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The Government of India launched the Digital India Program in 2015, with the aim to “transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy” that will increase economic growth and access to life-enhancing information and services for health, agriculture, education, clean energy and more.

It’s an ambitious vision, especially for a country in which 65% of its citizens still do not own a basic mobile phone, and 80% do not have access to the Internet. To achieve it will require deliberate effort by a wide variety of stakeholders, including the government, the private sector, and civil society all working together.

At this stage there are more questions than answers, such as:

• Who is creating the digital business models that serve the base-of-the-pyramid?
• Which mobile health services can scale to reach millions?
• Where are the gaps to realizing greater financial inclusion and how can we bridge them?
• How can we reach the last mile through scaleable and affordable connectivity solutions?
• Which approaches will close the Digital Gender Gap across the country?
• Who is providing locally relevant life-enhancing content (at a profit)?
• What are the trade-offs in ensuring privacy and security in a digital ecosystem?

Please RSVP now to join USAID/India, the U.S. Global Development Lab, and FHI 360 to explore these questions and their potential answers at the USAID Digital Development Forum on November 2, 2015 in New Delhi, India.

The public forum will focus on the importance of supporting the building blocks of an inclusive digital economy in India, the critical role of a healthy enabling environment, and the innovative value-added services that are emerging as a result.

Please RSVP now to join over 120 experts from the digital technology and international development communities, including local technology firms, USAID implementing partners, donors and others who are working to ensure that every citizen, even the most vulnerable, is both a participant and contributor in the Indian digital economy.

The USAID Digital Development Forum will feature participants like:

• Anja Kovacs, Internet Democracy Project
• Apurva Mody, White Space Alliance
• Basheerhamad Shadrach, World Wide Web Foundation
• Kabir Kumar, CGAP
• Priyanka Dutt, BBC Media Action
• Rahul Mullick, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Rania Elessawi, Unicef India
• Rikin Ghandi, Digital Green
• Varad Pande, Dalberg Global Development Advisors

We are particularly excited to offer participants the opportunity to give short 5-minute lightning talks highlighting new digital development innovations or to lead a learning lunch table to dive deep into a topic. Be sure to note your interest when you RSVP.

Please RSVP now as space at this event is limited to 120 experts. They will be setting the digital development agenda for India. And so could you – if you RSVP now.

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