ICTworks

Last week, Administrator Samantha Power reiterated USAID’s commitment to a model of development that advances open, inclusive, secure, and rights-respecting digital ecosystems – minimizing the risks of new technologies while maximizing their potential to improve people’s lives. In remarks at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, she set out a vision to harness technology’s potential for a better world.

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Administrator Power made a number of announcements that will enable the Agency to advance this vision in the places where USAID works:

USAID’s new Digital Policy reflects the Agency’s recognition that rapidly evolving digital and emerging technologies are transforming development and humanitarian assistance objectives – accelerating progress towards addressing global challenges while also requiring careful governance and action to mitigate risks.

Through the Policy, USAID will pursue three key goals:

• Build: We aim to strengthen digital ecosystems in developing regions, fostering innovation and sustainable growth.
• Transform: By leveraging advanced technologies, we will drive systemic changes in how development challenges are addressed, ensuring inclusive and equitable access to digital opportunities.
• Protect: We are committed to safeguarding the digital rights and privacy of individuals, ensuring that our digital advancements do not compromise security or ethical standards.

USAID intends to provide $14.6 million in new funding to support the goals of the Digital Policy. These resources will be aimed at achieving key objectives outlined in the policy, the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence, building the cybersecurity capacity of partner countries, and strengthening foundational digital connectivity infrastructure and financial services.

USAID will work with Congress to propose a new Office to both support the implementation of this policy and account for the central role digital technologies play in USAID’s work and on development outcomes around the world. This proposal would:

• Enhance USAID’s ability to anticipate and respond to rapidly evolving trends in the technology landscape;
• Accelerate progress on systematically incorporating digital tools across the Agency’s work;
• Promote the efficient and responsible use of technology across USAID programming;
• Facilitate cross-sectoral and regional investments as well as dynamic partnerships with private sector, civil society, and partner governments.

A lightly edited synopsis of the USAID Digital Strategy launch event.