Uncategorized | TechChange | The Institute for Technology and Social Change

By Marion Comi-Morog, TechChange Hybrid Event Manager

2023 marked the 13th year of the Global Digital Health Forum, and the hybrid event had the highest and most diverse attendance in the conference’s history. More than 700 attendees gathered in Washington D.C., with local “Watch Parties” in five other global cities, and nearly 2000 virtual participants tuning in. GDHF is the leading global public health industry networking opportunity for technology vendors, donors, researchers, government representatives, and implementing organizations working in low- to middle- income countries. You can read the case study here.

Making sure the conference is successful– and inclusive, engaging, and accessible– is a MAJOR undertaking and the TechChange team has learned valuable lessons along the way.

Here are my top five.

Be thoughtful when selecting your date and time (zones).

You’ll want to be aware of what else is happening within the sector; in particular, when other major conferences that your attendees may be interested in take place. If overlap is unavoidable, ask how your event can coincide or build upon others without directly conflicting? This can be helpful if people are traveling for your event, and they will already be in town for another major convening. You also want to be sensitive around major holidays (for all religions) and year-end reporting deadlines. Think about your audience- for example, if you are hosting a youth-centered conference, consider school hours. For GDHF, we have a global audience so we elected to offer sessions during the business hours of multiple time zones, including Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Make sure the venue selection fits your vision.

It may seem tempting to select your venue as one of your first moves in the planning phase. Actually, it’s essential to work out core details of your event vision– including the session types that you’ll offer– before selecting the in-person venue. For example, for GDHF we had outlined nine different session types, from classic panels to lighting talks, interactive workshops, and technology solution demonstrations. We needed a space that fit the requirements of each session type, and would allow our media team to travel around the conference with our unique “Pop Up studio,” interviewing high-level speakers and attendees about their experiences. Other considerations when selecting a venue include wifi capabilities, parking, food options, and hotels and restaurants in the area for attendees.

The author (center) checking people in at the GDHF registration desk

The event platform is just as important as your venue.

The platform that you select for your hybrid event will serve as the registration portal and agenda for in-person attendees. But for virtual it’s more than that– the platform is their experience of the conference as a whole. So it’s vital that the event platform that you use to organize your event, broadcast your sessions to your virtual attendees, and tie together the in-person and online elements is top of the line. top of the line. From registration to wrap-up, you want your virtual attendees to feel taken care of and that their engagement is valued. On the TechChange platform, we use gamification to reward engagement, and even ran a competition for GDHF where attendees could earn engagement points and prizes. As you can imagine, customer support is also a crucial aspect, as no matter how intuitive you think your set-up is, attendees will have questions. You want to have a live team available to support them. At TechChange our support team is always run by humans, and we offered 24-7 support during GDHF 2023.

When the project is huge, assign points of contact, deadlines, and milestones.

This sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how helpful a common set of deadlines, milestones, and agreed-upon points of contact are for making sure that planning stays on track. Even more so when “planning by committee” as we do with GDHF, where there are several organizations involved and more than twenty sponsors. Having points of contact for various work streams and a project lead where the buck stops help to keep things moving, and ensure that different projects come together productively. When our TechChange event team works with partners to plan and execute their events, our folks are often playing this role. Project management software and shared documents also help ensure everyone has eyes on the prize.

Most importantly, convene the team you need for success.

For many people, hosting a conference is a part of the job that can swiftly become the whole job if they don’t have proper support. At TechChange, we work with social impact professionals of all stripes to create noteworthy global events– for many of our partners, it’s not their main job. So we step in with the infrastructure, energy, and ideas to help them ideate and execute their vision for an ideal conference. GDHF 2023 would not have been possible without the many TechChangers, contractors, sponsors, and speakers who dedicated their time and resources to bring this vision to reality. On behalf of our entire team at TechChange: thank you! See you in Nairobi for GDHF 2024!

Over the past twenty years, it’s estimated that the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved twenty-five million lives in more than fifty countries through a wide variety of efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This vital, complex work requires an immense amount of data tracking and analysis, much of which is made possible by the Interagency Collaborative for Program Improvement, or ICPI. For the last three years, TechChange has partnered with ICPI and DigitalSquare to support the dedicated professionals responsible for the data crucial to the realization of PEPFAR’s mission.

