Emerging Digital Tech for Impact

Priority Reg: MPA-DP and LID Specialization. The course is a practical guide for development practitioners and policymakers to leverage the transformative potential of emerging digital technologies for social and environmental impact. Students will gain a strong understanding of Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Blockchain Technologies, and the Internet of Things (IoT) by exploring their core principles, key terminology, and the fundamentals of digital infrastructure. Analyzing real-world case studies will allow them to identify best practices and potential pitfalls for impactful deployment while critically assessing the challenges of scaling and implementation to ensure lasting social and environmental change.

Building on over two decades of experience in ICT4D, the course addresses persistent obstacles like reinventing the wheel, limited resource access, digital literacy gaps, and connectivity constraints, among many others. The curriculum includes 1) A comprehensive review of the historical impact of digital technologies, 2) detailed overview of digital infrastructure and how the Internet works, 3) Deep dives into four types of emerging technologies (Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Blockchain Technologies, and IoT.) their challenges, their successes and their future potential., and 4) a critical analysis of the principal challenges associated with scaling and effectively implementing emerging technologies to finally identified the enabling infrastructure and ecosystem variables needed for emerging digital technologies to succeed. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, it draws insights from practical case studies and features expert guest speakers from diverse backgrounds – private and public sectors, academia, government, and multilateral organizations. This strategic and context-aware learning experience equips students with the knowledge and skills to harness the power of emerging technologies and propel the development sector forward.