Is this the end of ICTD? Tech for Good
September 21, 2021 - Issue 76
Happy Tuesday!
I hope your week is off to a great start. This week I am covering a few different topics, the primary article is a great long-read reflecting on the relationship between ICT and international aid. It’s a must read for anyone working in the technology for good and international aid space. I also found interesting reads on barriers to rural technology uptake and a free financial pathways toolkit for helping build financial literacy.
Also, the founder of Bloo reached out to me this week. They are offering free software licenses of their project management software. It’s a great opportunity for any non-profit or NGO looking for a tool to support their work. You can find more details here.
As always, have a great week!
Jesse
What’s interesting this week…
The End of ICTD?
This long-read by Tapan Parikh, associate professor at Cornell Tech, reflects on the recent events in Kubal and if technology and international aid have a place together. It’s a fantastic read if you’ve been questioning how aid and technology might work together and where we go from here.
5 Reasons Rural Entrepreneurs Do Not Use Digital Services During COVID-19
This article covers five main barriers for rural entrepreneurs in Namibia to adopt ICT services. Having worked in SE Asia for the last decade, many of these barriers also apply to our work in the region. If you’re working with rural users, these lessons are important to understand in your ICT design.
Toolkit: She Investments Financial Pathways Toolkit
She Investments is soft-launching their Financial Pathways Toolkit for users in Cambodia. I had a look at these tools and they are a great starting place for building financial literacy and capacity.
Tools: Bloo4Good Free Software Licenses
Bloo is a simple online project management system used by thousands of organizations across 120+ countries. The Bloo4Good fund supports organizations and individuals that make the world a better place so that they can work more effectively — and do more good. Bloo4Good is providing up to 5,000 licenses, with an annual value of $2.5m to NGOs, non-profits, and educations institutes.
Funding: Mekong Connections: Supporting Governance, Transparency and Local Voices (PDF)
Pact is pleased to announce the release of a request for applications for funding provided to support Pact’s implementation of Mekong Connections: Governance, Transparency, and Local Voices (Mekong Connections). This funding is provided to create a network focused on governance and transparency projects from the perspectives of community actors; enhance and develop regional networks to connect community perspectives to central policy debates in the Mekong region and further support Mekong civic and policy leaders; and share global lessons learned and best practices on trans-boundary challenges in the region and beyond and propose concrete policy approaches to address the challenges discussed.
Funding: My Rode Reel 2021
Do you have an incredible story to tell? They want to see it told. Submit your short film to My RØDE Reel 2021 for a chance to win $250,000 in cash and launch your filmmaking career. Unbox your ideas. My RØDE Reel is the world’s largest short film competition. There are four genre categories you can enter your main film into – comedy, documentary, drama and animation.