New Technologies in the Aid Development & Humanitarian Sector
New and emerging technologies have enabled significant development progress over the decades – from vaccines to mobile phones to the internet. The UN recently called for improvement in this area, arguing that it is ‘critical to assess how technology can be mobilized to provide solutions to our greatest challenges’ in achieving the Global Goals.
Technology has advanced enormously in recent decades. It has become part of everyday life for billions of people around the world and was accelerated during the Covid response with Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, digital cash as well as digital tools for education, business and health care. At the same time, concern over data protection and privacy, cybersecurity, personal liberty and misinformation have grown. These raise fundamental questions about technological preparedness, effectiveness and mobility, as well as digital inequality.
Communications, supply chains, project planning and programme monitoring are all parts of international development where technology is already effectively utilised. Both development professionals, and students of development studies, must begin to think about how technology will alter how global challenges are addressed.
Join our events to hear from speakers already introducing and using technology in aid & development to organisations, as we move towards a digital future.
As usual, the night will involve a relaxed chat facilitated by WiAD City leaders with questions to follow, and it will be an excellent opportunity to network.
Everyone is welcome, so please share the event with your friends and colleagues. Speakers will be announced soon - sent us a suggestion.
Speakers
Fifi Rashando
Fifi manages Good Return’s gender-lens investment team, business advisory support, and stakeholder engagement to support agricultural value chain financing and build inclusive economies in the Asia-Pacific region.
Holding a Strategic Leadership for Inclusive Finance certificate from Harvard Business School and an MBA from University of Wollongong in Australia, she has over 20 years of management and consulting experience in inclusive finance, impact investment, international development and humanitarian sectors in the Asia-Pacific region.
She has contributed towards the growth of reputable organisations to build inclusive economies, ensuring participation of marginalised people including women and people with disabilities. She also serves as Executive Committee Member of Australian Disability and Development Consortium (ADDC) and Non-Executive Director of the Leprosy Mission Australia.
Tracy Shields
Tracy Shields is Plan International Australia’s (PIA) Senior Advisor for Child Rights and Protection. PIA have been working with ChildFund Australia on a project focussing on Online Safety in the Pacific, working to support the coordination of events and opportunities that focuses on children and young people’s online safety and provides young women an opportunity to safely discuss how online safety impacts their lives. As the charity for girls’ equality Plan International focusses on a world where girls can take their rightful place as equals. Tracy has worked on issues of child rights, gender and protection for over 15 years, including working in humanitarian contexts, and was previously the Global Technical Lead for Protection from Violence with Plan International Global.