TechChange uses our community building and knowledge sharing expertise to provide PEPFAR’s data synergy hub at ICPI with four main ways of connecting and collaborating.

Learning Collaboratives that Bring Agencies Together

Learning Collaboratives are 2-hour monthly virtual forums hosted on the TechChange platform that bring together field and headquarters staff from USAID, US Department of State, Peace Corps, US Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These forums serve as a key touch point for sharing, learning, and identifying areas for technical assistance and tailored follow up. TechChange uses digital whiteboard tools such as Miro to facilitate interactive activities and knowledge sharing, but it’s the expertise within the community that takes center stage in these sessions. For example, in January 2023, an interagency team from Côte d’Ivoire shared how they were doing data quality assessments, including best practices for using a newly updated tool. This allowed the ICPI team to see what the new assessment looked like in practice, and highlighted valuable local expertise in implementation.

Onboarding Trainings to Bring New Hires Up to Speed

Detailed onboarding to the tools and policies of PEPFAR is critical for data professionals joining the relevant agencies. TechChange provides twice-annual virtual training to support the capacity building of new PEPFAR staff. These multi-day sessions involve roughly a dozen configured breakout rooms, 30+ facilitators, 16-20 learning presentations, 5 government agencies, multiple Zoom links, and nearly 100 participants from PEPFAR-supported countries around the world. The training prepares new staff from the five related agencies for success in achieving PEPFAR’s important mission. One participant from the May ‘23 training shared that “the interactive exercises were great and helpful in understanding the content, while another termed their session “well-paced, informative, and empowering.”

Strategic Meeting for Goal Setting and Visioning

TechChange also provided technical support for a hybrid event hosted by ICPI where leaders from each of the PEPFAR-involved agencies shared their priorities and concerns for the year. Attendees communicated elements of the learning initiatives that were working well, such as the white-boarding exercises during onboarding, and those that need further support in the future, such as guidance for volunteer facilitators to take on more sessions. This convening allowed for goal setting and visioning for 2024, including planning for future Learning Collaboratives, Onboarding Training and a Strategic Retreat.

Ideation Sessions Refresh and Reorient Work

In a multi-year partnership, it’s easy to continue business as usual. But in the fast moving field of international development and public health, its crucial to continually align stakeholders to ensure that community building and knowledge sharing initiatives– such as those provided by TechChange to ICPI and Digital Square– meet new needs and demands, as well as continuously bring in new formats and engagement strategies to keep things fresh. In 2024, TechChange will host a series of in-person and virtual Ideation Sessions and Strategic Workshops and/or Retreats with key ICPI and other agency stakeholders to plan for the future of these learning and collaboration initiatives, as well as to support their teams to connect with one another.

By Gabrielle Hayashi Santos, TechChange contributor and Social Impact Professional

‘Inherently inadequate as an employee’ is the phrase that I would repeat to myself in my head over and over again when I started to work formally at age 15. Things that were common sense to colleagues did not come easily to me, and this led to a lot of self-criticism and self-doubt. I began masking–a coping mechanism where individuals camouflage their autistic traits to fit societal expectations. By the time I entered university, I had upgraded my overall performance to the exterior world, but internally I was struggling. The sensory overload and constant social interactions were overwhelming, and despite my efforts to adapt, I often found myself feeling isolated and misunderstood.

Then, with the help of professionals, I discovered my place on the autism spectrum and began to unmask. Even now, I am still learning about what it means for me to be autistic. However, I can confidently say that working remotely has been a game-changer for me. As we celebrate World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), established by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), I want to share how working remotely has offered me a platform to thrive professionally.

No Commute Means Less Sensory Overload

The allure of saving time on the daily commute is powerful. Who wouldn’t relish the chance to reclaim those precious hours spent in traffic or crammed onto public transportation? Beyond the obvious time-saving benefits, the elimination of the daily commute holds even greater significance for me. Navigating public transportation or driving exposes me to sensory overload and social demands that can be overwhelming, particularly during times of heightened stress or anxiety. The prospect of facing these challenges day in and day out adds additional strain to my mental health. Remote work offers a welcome alternative. Without the stress of commuting weighing me down, I am free to focus on my work and prioritize my well-being in an environment I can control.

