Technology Salon

Washington DC

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a discussion at the intersection of technology and development

Technology Salon DC was founded in 2007 by Wayan Vota and it is the largest Salon, with over 3,000 members that span the gamut of development and technology disciplines.

Salons serve as sounding board and focus group discussions for emerging topics in ICT for social change. We tackle tough topics in a safe space that sparks cross-sectoral learning. Our monthly meetings are driving policy and implementation decisions across international development. Be sure to sign up to get invited and RSVP quickly – we always have a wait list.

You can contact Wayan to suggest a topic or lead discussant for a future meeting.


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  • how to assess ai international development

    We Must Assess Artificial Intelligence Impact Today in International Development

    Washington DC | By on September 15, 2024 | Comments Off on We Must Assess Artificial Intelligence Impact Today in International Development

    Our discussion of How to Assess Artificial Intelligence Impacts in International Development? at the recent Technology Salon DC had its very premise questioned at the start. We should not be asking how we can assess AI when international development organizations decide to adopt the new technology. We must start assessing AI now. Why? Because we…

  • genai guidance policy

    You Need Generative AI Guidance and Data Governance Policy

    Washington DC | By on May 12, 2024 | Comments Off on You Need Generative AI Guidance and Data Governance Policy

    All the hype around artificial intelligence – including generative AI – really starts with “old school” machine learning. The grandest large language models are basically algorithms looking at reams of data. That means training data is key for any GenAI activity, and an AI activity. The most accomplished GenAI tools are software agents that return…

  • digital principles

    How the Principles for Digital Development Can Be Improved

    Washington DC | By on July 23, 2023 | Comments Off on How the Principles for Digital Development Can Be Improved

    Pop Quiz! Name all 9 Principles for Digital Development. Try to name them all right now and from your memory. No fair looking at the official list until you’ve exhausted your attempts. This is how we started the recent Technology Salon that asked, “Can the Principles for Digital Development be Improved?” The Principles for Digital…

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  • Counter Malign Influences China Russia

    How to Counter the Malign Influences of China and Russia in Digital Development

    Washington DC | By on May 31, 2023 | Comments Off on How to Counter the Malign Influences of China and Russia in Digital Development

    The recent Technology Salon on How to Counter Malign Influences in Digital Development was a fascinating discussion that should start with the idea that we are mainly talking about the Chinese and Russian country governments. These governments may not reflect the will of its citizens, or even a majority of them, and the governments themselves…

  • generative ai tech salon

    How Generative AI Can Improve Aid Outcomes

    Washington DC | By on January 26, 2023 | Comments Off on How Generative AI Can Improve Aid Outcomes

    Our first in-person Technology Salon DC in three years convened on January 25, 2023, to pose the question: Can Generative Artificial Intelligence Technology Improve Aid Outcomes? Thought leaders and decision makers across the international development space shared their optimism, skepticism, and uncertainty regarding generative AI and its consequences as we move closer to the uncanny…

  • agile technology salon

    Most government funded international development programs start with a Request for Proposal (RFP) that has to follow strict government procurement processes. These systems are designed to protect taxpayer money from waste and fraud and generate very detailed proposals. However, this very focus on risk aversion could actually be increasing the risk that humanitarian relief programing,…

  • women in tech

    How to Walk the Talk of Female Representation in ICT4D

    Washington DC | By on October 30, 2020 | Comments Off on How to Walk the Talk of Female Representation in ICT4D

    The digital development field has consistently focused on improving female access to technology and related services across low- and middle-income countries. With over 250 million more women owning a mobile phone as compared to 2014, there has been considerable progress. Yet, the importance of female representation in leadership has become even clearer. A recent study indicated that…

  • 5 Ways AgTech and KM Can Increase Food Security During COVID-19

    Washington DC | By on August 20, 2020 | Comments Off on 5 Ways AgTech and KM Can Increase Food Security During COVID-19

    The coronavirus pandemic is creating unprecedented food insecurity around the world. The World Food Programme estimates that the number of people facing acute hunger will double to 265 million in 2020. This global challenge comes on top of existing vulnerabilities including conflict, climate change and economic crises compounded by long-standing social and structural discrimination based…

  • ict4d domestic elections

    How to Use Your International ICT4D Skills in US Elections

    Washington DC | By on February 24, 2020 | Comments Off on How to Use Your International ICT4D Skills in US Elections

    This is shaping up to be a pivotal year in US politics. We are all experts in behavior change, change management, governance, accountability, civil society, and a host of other skills and activities that can strengthen democratic processes and bring change here at home. In our recent Technology Salon on How to Use Your International…

  • climate change technology salon

    How Digital Solutions Can Reduce Climate Change Impacts

    Washington DC | By on November 21, 2019 | Comments Off on How Digital Solutions Can Reduce Climate Change Impacts

    As the United States withdraws from the Paris Climate Agreement, we are inundated daily with news of how the climate crisis is escalating. It can be argued that climate change cuts across multiple sectors in the ICT4D community. Our work in areas such as health, agriculture, and emergency response, may mitigate the impacts of climate…

  • ict4d startup funding

    Why Would Anyone Want to Launch an ICT4D Startup Organization?

