What's interesting this week...

Develop Impact - Issue 147

Happy new week!

It seems like we were just ringing in the New Year yesterday, but we're already into February. Last week, we held our annual staff retreat, which allowed us to reflect on our past achievements and challenges, and discuss how to move forward.

Today, I am back sharing with you another five articles that I found informative and thought-provoking. I hope that you find value in this newsletter for your current or future projects.

This community is all about learning, sharing, and growing together. Please let us know if you have any interesting resources or thoughts to share. Let's continue to use technology for the greater good.

Happy reading!

Jesse

What’s interesting…

Wind and solar were the EU’s top electricity source in 2022 for the first time ever

A new analysis finds that wind and solar power more of the EU's electricity in 2022 than gas or nuclear. In 2022, Europe's power needs were met by wind and solar, and fell electricity demand, helping to avoid a "triple crisis" created by restrictions on Russian gas supplies, a dip in hydro, and unexpected nuclear outages.

How donors can protect workers from exploitation in the digital economy

Technology has given rise to the gig economy and platform economy, which allow people to provide on-demand work through apps or websites. But the digital economy poses immense risks of exploitation, particularly in lower-income nations where worker protections are already precarious.

A recent report by IT for Change, an NGO based in Bengaluru, India, highlights emerging responses to the problem of gig work being sort of in this shadow world of no protections.

Low-code development technologies to thrive in 2023

Low-code development technologies make it possible for non-technical people to build software applications without having a deep understanding of programming and reduce reliance on IT. Gartner predicts that the global market for low-code development technologies will reach US$ 26.9 billion in 2023, up 19.6% from 2022. Businesses are increasingly using low-code development solutions to meet the demand for swift application delivery and highly customized automated workflows.

Climate change cements hydropower as risky renewable

Hydropower is an antiquated and increasingly risky proposition. It is central to a just energy transition that meets climate and energy goals while minimizing the impact on people and nature.

Southeast Asia is pummeled by the impacts of climate change and needs to scale up adaptation while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and halting nature loss. The renewable default option has always been hydropower.

How AI Will Transform Project Management

Only 35% of projects today are completed successfully. One reason for this disappointing rate is the low level of maturity of technologies available for project management. This is about to change. Researchers, startups, and innovating organizations are beginning to apply AI, machine learning, and other advanced technologies to project management, and by 2030 the field will undergo major shifts.

Technology will soon improve project selection and prioritization, monitor progress, speed up reporting and facilitate testing. Project managers, aided by virtual project assistants, will find their roles more focused on coaching and stakeholder management than on administration and manual tasks. The author shows how organizations that want to reap the benefits of project management technologies should begin today by gathering and cleaning project data, preparing their people, and dedicating the resources necessary to drive this transformation.