Moving in One Direction: Technology and Transatlantic Development
“People first, technology second.” These words summarize “Space to Innovate,” a recent event co-hosted by the German Marshall Fund and Development Gateway. Discussants Nancy Choi of Development Gateway, Lovisa Williams of the State Department, and Aaron Sherinian of the United Nations Foundation agreed that technology should amplify marginalized voices and change the nature of government-citizen interaction.
Technology provides the potential for faster and more responsive communication, ultimately supporting the development of emerging economies and helping people stay connected to the global economy. The way we communicate around the world has changed in the past two decades. In 2000, only 1 out of 25 people in developing countries had Internet access. Today, that number has grown to 1 out of 3 people. Thus, technology can aid in connecting development workers, giving entrepreneurs access to global supply chains, and helping minorities and marginalized populations stay informed.
A wide variety of successful tech-related initiatives already exist in emerging countries, allowing aid and provisions to communities be delivered more efficiently. For example, the growing use of data visualizations and maps by development organizations has made vital information much easier to spread to the masses. Open Schools Kenya is an online tool that allows users to look up information on over 300 schools in the Kibera region of Nairobi. Platforms such as the U.S. Department of State’s International Exchange Alumni for students of government-sponsored exchange programs allows users to exchange ideas and bid for grants to implement those ideas. The Global Development Lab, established in 2014 by USAID, seeks to expand the role of technology in providing innovative solutions to challenges within development.
Technology will undoubtedly continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of emerging countries. In its recent release of the [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)](https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/7891TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD.pdf), the United Nations includes building capacity for information and communications technology (ICT) into its overall goals. In particular, certain SDGs call for greater data on issues related to gender mainstreaming (5.b), supporting domestic technology development, research, and innovation (9.b), and providing universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020 (9.c).
To realize these SDGs, there is still a great deal of work to be done in order to alleviate barriers in communication. Whether that means creating something as high-tech as a new mobile app or as low-tech as a map, creating inclusive environments are vital in our hyper-connected world. We must open up the conversation and include all stakeholders in development: technology must serve the people’s interest, not the other way around.
This is the third in a collaborative blog series between Development Gateway and the Young Transatlantic Network of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Read the first and second posts, and more about the event.
Image credit: Kai Schreiber CC BY-SA 2.0.
Share This Post
Related from our library

Three Key Takeaways From Discussions on Digital Transformation in Agriculture
Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG) hosted a discussion titled "Transforming Food Systems: The Power of Interoperability and Partnerships" at both Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) 2023 and the recently concluded ICT4Ag conference. Discussions from these critical events revolved around key themes crucial to DG’s ongoing work, including connecting people, institutions, partners, and systems when we think about technology working at scale to transform agriculture. In this blog, we explore three key takeaways from these conversations.

Democratizing Digital or Digitizing Democracy?
The 2023 OGP Summit in Tallinn, Estonia featured a number of discussions centered on open government in the digital age. While the use of digital tools in government is far from a new idea, the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a rapid expansion of this practice, with leaders quickly adapting to remote environments through digitizing government processes

Two Recommendations for Accelerating Digital Agriculture and Data Use
With the aim of improving the efficiency of agriculture data use, Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG), Jengalab, and TechChange—with a grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)—recently held a learning event, titled “Digital Agriculture: Building the Agricultural Systems of Tomorrow,” in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants identified two key recommendations for advancing digital agriculture in order to increase food security.