    Washington DC | By on October 23, 2019 | Comments Off on Why Would Anyone Want to Launch an ICT4D Startup Organization?

    We all talk about encouraging entrepreneurship in developing countries. Yet how many of us have launched our own business, or spun off an initiative from our employer into its own organization? The startup life is hard, despite all the hype about venture capital funding and million-dollar exits. In the USA, only 50% of startups survive…

  • Humanitarian Crisis

    How to Implement ICT4D in Fragile, Violent, and Conflict-Affected Regions

    Washington DC | By on June 29, 2019 | Comments Off on How to Implement ICT4D in Fragile, Violent, and Conflict-Affected Regions

    Currently, over two billion people worldwide live in fragile, violent and conflict-affected (FCV) environments. Furthermore, according to the World Bank, the share of the extreme poor living in conflict-affected situations is expected to rise above 50% by 2030. FCV environments dramatically impact development outcomes as conflicts drive 80% of all humanitarian needs – yet it…

  • Tech Journalism

    Technology Approaches to Improve Governance and Civic Engagement

    Washington DC | By on May 3, 2019 | Comments Off on Technology Approaches to Improve Governance and Civic Engagement

    The terms Civic Tech and GovTech have rapidly gained popularity over the past few years. Our recent Technology Salon – What Technology Approaches Improve Governance and Civic Engagement? – explored how digital tools and solutions can be used to further improve governance and citizen engagement. We had a lively discussion, informed by four thought leaders…

  • artificial intelligence international development

    Evaluation Criteria for Using Artificial Intelligence in Development Programs

    Washington DC | By on April 18, 2019 | Comments Off on Evaluation Criteria for Using Artificial Intelligence in Development Programs

    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. Hopefully, you answered with this. Or you could be more serious and reply that we all already are using aspects of AI to augment and enhance, not replace, activities…

  • Future of ICT4D

    Our technology for development specialty is changing. Macro forces like reduced government funding and PEPFAR’s push to local organizations are intersecting with increased local capacity and robust commercial solutions, forcing us to consider a post-ICT4D world. This inspired a Technology Salon asking, “What does the future of ICT4D look like?”, where we had a lively…

  • geospatial technologies

    How to Better Visualize Our Impact with Geospatial Technologies

    Washington DC | By on August 20, 2018 | Comments Off on How to Better Visualize Our Impact with Geospatial Technologies

    Remember when you saw your first geospatial visualization in international development? How amazed you were that satellite maps of the earth could show impact data in a new, clearer way than before? Wait till you see where we are now with game-changing innovations like: Mapping changes at the village level with unmanned aerial vehicles. Visualizing…

  • private sector data

    4 Steps to Access Private Sector Data for Public Goods

    Washington DC | By on July 13, 2018 | Comments Off on 4 Steps to Access Private Sector Data for Public Goods

    We in the international development sector often have this perception that the private sector is way more advanced than we in the collection, analysis, and use of user data. That somehow Facebook, Google, and every Mobile Network Operator has a God-like dashboard that instantly displays every data point and trend imaginable, at the touch of…

  • GDPR Data Secuirty

    We Are Data Security Sinners. Will GDPR Make Us Repent?

    Washington DC | By on April 21, 2018 | Comments Off on We Are Data Security Sinners. Will GDPR Make Us Repent?

    The General Data Protection Regulation is coming on May 25th and you should be worried. If you operate in the EU or focus on EU-based clients, then the sweeping new data protection law will apply to you, with multi-million dollar fines per violation. It mandates that we will need to be clear and concise about…

  • Humanitarian Crisis

    7 Technologies to Mitigate Humanitarian Crisis and Increase Community Resilience

    Washington DC | By on March 8, 2018 | Comments Off on 7 Technologies to Mitigate Humanitarian Crisis and Increase Community Resilience

    Penny Mordaunt, the UK International Development Secretary, is warning that 2018 will be the worst for humanitarian crises since the Second World War. Simmering conflict is destroying communities in Syria, Congo, Yemen, South Sudan, Myanmar… and the list goes on. Then there will be the inevitable natural disasters that will create new crisis-affected communities. We…

  • whatsapp strategy

    6 Reasons Why WhatsApp is a Game Changer for International Development

    Washington DC | By on March 1, 2018 | Comments Off on 6 Reasons Why WhatsApp is a Game Changer for International Development

    Quickly messaging people via computing technology is not a new activity. Internet Relay Chat (IRC) started in 1988, and we’ve gone through messaging service peaks with AOL, Yahoo, Blackberry, and SMS. Now there is a new wave of messaging apps and it’s Facebook Messenger, Viber, Telegram, Signal and WhatsApp’s turn. As one participant said at…