Online informative sessions on digitalization and how to implement it in your programmes and projects
Close the Gap and Enabel join forces to continue the Digital Sessions, an initiative launched under the Digital for Development program in 2021. For 2022, each online session will again evolve around a specific D4D technology or topic, presented for different fields and discussed among participants and experts. The goal is to inspire practitioners who want to increase their digitalization efforts and to stimulate digitalization in development cooperation.
First session 2022: May 31st 2pm CET - Offline Content & Knowledge Management
During this session, we will take a look at offline content & knowledge management approaches and examples. Connectivity is not available to all communities on the globe, and we therefore want to shed our light on a couple of examples of offline content and knowledge management practices that are being used in the field to overcome this challenge.
The session will feature 3 speakers who will address this topic from their own angle and experience, after which a Q&A session with the participants will follow.
- Edukomondo - Peter Stremus, Founder
- COLEACP - David Sodade, Project Manager Training Unit
- Libraries without Borders - Muy Chen Peich, Director of Education / Jeremy Bouin, Technical Referent Education
Register here
Ideas for topics or speakers? Contact marnick.vanlee@close-the-gap.org or philippine.debruyn@enabel.be
More information about the Digital Sessions
Close the Gap and Enabel want to support actors in the Belgian development cooperation to include digitalisation aspects in their programmes. We offer a series of interactive digital sessions to inspire participants and facilitate mutual learning. Digitalisation is a important aspect of contemporary development cooperation and we want to increase awareness with practicioners.
Who is this for?
Everyone interested in digitalisation topics, and especially participants from NGOs and fourth pillar organisations who are preparing or implementing digitalisation topics. Each session in the series will be conducted in English and cover a specific digital technology applicable in different fields.
Why should I participate?
1) Exchange with peers on common issues and find solutions together. In each session, D4D experts will be available to answer your questions.
2) Network with experts to take your project to the next level.
3) 45 minutes is the perfect timing to pause and get a break from your daily routine.
Next session topics
June 14th 2pm CET - Earth Observation & Geospatial Apps
During this session, we focus on mapping and earth observation applications in various sectors. From drone technology to satellite observation, we'll discover how these technologies are being applied for good by Belgian (funded) organizations in the South.
June 28th 2pm CET - Media Creation
Media creation is a fairly new, but important topic in many countries in the South. It allows local communities to frame their own stories, and it can be a strong tool against misleading authoritarian governments. On June 28th, we discover what different forms of media creation exist, and how to apply these in the context of development cooperation.
Ideas for topics or speakers? Contact marnick.vanlee@close-the-gap.org or philippine.debruyn@enabel.be
Previous sessions & recordings
First session: December 15th 2020: E-learning and Blended Learning
During this 45-minute session, we explored and discussed how actors in development cooperation can use e-learning and blended learning approaches in various fields.
During the session, three speakers did a presentation. These presentations were followed by a participatory discussion. The following speakers presented during this first session:
- Red Cross Flanders - Arjan Keijser, Project Manager Commercial First-Aid
- Access Agriculture - Dr. Paul van Mele, Director International Development
- VVOB Rwanda - Stefaan Vande Walle, Online Learning Manager
You can watch the recording of this session here.
Second Session: January 19th 2021: Connectivity Solutions
During this 45-minute session, we explored 3 cases of connectivity solutions/approaches and discussed how to introduce these or similar initiatives in your field of work. We addressed open questions raised through the registration link prior to the session, as well as questions that came up during the session.
The following speakers presented their connectivity solutions or approaches
- BRCK - Mark Kamau, Director of User Experience
- Enabel Uganda - Bart Cornille, Institutional Development Expert
- GSM Connected Women - Phoebe Kiboi, Market Engagement Manager – Connected Society
You can watch the recording of this session here.
Third session: February 2nd 2021 - Payment systems
Digital payment systems are more common in the South as compared to Europe. During this session, we explored the potential of digital payment systems and applications, such as mobile money and pay-as-you-go systems, for your projects.
The following speakers presented their expertise during the session:
- Akaboxi - Sarah Atuhaire, Founder and Managing Director
- Brick by Brick - stella Nalubowa - Program Coordinator Mama Rescue
- Vitalite - Frédérique Sheridan - General Manager Vitalite Senegal
You can watch the recording of this session here.
Fourth session: February 16th 2021 - Energy & Sustainability
Digital projects contribute to climate change because of their energy needs (and manufacturing processes) and to the growing problem of electronic waste. During this session, we explore sustainable energy solutions to support digital applications in challenging contexts and discuss other sustainability issues arising from digitalisation.
The following speakers presented their expertise during the session:
- Humasol - Lise Van Der Beke - Vice President
- GOGLA - Rebecca Rhodes, Project Manager Circularity & E-waste
- Solarly - Julien Riat, Director & Co-Founder
You can watch the recording of this session here.
Fifth Session: March 2nd 2021 - Communication for Development
The digitalisation of communication for development, including with our target groups, has been ongoing for more than a decade through the social media revolution. During this session, we explore how to integrate digital communications in your development workflow, focusing on the communication with beneficiaries and to some extent partners.
The following speakers presented their expertise during the session:
- On our Radar - Chris Walter, Head of Communities
- Enabel - Communication Department
You can watch the recording of this session here.
Sixth Session: March 16th 2021 - Skills for the 21st Century
Becoming and remaining digitally competent is a task for every 21st-century citizen. During this session, we focus on how to define 21st century skills in a digitalisation context (e.g. media literacy, basic ICT skills, …) and how to integrate digital skills building in your projects.
The following speakers presented their expertise during the session:
- Comundos - Bart Vetsuypens, Global Coordinator
- Enabel Palestine - Maram Saeed, National Technical Coordinator
- EFE Maroc - Nisrine Lmariouh, Program Development Officer
You can watch the recording of this session here.
Seventh Session: March 30th 2021 - Data Collection & Analysis
Data collection tools are important assets for information gathering, which allow you to make well informed decisions about your intervention strategy. Furthermore, they offer you the opportunity to measure the impact that you are trying to create and to communicate the resulting findings internally as well as externally. Data collection and analysis tools are widespread in development cooperation projects and we're taking a look at some examples during this session.
The following speakers presented their expertise during the session:
- D-Tree International - Tracey Li, Senior Data Lead
- Enabel - Toon Driesen, Expert Agricultural Value Chain Development
- Kobo Toolbox - Tino Kreutzer, Executive Director
You can watch the recording of this session here.
Eighth Session: April 27th 2021 - Crowdsourcing & Citizen Science
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science initiatives are gaining popularity in development cooperation projects. Crowdsourcing is a sourcing model in which individuals or organizations obtain goods or services, from a large, relatively open and often rapidly evolving group of participants. Citizen science on the other hand is scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur (or nonprofessional) scientists.
The following speakers presented their expertise during the session:
- Royal Museum for Central Africa - Tine Huyse, Senior Researcher
- Iles de Paix - Marie Wuestenberghs, General Director
- Ushahidi - Daniel Odongo, Director of Implementation
You can watch the recording of this session here.
Nineth Session: May 18th 2021 - Equality in Digitalisation
During this session, we cover some aspects of equality in digitalisation. Digital technology has changed many things in our lives, but how is it affecting gender equality? Digitalisation has transformed the character of the labour market, changed the way we interact with our friends, shaped political participation, is impacting the future of work and also carries the risk of cyber violence. All of the above present new challenges, but also offer opportunities to address inequalities that affect both women and men, albeit often in different ways.
The session features 1 speaker:
- Handicap International - Sandrine Bohan Jacquot, Inclusive Education Policy Officer