Wayan Vota

AI Preparedness Index Shows Global South Is Not Ready for Artificial Intelligence Soltuions The IMF's AI Preparedness Index destroys the comfortable fiction that Global South countries are "leapfrogging" into AI readiness. While development practitioners debate which chatbot to deploy in refugee camps or which machine learning model to pilot for crop prediction, the Index reveals that most Global South countries lack the foundational infrastructure to make any of this work sustainably. We're building AI castles on digital sand.

AI Preparedness Index Shows Global South Is Not Ready for Artificial Intelligence Soltuions

The IMF's AI Preparedness Index destroys the comfortable fiction that Global South countries are "leapfrogging" into AI readiness. While development practitioners debate which chatbot to deploy in refugee…

Apply Now: $60 Million to Evaluate AI Decision Support Tools for Frontline Health Workers The evidence crisis in artificial intelligence for health is stark. AI-powered triage assistants, diagnostic aids, and LLM-based symptom checkers are being deployed from Kenya to Myanmar — but without rigorous local evidence. Of 86 randomized clinical trials on AI health tools conducted globally between 2018 and 2023, only four took place in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) — the settings where overburdened community health workers and primary care clinicians arguably need decision support most.

Apply Now: $60 Million to Evaluate AI Decision Support Tools for Frontline Health Workers

The evidence crisis in artificial intelligence for health is stark. AI-powered triage assistants, diagnostic aids, and LLM-based symptom checkers are being deployed from Kenya to Myanmar — but without…

India Just Proved A Better Way to Build AgriTech Solutions How many AgriTech solutions promise to revolutionize smallholder farming with comprehensive digital advisory platforms? The formula is always the same: aspirational technology like sleek mobile apps, blockchain supply chains, or AI chatbots offering advice on everything from soil health to market prices. Subscribe Now for more agritech insights These ideas are piloted with a few thousand farmers, publish glowing case studies, and then quietly struggle to reach beyond 50,000 users.

India Just Proved A Better Way to Build AgriTech Solutions

How many AgriTech solutions promise to revolutionize smallholder farming with comprehensive digital advisory platforms? The formula is always the same: aspirational technology like sleek mobile apps, blockchain supply chains, or AI…

Direct-to-Cell Satellite Internet Is a Key Humanitarian Connectivity Tool The ICT4D community continuously debates how to connect the unconnected. We've argued about spectrum allocation, community networks, and whether Starlink is extractive. Those are important conversations. But while we debate, governments are getting better at weaponizing the off switch. Access Now documented 296 internet shutdowns across 54 countries in 2024, a 35% increase in the number of countries affected compared to 2022.

Direct-to-Cell Satellite Internet Is a Key Humanitarian Connectivity Tool

The ICT4D community continuously debates how to connect the unconnected. We've argued about spectrum allocation, community networks, and whether Starlink is extractive. Those are important conversations. But while we debate,…

Apply Now: $500,000 to Strengthen Democracy Projects with Artificial Intelligence For the first time in more than two decades, autocracies outnumber democracies globally — 91 to 88 — according to the V-Dem Institute's Democracy Report 2025. 72% of the world's population now lives under autocratic rule, with 45 countries actively autocratizing. At the same time, artificial intelligence is being weaponized to flood information environments with synthetic content, automate surveillance of activists, and optimize platforms for engagement over truth.

Apply Now: $500,000 to Strengthen Democracy Projects with Artificial Intelligence

For the first time in more than two decades, autocracies outnumber democracies globally — 91 to 88 — according to the V-Dem Institute's Democracy Report 2025. 72% of the world's population now lives under autocratic…

Why Does AI4D Ignore Billions of People in the Global South? I've been tracking the artificial intelligence for development (AI4D) conversation for years, and I have to call out what's become an increasingly troubling pattern: we've reduced the entire Global South to just one continent. A recent comprehensive analysis by researchers Sophie Toupin and Roda Siad confirms what I've observed firsthand—despite AI4D supposedly addressing challenges across the Global South, …

Why Does AI4D Ignore Billions of People in the Global South?

I've been tracking the artificial intelligence for development (AI4D) conversation for years, and I have to call out what's become an increasingly troubling pattern: we've reduced the entire Global South to just one continent. A recent…

SAHI: Radical Artificial Intelligence for Health Framework from India Many LMIC countries are releasing artificial intelligence strategies. Some of those AI strategies focus on healthcare. Most of those follow the same template: aspirational language, vague commitments to equity and safety, a precautionary tone borrowed from WHO guidance, and zero operational infrastructure. They are policy documents in the precise sense of the term. Documents. Not policies. India's Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare…

SAHI: Radical Artificial Intelligence for Health Framework from India

Many LMIC countries are releasing artificial intelligence strategies. Some of those AI strategies focus on healthcare. Most of those follow the same template: aspirational language, vague commitments to equity and safety, a…

Apply Now: $360,000 for AI4Good AgriTech Farmer Solutions Traditional agriculture extension workers are overwhelmed. Advisor-to-farmer ratios exceed 1:1,000 across developing countries. Government extension systems are unable to meet the needs of hundreds of millions of farmers. Digital solutions represent one of the most scalable pathways to agricultural transformation for the world's 500 million smallholder farmers who produce roughly one-third of global food but often lack access to timely agricultural advice.

