Global Digital Development Forum (GDDF): Call for Sessions!

[Emma Sakson]

Hi everyone,

The Global Digital Development Forum (GDDF) is coming up this April 26-27th, 2023. GDDF is the flagship annual ICT4D conference co-organized by USAID, TechChange, along with Chemonics, Deloitte, and others. Last year, over 4,400 participants from 144 countries registered for this transformative peer-centric digital development forum, which is specifically designed to include practitioners from low- and middle-income countries. Participation is free and sessions will be held in multiple time zones and languages to ensure the event is as inclusive as possible. You can register for the event here.

We are excited to announce the call for sessions for this year's forum!

Here are the key themes and questions to guide your submissions:

🛸 Emerging Technologies: Do the risks of generative AI outweigh its benefits? Where are we with quantum computing? Are blockchains still relevant to developing countries? Will sensors and Internet-of-Things improve geospatial data accuracy? Can 5G bridge last mile digital divides? How can emerging tech be useful in the most challenging settings? Who is iterating on the leading edge?
 
🌎 Locally-led Development: Where are the innovative locally-created digital solutions? What role do global tech companies play? How can digital development harness local digital ecosystems? What does locally-led ICT4D mean for international development? Who is successful with local digital solutions? How can digital development foster greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility?
 
🌧️ Climate Change: What are innovative climate tech solutions? How do we respond to this mega-threat today? Where are digital development practitioners contributing to climate adaptation? How can we measure impact? Who is helping people mitigate change? What is working? What are they learning & doing?

Also: 

🎉 We will be experimenting with the hybrid event model, including hosting 10-20 in-person watch parties around the world in different locations. You can apply to host one!

Session submissions due by Jan 27th. Please submit your session ideas here.

We hope to see you at this year's GDDF!