2016 ICT4D Conference

To deliver on the SDGs in the context of the rapidly shifting digital landscape, we must rethink the way we work, and how we measure success. Because the new goals cover so much ground, they will be financed largely through inter-government and commercial financial flows rather than aid, and implemented by institutions other than development organizations. We can help shape the success of the SDGs if we change how we use ICT to enable citizens and consumers to exert influence over the governments and companies whose budgets dwarf aid flows. We will only do that effectively, however, if we confront three challenges: (1) as transparency initiatives proliferate and technology enables the generation of more data than ever before, it is becoming more rational for citizens to ignore new data; (2) as more development work seek to be politically relevant and influential, the space for political engagement online or through ICTs is closing and (3) as donors want more concrete feedback about their returns on investment, we need them to embrace longer term success metrics and higher levels of risk.