What is Digital Self-Exclusion? - Tech for Good
Issue 72 - August 17, 2021
Good Morning!
I hope your week is off to a great start! I took last week off for a much needed holiday away from my computer. But this week I am back with a few interesting highlights across SE Asia and three new funding opportunities.
I’ve been thinking about digital exclusion a lot over the last few weeks and how we can better implement programs that help close the technology gap. I found a fantastic article from Richard Heeks that addresses the why of this problem and I’d be very interested in hearing from anyone on how your organization is addressing this challenge. Please reach out if you’d like to chat!
As always, have a great week!
Jesse
What’s interesting this week…
The Rise of Digital Self-Exclusion
Why are marginalised groups self-excluding from digital systems? ICT4D thought leader Richard Heeks explores why the digital gap continues to grow.
The digital exclusion problem used to be people outside the house unable to get in. For example, the digital divide preventing groups from accessing the benefits of digital systems. Recently, a new digital exclusion issue is arising: people deciding they’d rather stay outside the house.
E-payment sector aims to ‘complement not compete’ with central banks growing digital payment application Bakong
Cambodia’s Payment Service Institutions (PSIs) are looking to distinguish themselves as the central bank expand its own digital payment application now claimed to register over 200,000 users. In response, some market players are already undergoing diversification in the rapidly moving Financial Technology (FinTech) industry.
Cambodia to host a major tech festival in November
Cambodian Association of Finance and Technology (CAFT) with support from the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) as well as Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) will host the CamTech Summit on November 8-12, 2021.
Call for Proposals: Connect2Recover Research Competition
ITU's Connect2Recover initiative aims to build back better with broadband by reinforcing digital infrastructure and digital ecosystems of countries so that they can better leverage information and communications technologies (ICTs) to support COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts and preparedness for a post-COVID normal and remain resilient in times of disasters. Through the Connect2Recover initiative, ITU is launching the "Connect2Recover Research Competition" to identify promising research proposals that will accelerate digital inclusion during the COVID-19 recovery globally.
Grant Funding: Securing Biological Supply Chains Training Grants for South and Southeast Asia
CRDF Global will award grants to selected applicants from South and Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe to support trainings on securing biological supply chains through updated due diligence and know-your-customer best practices. These grants are a one-time award of up to $10,000.
Grant Funding: Modern Slavery Unveiled
This grant programme aims to enable independent journalistic investigations into the exploitation of Asian victims of human trafficking and forced labour in Europe.
Cross-border teams of professional journalists can apply for a grant to cover working time and/or expenses to investigate, document and expose aspects and cases of forced labour, cross-continental trafficking and other issues related to the exploitation of Asian victims in Europe.
Next to a grant, teams can also apply for a mentor to provide assistance with either the focus of the investigation or the need for competences in a specific skill.