apps for each country to better support small holder farmers.

Nixon Mageka Gecheo, Senior Program Officer, Digital Systems & Solutions for Agriculture at AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), shares lessons learned and examples of using digital agriculture innovations in Africa.

Thembani Malapela, Knowledge and Information Management Officer at FAO e-agriculture, explains what impact digital technologies and data have to improve global food systems and address the current food crisis.

Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa, Special Advisor at the ICT4Peace Foundation, offers advice for civil society organization to better use their online presence and social media for peace building efforts.

Alice Nderitu, the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide at the United Nations, explains how civil society organizations can join the collaborative flight against hate speech and contribute to the prevention of atrocity crimes. For more information visit https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/

Jomari Guillermo, Communications Manager at Catholic Relief Services in the Philippines, shares lessons learned from social media training of youth activists for strengthening their peace agendas and increase influence.

Adrienne Brooks, Senior Advisor for the Technology for Development team at Mercy Corps, specializes in addressing the weaponization of social media as it relates to peacebuilding. She introduces Mercy Corps’ global framework for understanding risks and resilience of social media and conflict and how it is applied in local context.

Dr. Lisa Schirch, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Research Fellow at the Toda Peace Institute, introduces us to peace tech, its history, trends, current examples, and their impact - including Ushahidi, Build Up, Polis, and the “Angry Uncle” Chatbot. More about Lisa’s work at www.toda.org and https://kroc.nd.edu/faculty-and-staff/lisa-schirch/

Dr. John Reeder, Director of TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Disease, based at the World Health Organization, gives an overview of digital technologies used globally to help fight malaria, their benefits and potential, as well as challenges or barriers to overcome.

Kilyelyani Kanjo, Digital Financial Services Consultant, and Nandini Harihareswara, Senior Advisor for Inclusive Digital Economies & Women's Economic Empowerment, at United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) on SPRINT4Women, a unique design sprint engaging private sector in human-centred design for financial inclusion of rural women in Zambia.

Bonnie Chiu (Managing Director of The Social Investment Consultancy, Founder of Lensational) on grassroots and entrepreneurial approaches to digital capacity building of marginalized women.

Revi Sterling (Gender and Technology Specialist, DAI Global; Director, USAID WomenConnect Challenge) shares five proven strategies to close the gen­der digital divide and increase women’s economic empowerment.

Claire Sibthorpe (Head of Connected Women, Connected Society and Assistive Tech, GSMA) on delivering digital inclusion and connecting the unconnected. Resources mentioned: https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/ The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report: https://www.gsma.com/r/somic/

Ousman Njie, Head of Office, and Alieu Bah, Project Officer Malaria, at Catholic Relief Services Gambia, on engaging youth in data collection for health programs and building digital capacity in the Gambia.