The world is going through a historical shift towards digital technologies. However, while most people around the globe may have a basic smartphone and mobile internet access, digital technologies have not yet reached their full capacity in the everyday lives of everyone.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic made matters worse for disadvantaged or marginalized populations that frequently experience exclusion or lack the tools needed to safely navigate and benefit from the digital economy.
However, it is acknowledged that it is crucial to ensure that everyone can make the most of technology, particularly those living in low-income states.
How can digitalization help the development aid sector?
Development initiatives and programs can be improved through technological advances and innovation. For instance, by establishing online classes, IT and software can increase access to education for remote rural areas. Telemedicine can significantly reduce morbidity and improve healthcare services by linking patients with medical professionals, while precision agriculture improves farmers’ resource management.
While the main ways that tech and innovation help development aid relate to data and communication management, it is not limited to these two categories:
Better data collection and evaluation
Using tech and innovation, international organizations involved in the development sector can target their funding more precisely by collecting and analyzing data about the challenges of development.
Improved communication
Cutting-edge tech can help aid organizations to connect to the groups they are working with, fostering more productive cooperation and feedback.
Innovative financing
Technology can make for new and inventive financing arrangements possible, such as crowdfunding, to assist development projects.
Digital payments
These can be used to replace cash-based aid programs, thus lowering the chance of fraud, increasing aid transparency, and improving state fiscal monitoring programs and mechanisms.
Mobile apps
These can facilitate the transfer of aid by improving communications between the beneficiaries and the organizations involved in development aid.
How do countries benefit from tech-assisted development aid?
At the 5th UN conference dedicated to the least developed countries which took place on the 6th March 2023, the representatives of many nations shared their experiences regarding the impact that technologies have had on their development and on aid flows. The conference had the goal of acknowledging that by making use of science and technology, the least developed countries could be transformed into knowledge societies.
Bhutan
The Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lotay Tshering, emphasized the importance of digital literacy for the country’s development and said that the nation has made significant efforts to reform the national school curriculum so that everyone is proficient in information and communication technologies. Even schools in remote locations have science and technology laboratories, demonstrating the importance of investing in children and education.
Uganda
Maikel Wilms, Partner and Director at Boston Consulting Group, noted that the widespread adoption of mobile money apps in Uganda is one of many technical advancements in this country, allowing people who have lost their income to be found and helped.
Congo
In addition, Maikel mentioned how precise satellite photography is being used to forecast flooding in Congo. He also noted that there are also many e-commerce businesses in least-developed nations that all contribute to eradicating poverty for both the entrepreneurs and entire villages, by eliminating the need for infrastructure investments (such as the establishment of open marketplaces, commercial employees, etc.).
Niger
In Niger, the Technology Makers Lab is testing a brand-new initiative to trigger digital innovations in the country. Through this program, via the cutting-edge workshops offered by the Lab, individuals will collaborate on technologically based projects. The program will help participants to share knowledge and cooperate to produce new and valuable goods in a setting that supports and promotes learning via experimenting.
Final word
Technological advances can significantly improve the way development aid is put into action and are already making education accessible in rural areas via online courses, and helping farmers to manage their resources, as well as assisting healthcare specialists around the globe to reach out to patients via telemedicine, particularly in low-income countries.
By employing technology and innovation to boost the effectiveness and productivity of development aid, development organizations are able to provide better results and have a greater impact on the communities they support. In this way, the world will be able to improve education, communication, and agriculture and increase levels of sustainability.
