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Rethinking Community Connectivity: As the Pandemic Wears On, NGOs Turn to Technology for Information Dissemination and Behaviour Change
Behavior change and information dissemination initiatives face many challenges in emerging economies, and COVID-19 has made their work even more difficult. But according to Abhishek Sharma at Glific, these efforts remain essential – whether they're focused on raising awareness of government programs or sharing accurate information about the pandemic. He explores how a growing movement of NGOs, governments and social enterprises are turning to digital communications channels to reach marginalized communities, and discusses Glific's WhatsApp-based approach.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
- Tags
- COVID-19, data, digital inclusion, NGOs, nonprofits
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‘Lost Generation’ Fears as COVID Locks Out India’s Poor Students
Even before the pandemic, more than six million Indian girls and boys were already not going to school, according to UNICEF.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Education
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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India Edtech Giant Buys US-Based Kids Reading Platform Epic for $500 Million
India’s edtech giant BYJU’S has acquired a US-based digital reading platform expanding its existing global user-base.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- digital inclusion, edtech
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The Nigerian Government Partners with Microsoft and Tech4Dev to Train 36,000 Youths in Digital Skills
The ministry of youth and sports development has collaborated with Microsoft and the Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative to train youths in digital skills for one year.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- digital inclusion, youth
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Outdated but Not Obsolete: Why USSD Is Still Key to Driving Digital Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa
As of late 2019, mobile internet adoption stood at just 26% across sub-Saharan Africa, and internet access remains expensive and unreliable even for people who can afford a smartphone. In light of that reality, Wole Olayinka of insiderPR argues that digital inclusion efforts should embrace USSD, a communications protocol that connects feature phone users to basic digital services even without internet access. He explores the advantages and downsides of this outdated – but surprisingly flexible – technology.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
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Indonesian Farmers Go Digital
Indonesian farmers will be able to harness the power of data to improve their farming practices under a deal signed by the national government and Microsoft.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Giz and Orange Launch an Orange Digital Center in Ethiopia, the 3rd in the Africa and Middle East Region, to Train Young People in Digital Technology and Boost Their Employability
Occupying a space of 500m2, it is the first center in East Africa that will operate as a strategic network, allowing experiences and expertise to be shared between countries and offering a simple and inclusive approach to strengthen the employability of young people, to encourage innovative entrepreneurship and to promote the local digital ecosystem.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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AV Ventures Invests in AgroCenta, Supporting Digital and Financial Inclusion of Ghanaian Smallholder Farmers
AV Ventures, ACDI/VOCA’s impact investing subsidiary, recently completed its investment in AgroCenta, a technology-driven agricultural platform provider in Ghana.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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