Technology Salon

New York

Sponsored by

a discussion at the intersection of technology and development

Technology Salon NYC (TSNYC) was started by Linda Raftree in 2011. TSNYC brings together a diverse and experienced group of national and international NGO practitioners and managers, foundation representatives, academic researchers, evaluators, UN agencies, technology creators, design firms, media professionals and social entrepreneurs.

We tackle tough topics in a safe space that sparks opportunities for cross-sectoral learning and development of contacts and partnerships. Salons also serve as sounding board and focus group discussion opportunities for emerging topics in ICT4D and social media for social change.

Our sessions are always overbooked, so be sure to sign up to get invited and RSVP quickly to ensure you’ll have a spot! Contact Linda to suggest a topic or lead discussant for a future meeting, or if you’d like to support TSNYC.


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  • 13 Tips for Creating Data Dashboards for Decision-Making

    New York | By on June 9, 2015 | Comments Off on 13 Tips for Creating Data Dashboards for Decision-Making

    The private sector has been using dashboards for quite some time, but international development organizations face challenges when it comes to identifying the right data dashboards and accompanying systems for decision-making. Our May 29th, 2015, Technology Salon (sponsored by The Rockefeller Foundation) explored data dashboards and data visualization for improved decision making with lead discussants…

  • An Understanding of LGBTQI Rights and Technology for Development

    New York | By on May 4, 2015 | Comments Off on An Understanding of LGBTQI Rights and Technology for Development

    Our April 21st NYC Technology Salon focused on issues related to the LGBT ICT4D community, including how LGBTQI issues are addressed in the context of stakeholders and ICT4D staff. We examined specific concerns that ICT4D practitioners who identify as LGBTQI have, as well as how LGBTQI stakeholders are (or are not) incorporated into ICT4D projects,…

  • How Games Can Improve Development Outcomes

    New York | By on April 7, 2015 | Comments Off on How Games Can Improve Development Outcomes

    Our Technology Salon in New York City on Oct 7 focused on the potential of games and gamification in international development work. Joining us as lead discussants were Asi Burak (Games for Change), Nick Martin (TechChange), and Craig Savel and Stan Mierzwa (Population Council). TechChange is a social enterprise that uses principles of gamification on…

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  • Ethical Data and Design for our Wearable Sensor Future

    New York | By on April 7, 2015 | Comments Off on Ethical Data and Design for our Wearable Sensor Future

    On March 31, 2015, nearly 40 participants, joined by lead discussants Robert Fabricant, Dalberg Design Team; Despina Papadopoulos, Principled Design; and Roop Pal, PicoSatellite eXploration Lab; came together for Technology Salon New York City where we discussed the future of wearables in international development. As follows is a summary of our discussion. While the future of wearables is…

  • Do Girl Ads Detract From Girls Empowerment?

    New York | By on February 22, 2015 | Comments Off on Do Girl Ads Detract From Girls Empowerment?

    Our August Technology Salon in New York City (TSNYC) was a stimulating and deep discussion on whether ‘girl advertising’ detracts from girls empowerment. The topic surfaced after a Facebook conversation about the rise in commercials about girls and women’s empowerment such as Always’ “Like a Girl,” Verizon’s “Inspire her Mind,” and Pantene’s “Stop Saying Sorry.” There…

  • 7 Technology Salon Aspirations for Better ICT4D in 2015

    New York | By on February 3, 2015 | Comments Off on 7 Technology Salon Aspirations for Better ICT4D in 2015

  • ZunZuneo and Ethics in Technology for Democracy

    New York | By on May 29, 2014 | Comments Off on ZunZuneo and Ethics in Technology for Democracy

    Last week’s Technology Salon New York City touched on ethics in technology for democracy initiatives. We heard from lead discussants Malavika Jayaram, Berkman Center for Internet and Society; Ivan Sigal, Global Voices; and Amilcar Priestley, Afrolatin@ Project. Though the topic was catalyzed by the Associated Press’ article on ‘Zunzuneo’ (a.k.a. ‘Cuban Twitter’) and subsequent discussions in the press and elsewhere, we aimed to cover some of the wider…

  • Encouraging Innovation in Development Organizations

    New York | By on May 22, 2014 | Comments Off on Encouraging Innovation in Development Organizations

    Our February 6th Technology Salon in New York City focused on the organizational challenges that development organizations face when trying to innovate or integrate ICTs into their programs and operations. We looked at the idea of “innovation” and different ways to approach it. We asked what “innovation” really means and why “technology” and “innovation” seem…

  • How We Helped Small Organizations Be More Competitive in Grant Challenges

    New York | By on May 20, 2014 | Comments Off on How We Helped Small Organizations Be More Competitive in Grant Challenges

    This is a guest post from Jamie Narkunski, who works as a UX consultant at ThoughtWorks NYC. I recently attended a Tech Salon where the subject of grant applications came up. Part of the conversation revolved around the issue that the complexity, format, and investment required in the traditional grant application process acts as a…

  • Bigger, Better Data and Resilience: What’s the Link?

    New York | By on May 15, 2014 | Comments Off on Bigger, Better Data and Resilience: What’s the Link?