Flexible Communication Minimizes Stress and Misunderstandings

Have you ever reflected on how much of work is just communicating? But what if the conventional channels of communication leave you feeling drained? That’s where the beauty of remote work comes in. It accommodates my specific needs and preferences in ways that traditional office settings never could.

Flexible communication allows me to engage with colleagues on my own terms. Written communication, such as emails and instant messages, allows me to process information at my own pace and express myself more clearly, reducing misunderstandings and social anxiety. I have been lucky enough to work with kind people who do not enforce turning cameras on, so on days where I don’t feel like I can perform facial expressions, I don’t have to.

Autonomy and Routine Means More Productivity

Another huge plus for me is the autonomy. Working remotely, I can structure my day in a predictable schedule that minimizes surprises and helps me maintain focus. This helps me implement strategies to address the specific challenges associated with my condition, such as setting realistic goals and deadlines, communicating expectations effectively, and defining roles and responsibilities. I can reduce ambiguity and confusion, which are common triggers for oppositional behavior or anxiety. Clarity around what is expected of me and what I can expect from others fosters a sense of predictability and accountability, promoting a more harmonious work environment.

Space to Employ Coping Strategies

There are still challenges in working remotely. I over prepare for meetings; I second guess my own contributions. I hyper focus on facial expressions in meetings if cameras are on. All of this can lead to anxiety that gets in the way of productivity. But I can recalibrate. In between meetings, I reach into my toolbox of coping strategies, which can vary from sensory comfort items to connecting with my support network. On particularly hard days, I can schedule a session with professionals in the comfort of my home without worrying about the logistics of squeezing that in from a traditional office job. Moreover, remote work reduces the pressure of constant social interactions, enabling me to conserve energy and allocate it more effectively to tasks that require concentration and problem-solving. Without the need to navigate complex social dynamics, I can focus on delivering my work to the best of my abilities.

My Experience as a TechChange Contributor

Working at TechChange has truly been a transformative experience for me in my journey of working remotely. From day one, I’ve felt welcomed and embraced for who I am, neurodiversity and all. The team fosters an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated and individual differences are valued. This sense of belonging empowers me to bring my authentic self to work each day, knowing that my unique perspective is not only respected but encouraged, and that my voice is heard. It means a lot to me to be part of a social enterprise that creates courses and events that are always trying to find new ways to make the programs accessible to a diverse range of individuals, including those across the autism spectrum.

All Workplaces Can Create Supportive Environments

While remote work has been instrumental in my professional development, it’s essential to recognize that in-person work environments also have the potential to be accommodating. By fostering understanding, implementing flexible policies, and cultivating a culture of acceptance, traditional workplaces can create environments where individuals with autism feel valued and supported. As we commemorate World Autism Awareness Day, my hope is to continue raising awareness and promoting understanding of neurodiversity in the workplace and beyond. This day serves as a reminder of the progress we’ve made in advocating for the rights of autistic individuals and the importance of embracing diversity in all its forms. However, it also highlights the ongoing challenges and barriers that many autistic individuals still face.

In recognition of these challenges, I am committed to aiding individuals with autism in their search for remote work opportunities. If you are within the spectrum and need support finding a remote job and feel like I can help you, feel free to reach out to me by my Linkedin, and also check out the TechChange Talent Network. By connecting them with valuable resources and fostering a sense of community, we can empower autistic individuals to thrive in the global workforce.

Together, let us work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment where every individual, regardless of neurotype, has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

By Rose Nyzoka, Co-Chair of the Global Digital Health Network and Country Representative at Palladium

The Global Digital Health Forum is where the world of digital health practitioners, experts, and funders comes together– it’s also one of my favorite times of the year, as co-chair for the Global Digital Health Network. I love reconnecting with friends and colleagues, and meeting new potential collaborators from across the globe. At 2023’s in-person event in Washington D.C., I had the opportunity to give opening remarks with my fellow GDHN co-chair, Carol Kamasaka. I urged participants to take take advantage off the new innovation of live watch parties we were bringing to in GDHF2023 to hear more voices and experiences from country teams in Kenya, Tanzania, St Lucia, Nigeria, Chile, and Indonesia.

