News: Innovating, Connecting, and Transforming Development at the ICT4D Conference

Innovations in technology have enhanced development impact across all sectors — from agriculture to education to health. From May 8 to 10, public, private, and civil society organizations from around the world will convene for the 2018 Information and Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) Conference in Lusaka, Zambia. Now in its 10th year, the conference will bring together more than 700 humanitarian and development practitioners from more than 70 countries to explore how people around the world are using ICT4D to enhance program quality, improve decision-making, increase impact, and accelerate progress toward the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

This year’s event features Chemonics experts from projects in Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, and Uganda as well as from Washington, D.C. Topics include ICT4D best practices, innovative tools, and cross-sectoral discussions about how to strategically use technology in international development.

“The ICT4D Conference is an exciting opportunity for the global development community to collaborate and explore new tools to enhance the impact of our work,” says Michele Piercey, senior vice president of the Strategic Solutions and Communications Division at Chemonics. “Chemonics is honored to sponsor this year’s conference, contribute to this important conversation, and reaffirm our commitment to finding cutting-edge solutions to the world’s toughest problems.”

Below is the full list of Chemonics’ sessions, along with times (in CAT) and room locations:

Tuesday, May 8

• SMS-Based Platforms for Disaster Preparedness and Response: The Case of SIGIC in Mozambique, 11:30 a.m. (Committee Room 2):

Casimiro Antonio, deputy chief of party for USAID’s Coastal Cities Adaptation Program, will discuss the Integrated System for Disaster Management (SIGIC), an SMS-based system that helps disaster managers in Mozambique share warning messages, collect post-event data, and coordinate with partners.

• Applying the Principles for Digital Development to Improve from Within, 12:15 p.m. (Muchinga Room):

Chemonics Chief Information Officer Amy Denkenberger and Managing Director of Digital Transformation Melissa Cook will be joined by Feed the Future Youth Leadership for Agriculture Activity Chief of Party Marcos Moreno to discuss applying the Principles for Digital Development to project management and operations. The presentation will include best practices and lessons learned in designing, configuring, and implementing Chemonics’ Enterprise Resource Planning system, which will streamline processes, increase efficiency, and connect its global workforce.

• Turning Data into Action: How LAWIN Transformed Forest Protection in the Philippines, 2 p.m. (Boardroom 1):

Felix Gaschick, biodiversity and forestry specialist for USAID’s Philippines Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience project, will share how the LAWIN system revolutionized the Philippine approach to forest protection by making it data-driven, transparent, and accountable.

Wednesday, May 9

• Implementing eGovernment in a Resource-Challenged Environment — The Case of Liberia, 11:30 a.m. (Luangwa Room):

USAID’s Digital Liberia and e-Governance Capacity Building Activity Chief of Party Victoria Cooper-Enchia will share experiences from Liberia’s systemic overhaul of ICT capacities and implementation of an e-government strategy in the aftermath of the 2014 Ebola epidemic.

• Applying Digital Development Principles to Enterprise Software, 4 p.m. (Bamboo Boardroom):

Christopher Gegenheimer, Chemonics’ director of monitoring, evaluation, and learning technology, will hold a roundtable discussion examining ways organizations can support the use of multiple tools for mobile data collection and analysis.

Thursday, May 10

• What is Happening on the Ground? Evaluation and Transparency, 12:15 p.m. (Luangwa Room):

Charles Abani and Lydia Odeh of USAID’s Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement program will share mobile application tools that are bridging the gap between the government and civil society in Nigeria.

To learn more about the ICT4D Conference, find the full conference program here. Stay updated on all the action by following @chemonics and #ICT4D2018.