Practical Insights on Technology Salon

technology salon

The Technology Salon is an intimate, informal, and in-person, discussion between information and communication technology experts and international development professionals, with a focus on both:

  • Technology’s impact on donor-sponsored technical assistance delivery, and
  • Private enterprise driven economic development, facilitated by technology.

Our meetings are lively conversations, not boring presentations – PowerPoint is banned and attendance is capped at 35 people. We expect frank participation with ideas, opinions, and predictions that will move the sector from talk to action.

We explore ideas, issues, and opportunities often years before they are in mainstream use, giving participants early insight into what’s next. For example, we:

Join our monthly meetings around the world to be the first to know about what’s next. Sign up now to get invited and be sure to RSVP if you want to attend – meetings fill up fast.

What Are Practical Examples of Artificial Intelligence in Development?

What Are Practical Examples of Artificial Intelligence in Development?

Published on: Nov 14 2018 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
The hype around artificial intelligence is reaching a fevered pitch in the global economy. In international development, there are Nethope webinars, TechChange...
We Still Talk About Women as if They Were a Sector

We Still Talk About Women as if They Were a Sector

Published on: Nov 08 2017 by Guest Writer - 2 Comments
The title of this post is the most memorable quote from our recent Technology Salon, asking the question “Are We Really Closing the Gender Gap in ICT4D?“,...
Your Organization is Not Ready for Big Data

Your Organization is Not Ready for Big Data

Published on: Oct 19 2017 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Your Organization is Not Ready for Big Data
Big Data for Development. You’ve heard that sentence/question/presentation title before. We’ve talked about Big Data at length and the conversation...
The Global List of All ICT4D Meetings and Meetups

The Global List of All ICT4D Meetings and Meetups

Published on: Feb 16 2017 by Matt Haikin - 4 Comments
Recently, I took a sabbatical and traveled around the globe to see what ICT4D looks like in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. Every place I went,...
3 Ways Technology Can Support Education for Displaced Children

3 Ways Technology Can Support Education for Displaced Children

Published on: Apr 20 2016 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
Currently it is estimated that there are 4.6 million Syrian refugees; 6.6 million displaced persons inside Syria. Of these, half are children. In March, Technology...
Please RSVP Now: The Good, Bad, and Ugly in Public-Private Partnerships

Please RSVP Now: The Good, Bad, and Ugly in Public-Private Partnerships

Published on: Jun 25 2015 by Jana Melpolder - Comments Off on Please RSVP Now: The Good, Bad, and Ugly in Public-Private Partnerships
  San Francisco – July 7th – RSVP Now Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are now a major component of international development. Since 2001, USAID has...
UAV Drones Can Accelerate Development in Ghana

UAV Drones Can Accelerate Development in Ghana

Published on: Jun 19 2015 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on UAV Drones Can Accelerate Development in Ghana
Application of drones for development is a new area in Ghana, however it is rapidly evolving with significant potential to aid Ghana’s development agenda in the...
Please RSVP Now: Will P2P Financing Succeed Where Microfinance Has Failed?

Please RSVP Now: Will P2P Financing Succeed Where Microfinance Has Failed?

Published on: Jun 02 2015 by Jana Melpolder - Comments Off on Please RSVP Now: Will P2P Financing Succeed Where Microfinance Has Failed?
 Lusaka Salon – June 11th – RSVP Now Micro-sized loans, often with macro-sized interest rates, were the craze back in the go-go ’90s, and fueled...
The Number 1 Reason Why You Do Not Encrypt Email

The Number 1 Reason Why You Do Not Encrypt Email

Published on: May 22 2015 by Wayan Vota - 5 Comments
Two new Pew Research Center studies are very enlightening around the American public’s perception of privacy, security, and surveillance. While both reports...
5 Unanswered Questions on Expanding Digital Economies in Developing Countries

5 Unanswered Questions on Expanding Digital Economies in Developing Countries

Published on: May 11 2015 by Denise Phelps - Comments Off on 5 Unanswered Questions on Expanding Digital Economies in Developing Countries
Recently, the Technology Salon in Washington DC asked if Digital Economies Will Empower or Enslave the Next 4 Billion Mobile Users? While there was a general recognition...