The learnings from last year’s event are still fresh in my mind, particularly the exhortations by USAID Assistant Deputy Administrator, Sangita Patel, in her keynote address, where she rallied us as digital health actors to go beyond experimentation and embrace ecosystem-wide interventions that are lasting and sustainable. This was echoed by government leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Haiti, Ghana, and Indonesia, who called for an increased focus on digital health goverance and the coordination of donor investments.

Eco-system wide interventions and proper governance don’t just happen– they will be the direct result of sustained conversation and collaboration between digital health experts from low- to middle-income countries along with high-income countries. GDHF is an essential part of that conversation, and I urge you to join us this year to add your voice.

Our network, working with TechChange as the operational support partner for the GDHF event, has just announced the location for the 2024 in-person site, and I’m thrilled to share that it’s my home city of Nairobi, Kenya! Digital Health programming in Kenya has come a long way, including development of standards for digital solutions, transitioning from paper to digital patient records, and enactment of Digital Health Act 2023, legislation that provides a framework for provision of digital health services, establishment of a comprehensive integrated digital health information system, data governance and protection of personal health information and service delivery through digital health interventions. The Ministry of Health is excited to co-host this event with GDHN, a testament of Kenya’s commitment to its digital health vision. Hosting the main event in Kenya provides the opportunity to center African expertise and programming, and I can’t wait to welcome our global digital health community to Nairobi.

When I say the in-person GDHF 2024 , I want to clarify that’s because GDHF is quite intentionally a hybrid event, with virtual programming on the TechChange platform throughout the entire conference, as well as local watch parties in different countries in key time zones where local leaders and experts can gather together to participate, network, and share their own experiences. So, whether or not you’re able to come to Kenya this year– though I hope you do!– that’s not your only option for participating.

Calls for workshop presentations will go live in a couple of months, we will keep you posted and welcome you to share your ideas.

See you in Nairobi, or online.

By Sylvia Mwelu, Digital Health Technical Lead at KeHIA and Nairobi Watch Party Host

In the fast-paced world of digital health, collaboration is the foundation for innovation. As we navigate the ever-changing digital health ecosystem, the solutions to our complex challenges lie in the engagement of diverse minds working towards a common goal. Recently, the Kenya Health Informatics Association (KeHIA) had the distinct honour of hosting a local watch party for the Global Digital Health Forum from Nairobi, Kenya. This experience exceeded our expectations and demonstrated the transformative power of partnership, as well as laying the ground work for the future of the event itself.

What We Saw at the Kenya Watch Party
One of the most important takeaways from the 2023 Kenyan event was the variety of perspectives that came together under the virtual (and in-person) roof of our watch party. Representatives from various organisations participated in dynamic discussions that went beyond organisational boundaries, each bringing their own unique insights and experiences. The exchange of ideas was intellectually stimulating, and laid groundwork for potential synergies and partnerships that could propel collective progress in the digital health space here in Kenya.

Participants watching a panel at Kenya Watch Party

The sessions were an immersive experience that deepened our understanding, broadened our network, and fuelled our enthusiasm for future engagements. The event’s seamless organisation and execution was critical. From the engaging panel discussions to the interactive Q&A sessions, every aspect of the event was carefully curated to provide participants with a platform to absorb the latest information on trends in digital health while actively contributing to the conversation.

Reflections on Hosting a Local Watch Party for a Global Event, and GDHF 2024

KeHIA worked with TechChange and HELINA to organise this watch party, and the experience was extremely rewarding. Witnessing our members’ enthusiasm and engagement as they connected with professionals present in the room and those from all over the world reaffirmed the value of such activities. Digital health initiatives don’t happen in a regional or national context only, and it is essential to incorporate global best practices and cross-regional approaches in our work.

Looking ahead, we are excited about other potential partnerships with TechChange and other groups who participated in this global event. I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Techchange, World Bank, and Medic for giving us the opportunity to host this watch party. The synergy displayed during the event has left a positive and indelible impression on our organisation, and we eagerly await future opportunities to work together to shape the future of digital health globally, and here in Kenya, including the main event for GDHF 2024, which will take place here in Nairobi.

