Team Spotlight: Ziad Achkar and the Digital Development Guidebook

On March 18, the new Digital Development Guidebook was released by CRS and NetHope on the main stage of the ICT4D Conference in Accra, Ghana. 

Could you share a bit about yourself, current role, and past experiences?

I’m an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner at the intersection of technology and the broader Humanitarian space. My Ph.D. research focused on the impact of digital technology on the work that we do as a sector and how digital technologies shape the way we think about our issues and seek to address them. I have worked in this space for the past 14 years conducting and publishing research on responsible use of data and technology, and the growing relationship between our sectors and that of the private tech community. Operationally, I have been involved in work developing and implementing innovative approaches to using remote sensing and geospatial data in support of conflict monitoring missions and humanitarian assistance. 

As a co-author of this report, how does this connect to your previous experiences?

The speed in which access to technology and new tools have spread in the past decade makes this report an important moment to reflect on how far we’ve come as a sector and the remaining road up ahead. It is no longer a question of IF we are doing things digitally, but rather how quickly can we safely and responsibly transition our work and that of our partners and the people we serve. I have been a firm believer in my work that we must move forward with the use of technology but do so with care and with a focus on solutions rather than chasing the latest technologies. 

What are some of the key takeaways that you're hoping to connect with readers? 

• While we have come so far as a sector, there remains a lot of work that needs to be done in addressing meaningful inclusion in the design, decision-making, and implementation of ICT4D projects.

• Efforts to close the digital divide and to implement localization will require a structural change in the way we operate not only as development actors, but as humanitarians, peacebuilders, and conflict resolution practitioners. 

• The small sample of resources showcased in this report highlights the growing number of organizations and initiatives that are involved in this space. Finding ways to connect various stakeholders together to collaborate effectively, share knowledge, and collectively advocate for the protection of rights will ultimately determine whether or not we are successful in achieving the promises of digital transformation. 

We used AI Haiku’s to summarize KII’s….Only fair to summarize my perspective in one as well: 

“Tech meets humanity,

Years of research, innovation,

Guiding transformation.

In this report's realm,

Tech's swift spread, inclusion's plea,

Unity's vision.”