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What Does the Evidence Say About Blockchain in Humanitarian Work?

New York City - April 22 - RSVP Now
Blockchain and the wider category of “distributed ledger technologies” (DLTs) have promised a more transparent, accountable, efficient and secure way of exchanging decentralised stores of information that are independently updated, automatically replicated and immutable. Key components of DLTs include:
  • Shared recordkeeping
  • Multi-party consensus
  • Independent validation
  • Tamper resistance
  • Tamper evidence
Though blockchain fans suggest DLTs can address common problems of NGOs, the extreme hype cycle has many skeptics who believe that blockchain and DLT are simply overblown and for the most part useless in our sector.
 
Until recently, evidence of actual use cases has been slim to none for the humanitarian sector, with some calling for the sector to step back and establish a measured approach and a learning agenda in order to determine if blockchain is something to spend time on or to ignore. Others argue that evaluators misunderstand what to evaluate and how.
 
A recent report commissioned by the Global Alliance for Humanitarian Innovation (GAHI), offers recommendations for the project, policy and system levels to address the challenges that must be overcome before DLTs can be ethically, safely, appropriately and effectively scaled in humanitarian contexts.

In addition, the UNICEF Innovation Ventures team is exploring the potential of these technologies benefit children, including in three areas:
  • New ways of donating money
  • Creating better transparency in internal processes
  • Leveraging tokenisation to reduce friction in transactions
 
Please RSVP now for a lively conversation with these thought leaders: Please RSVP now to discuss questions like these on how the humanitarian sector can utilize blockchain in responsible and efficient programmatic efforts:
  • What are blockchain use cases with an evidence base to back them?
  • What are the core areas where DLTs seem to be showing promise?
  • What are the main challenges with blockchain in the humanitarian sector?
  • How could we overcome these challenges as a sector?
  • What are best next steps be for the sector? Ignore blockchain? Wait for others to test? Keep piloting? More research? Other ideas?
We'll have hot coffee and breakfast treats for a morning rush. Seating is limited so please RSVP now.  Once we reach our 35-person capacity there will be a waiting list!
 
Blockchain for Develpment
April Technology Salon
9:00-11:00am
Monday, April 22, 2019
OSF Offices
224 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

How Can We Support Digital Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries?

London, UK - April 16 - RSVP Now
We are all familiar with the iHub, and the many innovation spaces across the African continent - AfriLabs has 123 member centers in 34 countries. They are evidence of a vibrant worldwide ecosystem of digital entrepreneurs creating new approaches to commercial and social sector problems.
 
Yet recent research from DIAL shows that much of our support for local technology ecosystems remains ill-suited for digital development lifecycles, is disproportionately solution-driven and focuses on the early stages of development - resulting in continued pilotitis.
 
How can we better support digital ecosystems?
 
Please RSVP now to explore the status of vibrant technology ecosystems from Cambodia to Zambia and find answers to questions like:
  • Where are local digital ecosystems taking ownership of their development?
  • How can we engage entrepreneurs to help them overcome barriers?
  • How can we support tech start-ups, digital entrepreneurs and innovation hubs?
  • What about users and their technology engagement?
  • Can we leverage development programmes and their use of digital tools?
  • Where do international technology companies fit in?
  • What role do local and central governments need to play?
Please RSVP now to join learned peers in exploring digital ecosystems with these thought leaders: We'll have hot coffee and catered breakfast treats for a morning rush but seating is limited so please RSVP now.  Once we reach our 30-person capacity there will be a waiting list!
 
Local Tech Entrepreneurship
Technology Salon London
8.30 – 10.30am
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Accenture London
30 Fenchurch St (map)
London, EC3M 3BD
RSVP is required for attendance.
 

How to Evaluate Artificial Intelligence Use Cases for Development Programs?

April, 18 - Washington, DC - RSVP Now
This year’s technology buzz word is artificial intelligence, which means you’ve already been asked how your organization can incorporate AI and machine learning in your programs - and you've responded with this.
 
Yet, as AI is such a new technology, there are few, if any, resources available to thoroughly evaluate the what, where, and how of using AI in our programs. There are basic questions that we all still struggle with, like:
  • What are ethical uses of AI for development?
  • Where are the hidden biases, and how to overcome them?
  • When to partner with private sector and what are the risks?
  • How can technology decisions support government ownership?
  • Who is innovating with AI and what are they learning?
Please RSVP Now to join this outcome-focused Technology Salon where we will work towards an evaluation framework for artificial intelligence solutions with these thought leaders: Please RSVP Now to join us. Confirmed Salon participants will receive a draft AI evaluation framework before the Salon to inspire our debate. At the Salon, we will work to develop and refine an evaluation framework we can all use in our international development programming.

We’ll have coffee and snacks for a morning rush, but seating is limited. Please RSVP Now. Once we reach our 35-person capacity there will be a waiting list!

Evaluating Artificial Intelligence
Technology Salon DC
8:30 – 10:30am
April 18th, 2019
Downtown Washington, DC
RSVP is required for attendance
subscribers

About the Technology Salon


The Technology Salon™ is an intimate, informal, and in person, discussion between information and communication technology experts and international development professionals, with a focus on both:
  • technology's impact on donor-sponsored technical assistance delivery, and
  • private enterprise driven economic development, facilitated by technology.
Our meetings are lively conversations, not boring presentations, and frank participation with ideas, opinions, and predictions is actively encouraged. 

It's also a great opportunity to meet others motivated to employ technology to solve vexing development problems. Join us today!
 
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