By Otse Ogorry, Evans Ondura, Samuel Atanda, and Olo Okoye

The Global Digital Health Forum is a global hybrid event that convenes thought leaders, experts, and enthusiasts from around the world to explore the intersection of technology and public health. One key element of GDHF is local “watch parties,” including the GDHF Nigeria Watch Party, hosted by the Palladium Group, in collaboration with the Health Strategy Delivery Foundation, on December 5th, 2023 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

Elements of the GDHF Nigeria Watch Party

Virtual participation in live panel discussions from Washington DC, with interactive questions and answers.
Hybrid plenary session on digital-first approaches, streamed to audiences in both Washington DC and virtually.
A panel discussion with senior Nigerian Ministry of Health officials, private sector representatives, and civil society, addressing digital health investments in the country, also streamed to virtual audiences world-wide.
Pop-up studio interviews with attendees.
Networking and side meetings to spur collaboration.

Nearly 50 attendees helped to make the Nigeria Watch Party a dynamic and engaging experience. Stakeholders from Nigeria’s public and private health sector engaged in dynamic discussions across various sessions, generating ideas and significant strategies for action.

Cross section of Panelists and Attendees

Nigerian Watch Party Sessions and Insights

In an era where digital innovation is reshaping industries globally, there is a widely recognized need for digital health investments in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation. In “The Future of Digital Investment Coordination,” industry experts emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in mobilizing resources and coordinating digital health investments effectively. Insights centered on the necessity of strategic partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms to maximize the impact of digital health interventions in Nigeria.

The Plenary session, “Digital-First Approaches to Health in Nigeria,” underscored the transformative potential of prioritizing digital technologies in healthcare delivery. Participants explored the role of digital-first strategies in enhancing access to quality healthcare services, strengthening health systems, and driving efficiencies across the continuum of care. The session illuminated pathways for leveraging technology to overcome barriers and accelerate progress towards universal health coverage in Nigeria.

In “Charting the Future: Driving Digital Health Investments in Nigeria“, stakeholders deliberated strategies to unlock investment opportunities and foster an enabling environment for digital health innovation. Discussions revolved around regulatory frameworks, policy incentives, and public-private partnerships to incentivize investment and stimulate innovation in the digital health ecosystem. Participants emphasized the need for targeted interventions to address gaps in infrastructure, capacity-building, and data governance to realize the full potential of digital health in Nigeria.

As organizers, hosting the GDHF Watch Party in Abuja was an enriching experience, offering a platform to amplify the dialogue on digital health investments within the Nigerian context. As organizers, it was encouraging to feel the palpable fervor and commitment of participants to advance the digital health agenda. The exchange of ideas sparked lively debates, formed new partnerships, and inspired creative thinking on leveraging digital technologies to improve health outcomes.

What does the future hold?

We are confident that the momentum, insights, and deeper relationships generated by the Nigerian Watch Party will contribute to a healthier, more equitable future for our country. We are grateful to the GDHF organizers, HSDF, Palladium, and the TechChange team for their contributions, and look forward to hosting more collaborative events in the future. Together, we will continue to drive innovation, investment, and collaboration to realize the transformative potential of digital health in shaping the future of healthcare in Africa and beyond, including at GDHF 2024 in Kenya.

By: Félix Liberona Durán, Subdirector Ejecutivo, CENS

What does it mean to collaborate?

I‘ve worked on “how to collaborate” for more than ten years and have seen no better place to use these tools than in Digital Health. We live in a complex world, where entrenched problems need a truly multiview approach. That means people from different backgrounds, disciplines, and cultures working together, putting all their knowledge and efforts towards building comprehensive solutions to real-world issues.

Working on collaborative methodologies implies bringing different actors together. But what does that mean in practice? Does it mean to just gather people from different organizations in a room and see what happens? What resources and cultural arrangements are needed for them to collaborate with one another? This is an interesting question that I’ll share my reflections on based on my experiences leading a local watch party as the Chilean Ambassador for the 2023 Global Digital Health Forum.

How does a Watch Party spur collaboration?

This Chilean “watch party,” one of six throughout the world that took place during GDHF 2023, brought together participants from NGOs, health providers, software companies, and academia. We participated in conference sessions, had vigorous dialogues, and enjoyed networking with one another.

Photo of Chilean watch party- computers and screens, people talking

What do we need to set the stage for fruitful dialogue?

One of the first, most important steps to collaboration is to set a common language, looking to find what we share, and also to discover what our conceptions of the world are–including what every concept means in different contexts. Our actions are driven by our experiences, worldviews, and feelings. In parallel, we need to build trust. This is easy to say, but hard to do, since it requires a lot of effort, from sharing feelings, goals, and expectations, to making our goals and objectives transparent to other parties outside our organizations.