    The NYC Technology Salon on February 28th examined the connection between bigger, better data and resilience. We held morning and afternoon Salons due to the high response rate for the topic. Jake Porway, DataKind; Emmanuel Letouzé, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative; and Elizabeth Eagen, Open Society Foundations; were our lead discussants for the morning. Max Shron, Data…

  • Youth Financial Inclusion Via Mobiles: Long on Enthusiasm, Short on Examples?

    New York | By on May 8, 2014 | Comments Off on Youth Financial Inclusion Via Mobiles: Long on Enthusiasm, Short on Examples?

    We looked at the role of mobiles in youth financial inclusion at our March 11th Technology Salon in New York City. Tim Nourse, Making Cents; Peter Goldstein, Intermedia; and Jamie Zimmerman, Bankable Frontier Associates; joined as lead discussants. Though mobile financial services are seen by many as inevitable, some Salon participants felt that, like in…

  • Tech Salon Summary: Children, Youth, Migration and ICT

    New York | By on February 11, 2014 | Comments Off on Tech Salon Summary: Children, Youth, Migration and ICT

    Migration is central to the current political debate as well as to the development discussion, especially in conversations about the “post 2015” agenda, the ‘youth bulge’, and youth employment. Prevention work is not likely to end migration, regardless of the organizations and governments working to improve the well-being of children and youth in their home…

  • Are Cash Transfers Effective? A Discussion with the Experts

    New York | By on December 15, 2013 | Comments Off on Are Cash Transfers Effective? A Discussion with the Experts

    The salon style conversation featured Columbia University and popular aid blogger Chris Blattman, GiveDirectly co-founder and UCSD researcher Paul Neihaus and Plan USA CEO Tessie San Martin. The ensuing discussion, operating under the Chatham House Rules of no attribution, featured representatives from large NGOs, microfinance organizations and UN agencies. Research from Kenya, Uganda and Liberia show both the promise and shortcomings of cash transfers.

  • How We Can Use ICTs to Engage Adolescent Girls

    New York | By on December 14, 2013 | Comments Off on How We Can Use ICTs to Engage Adolescent Girls

    At the November 8th Technology Salon in New York City, we looked at the role of ICTs in communication for development (C4D) initiatives with marginalized adolescent girls. Lead discussants Kerida McDonald and Katarzyna Pawelczyk discussed recent UNICEF reports related to the topic, and John Zoltner spoke about FHI360’s C4D work in practice. To begin, it…

  • Scaling the Use of Mobile Technologies for Development

    New York | By on December 2, 2013 | Comments Off on Scaling the Use of Mobile Technologies for Development

    According to the latest GSMA statistics, nearly 50% of people own a mobile phone in the developing world and almost 70% have access to mobile phones. With mobile access increasing daily, opportunities to use mobiles in development initiatives continue to grow and expand. The area of Mobiles for Development (M4D) has attracted investment from all…

  • How to Create Digital Job Opportunites for African Youth

    New York | By on July 10, 2013 | Comments Off on How to Create Digital Job Opportunites for African Youth

    At the Technology Salon on “How Can We Create Digital Jobs for African Youth?” our discussion was led by Lauren Dawes, who leads the GSMA’s Mobiles for Employment team, and Lillian Chege from the Rockefeller Foundation’s Digital Jobs Africa program. The GSMA will release a study on Mobiles for Youth Employment in July, and Rockefeller…

  • African Entrepreneurship in Mobile Hardware Technology

    New York | By on July 8, 2013 | Comments Off on African Entrepreneurship in Mobile Hardware Technology

    At the recent Technology Salon on African-Led Mobile Innovation in Congo Brazzaville, we welcomed Verone Mankou, the head of VMK, a company in Congo Brazzaville that designs and produces the Way-C Tablet and the Elikia smart phone. The event was graciously hosted by ThoughtWorks, and Verone’s US trip was organized by Senam Beheton of EtriLabs.

  • 12 Mobile Technology and Workforce Development Programs With Girls and Young Women

    New York | By on April 4, 2013 | Comments Off on 12 Mobile Technology and Workforce Development Programs With Girls and Young Women

    The March NYC Technology Salon offered an opportunity to discuss how mobile technology can transform workforce development and to hear how mobile is improving the reach and impact of existing initiatives working with girls and young women.

  • The Ethics of Participatory Digital Mapping with Communities

    New York | By on February 19, 2013 | Comments Off on The Ethics of Participatory Digital Mapping with Communities

    The February 5 Technology Salon in New York City asked “What are the ethics in participatory digital mapping?” Judging by the packed Salon and long waiting list, many of us are struggling with these questions in our work.

  • How ICTs Can Support Migratory Youth

    New York | By on November 22, 2012 | Comments Off on How ICTs Can Support Migratory Youth

    The November 14, 2012, Technology Salon NYC focused on ways that ICTs can support work with children who migrate. Our lead discussants were: Sarah Engebretsen and Kate Barker from Population Council, and Brian Root and Enrique Piraces from Human Rights Watch. This post summarizes discussions that surfaced around the Population Council’s upcoming Girls on the…