Once we have achieved minimum levels of common lexicon, and trust, the following steps toward progress will be easier, but not free of problems.

Here is where activities such as GDHF-WP turn into a key element for the Digital transformation process in health. An event where international partners, linked to national initiatives with strong commitment with their local ecosystems can speak frankly, confront different points of view, and discuss which steps should we follow to move forward into digital health seems to go in the right way.

Our discussion: digital health tools and AI

In the Chilean Watch Party, we were able to talk about how public and private health providers, academia, and local software industry providers can develop and use digital health tools for improved health outcomes. We also discussed how to use AI to predict hospital readmission, the potential for the secondary use of data and AI to improve the management of health facilities, and the need to observe and use new technologies with the necessary safeguards.

For the National Center for Health Information Systems’ team, it was a pleasure to have been invited to actively participate in the Global Digital Health Forum, an event aligned with our mission: to encourage meetings and discussions between various actors to improve the quality of people’s health through the digital transformation of the sector. Among others, our discussion allowed us to fine-tune our common language, build trust, and share ideas about the future and dreams on the way technologies will help people.

We all are aware of the need to collaborate. However, I believe only a long-term relationship, based on dialogue and confidence, can strengthen our work, and make our ecosystem more mature, and reliable. Thanks, GDHF for helping with that.

The science around human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention has changed dramatically in recent years. For example, did you know this revolutionary fact?

People living with HIV who are on treatment and have an undetectable viral load have zero risk of transmitting HIV. Undetectable= Untransmittable.

In 2016, Prevention Access Campaign (PAC) mobilized researchers and activists to build a scientific consensus on U=U and launched a global movement to disseminate the gamechanging fact. In 2022, PAC partnered with the Centers for Disease Control Division of Global HIV and TB to create a definitive guide on how to communicate U=U effectively– designed for advocates, health policy makers, and healthcare professionals to design, implement, and scale up U=U country- level program activities. Now, PAC is working with TechChange to transform the guide into targeted, engaging, and behavior-changing virtual and in-person training for diverse global audiences.

U=U University will offer in-person and online modules on the core message, guiding principles, and instruction on creating U=U communications and addressing hesitancy and resistance to U=U.

The modules– adapted to different country and regional contexts– will showcase the step-by-step process of communicating, designing, implementing, and scaling up U=U campaigns. The training seeks to provide a safe space to touch upon vital and sensitive topics such as homophobia and bias, which participants themselves may need to confront.

U=U has been proven to support HIV prevention, treatment outcomes, and a reduction in stigma.

This dynamic training will be offered to people across the globe, with a special emphasis on reaching advocates, health officials, and health care professionals. Training will be delivered virtually and in-person, via a global pool of expert trainers, trained to deliver the modules in local contexts. U=U University is an unprecedented opportunity to transform the lives of millions of people and radically transform the field:

Well-being of people living with HIV: Change the social, sexual, and reproductive lives of people living with HIV by freeing them from the shame and fear of sexual transmission to their partners.
HIV stigma: Dismantle the HIV stigma that has been destroying lives and impeding progress in the field since the beginning of the epidemic.
Treatment goals: Reduce the anxiety associated with testing, and encourage people living with HIV to stay on treatment to stay healthy and prevent transmission.
Universal access: Offer a public health argument to increase access and remove barriers to treatment, care, and diagnostics to save lives and prevent new transmissions.

U=U University seeks to empower individuals with the essential knowledge and skills needed to promote U=U in a way tailored to their context. Content will be delivered through different modalities – self-paced, blended, synchronous, fully virtually or in person – allowing folks to interact with the content in a way that suits their individual learning style.

TechChange has a deep background in working with online public health instruction. Our specialist Public Health team developed the world-leading digital health training: Digital Health: Planning National Systems (DHPNS), which has been delivered globally, with over 500 course graduates from over 70 countries, the majority in low- to moderate- income countries. Evidence shows that the course has influenced national- and regional-level policy and action in multiple geographies.

TechChange looks forward to applying our specialized learning methodologies to U=U University to drive behavior change and influence policy and action globally.

TechChange specializes in distilling complex topics in a way that is engaging and beautiful, making them easily understood by diverse audiences. We’re pleased to share the latest round of videos, created with the Digital Frontiers team at DAI and USAID to illustrate the critical concept of Digital Literacy. The videos define the concept, articulate different approaches, identify key risks that come with digital literacy programming, and point to resources for activity planning and implementation.

Digital Literacy and Why it Matters

Digital technologies can empower people and communities to gain access to services, engage with each other, and pursue economic opportunities. They hold immense potential to help people live freer, healthier, and more prosperous lives, whether it is a small business in the Philippines that is able to use mobile money to grow their business, or a student in South Africa who is able to access educational resources online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But can digital transformation leave some communities, businesses, and people behind – and even expose them to harm? Unfortunately, yes.

Despite the gains made, not everyone is reaping the benefits of digital transformation, especially women, indigenous groups, elderly people, people with low levels of education, and other marginalized groups.

One of the main contributors to the digital divide is low digital literacy. It’s critical that development practitioners understand the concept, and the associated challenges, so that programming can successfully equip people to use and benefit from digital technologies.

What do we mean by digital literacy?

Put simply, digital literacy is the set of skills needed to meaningfully, safely, and responsibly use digital technology. That word “safely” is key. Not only are we talking about the capacity that individuals have to use digital devices and services…but also their ability to do so without exposing themselves to harm both on and offline.

Definition of Digital Literacy, from USAID Digital Literacy Primer

Intro to Digital Literacy- the Video Series

TechChange worked with DAI and USAID to create a series of four videos that cover the essentials of Digital Literacy for USAID stakeholders including staff at missions and partner governments and organizations. Find more information and the links to watch the series below.

Video 1: “Defining Digital Literacy.” This video introduces the concept of Digital Literacy, relevant frameworks, and how USAID defines it.

Video 2: “Approaches to Digital Literacy.“ This video introduces the DigComp framework and covers the differences between foundational and tactical approaches to Digital Literacy in USAID programming.

Video 3: “Managing Risk.” This video covers key risks in digital literacy programming such as exclusion, harm, and cybersecurity issues, and shares mitigation approaches for each.

Video 4: “Digital Literacy in USAID Programming.” This video covers the important questions to consider when integrating Digital Literacy work into USAID programming and resources for activity design and implementation.

Videos as a Multi-faceted Training Aid

The amazing thing about video is in the plurality of its uses – it’s modular and useable for different audiences. For this series, DAI and USAID will use it in a number of ways, including:

Publicly available on YouTube to the development community and anyone interested in the topic
Posted on USAID University, the Agency’s internal learning management system, as a training course for mission and headquarters staff
Can be used with supplemental materials as part of a training program for Mission staff wishing for a deep dive on the topic and its application to their work

“TechChange was an instrumental partner to DAI and USAID in the development of the Digital Literacy training videos. Their team helped to create innovative content and compelling storylines to keep audiences engaged and informed. We look forward to more opportunities for future collaboration.”
Priya Sethi, DAI

This past summer TechChange supported a week long workshop for USAID’s Digital Development Advisors (DDAs) and other Digital Champions scattered across the agency.

This amazing group of 25 humans are driving forward incredible technological innovation and digital agendas inside USAID missions around the world from Kenya to Vietnam to Colombia.

It was truly inspiring to bring this cohort together to facilitate incredible connections between them and other headquarters staff and support them in developing some new skills along the way.

We also put together a session on AI tools for presentations, research, and summary analysis with my TechChange colleague Benjamin Seebaugh.

The week also included hearing from experts like Jane Munga from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (thank you Jane!)

And some excellent site visits to Google and Microsoft learning about the latest AI tools that have development applications, cybersecurity trends and tools, and more! Huge thank you to Zoe Mentel Darmé and Ria Strasser-Galvis for making our visit to Google possible – such a blast!

And finally huge thank you to the TechChange team Nandini Harihareswara, Morgan McKay Meyer, Lara Henneman for your tireless work to make this happen. And of course to Development Alternatives Incorporated and the Digital frontiers team for supporting us.

I’m coming away very inspired by the digital work that USAID is implementing around the world. This work is clearly poised to grow in scope and relevance in the years to come and this group of DDAs will undoubtedly be leading the way.