Apply Now: $360,000 for AI4Good AgriTech Farmer Solutions

Traditional agriculture extension workers are overwhelmed. Advisor-to-farmer ratios exceed 1:1,000 across developing countries. Government extension systems are unable to meet the needs of hundreds of millions of farmers. Digital solutions…

Stop Fighting Starlink Restrictions and Support Digital Sovereignty I worry that the humanitarian community is on the wrong side of the Starlink debate. We bemoan Starlink bans across Africa and beyond. We treat every restriction as an attack on connectivity. Are we missing a deeper truth? Governments have legitimate sovereignty concerns about satellite internet infrastructure that operates beyond their regulatory perimeter. It is time to abandon the Silicon Valley narrative that connectivity is a "neutral good" that should flow unrestricted across borders?

Stop Fighting Starlink Restrictions and Support Digital Sovereignty

I worry that the humanitarian community is on the wrong side of the Starlink debate. We bemoan Starlink bans across Africa and beyond. We treat every restriction as an attack on connectivity. Are we missing a deeper truth?…

How 5 Judicial AI Solutions Are Proving Skeptics Wrong in India Digital development experts often dismiss Generative AI adoption in government systems as either "techno-solutionism" or "digital colonialism." Yet, India's judiciary is quietly proving that AI can work when implemented with the right governance frameworks and genuine understanding of local constraints. Sign Up Now for more examples of digital development solutions!  The numbers are staggering: over 50 million pending cases across India's court system would take human judges more than 300 years to resolve at current pace.

How 5 Judicial AI Solutions Are Proving Skeptics Wrong in India

Digital development experts often dismiss Generative AI adoption in government systems as either "techno-solutionism" or "digital colonialism." Yet, India's judiciary is quietly proving that AI can work when implemented with the right…

Apply Now: £40,000 UK Scholarships for 90 LMIC Women in STEM  The gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions is well documented. Women comprise just 28% of the global STEM workforce and only 35% of STEM graduates worldwide. These figures have barely budged in a decade. Not only do women make up a small fraction of the workforce and research teams in STEM, they are also published less, paid less and are less likely to reach positions of leadership than their male counterparts, despite being proven to be on average eight per cent more productive.

Apply Now: £40,000 UK Scholarships for 90 LMIC Women in STEM

 The gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions is well documented. Women comprise just 28% of the global STEM workforce and only 35% of STEM graduates worldwide. These figures have barely budged…

What Are Generative AI Solutions for Community Health Workers? The findings from a Global Mapping of AI in CHW Programs across low- and middle-income countries by Nate Miller is very telling. He found 38 different AI systems to support community health workers, with a large majority (87%) of programs in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Outside of those regions, there were 4 programs in Latin America and 2 in East Asia.

What Are Generative AI Solutions for Community Health Workers?

The findings from a Global Mapping of AI in CHW Programs across low- and middle-income countries by Nate Miller is very telling. He found 38 different AI systems to support community health workers, with a large majority (87%) of…

Digital Sovereignty Won’t Save Us From Internet Shutdowns The development community needs to wake up to a harsh reality: the same digital sovereignty rhetoric we've championed to counter American and Chinese tech monopolies is being weaponized by authoritarian regimes to justify mass surveillance and communication blackouts that literally enable state violence. Weaponized Infrastructure in Iran Let's be honest about what digital sovereignty means in practice for millions of Iranians right now.

Digital Sovereignty Won’t Save Us From Internet Shutdowns

The development community needs to wake up to a harsh reality: the same digital sovereignty rhetoric we've championed to counter American and Chinese tech monopolies is being weaponized by authoritarian regimes to justify mass surveillance…

Apply Now: €13,500 Scholarships for Global Development Leaders Only one in six countries will meet SDG4 and achieve universal access to quality education by 2030, while an annual financing gap of US$97 billion exists for low- and lower-middle-income countries to reach quality education targets. With developing countries facing a SDG financing chasm, investing in future leaders who can drive sustainable development has never been more urgent. Building the next generation of development leaders requires accessible pathways to advanced education.

Apply Now: €13,500 Scholarships for Global Development Leaders

Only one in six countries will meet SDG4 and achieve universal access to quality education by 2030, while an annual financing gap of US$97 billion exists for low- and lower-middle-income countries to reach quality education targets.…

Why India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Will Democratize AI Usage Low- and middle-income countries often make the same mistake with every new technology wave. They chase the Silicon Valley model, throwing resources at private companies and hoping market forces will magically create equitable access. Now they're doing it again with artificial intelligence infrastructure, and this approach will fail spectacularly. The numbers tell a scary story about AI infrastructure concentration.

Why India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Will Democratize AI Usage

Low- and middle-income countries often make the same mistake with every new technology wave. They chase the Silicon Valley model, throwing resources at private companies and hoping market forces will magically create equitable…

Apply Now: $5,000 Seed Grants for African Startup Technology Entrepreneurs African startups raised only $2.2 billion in 2024, representing just 0.6% of global startup funding, highlighting a massive financing gap that leaves promising tech entrepreneurs without the capital needed to scale digital solutions across the continent. Only 5% of African seed-stage startups successfully secure Series A funding—85% lower than the global average—underscoring the critical importance of accessible early-stage support for ICT4D innovators.

Apply Now: $5,000 Seed Grants for African Startup Technology Entrepreneurs

African startups raised only $2.2 billion in 2024, representing just 0.6% of global startup funding, highlighting a massive financing gap that leaves promising tech entrepreneurs without the capital needed to scale digital…

Stop Development Project Failure! Use This People-Centered AI Playbook I've lost count of how many AI-for-development projects I've seen crash and burn. Not because the technology wasn't impressive or the intentions weren't noble, but because teams fundamentally misunderstood what makes Generative AI work in real-world development contexts. The latest evidence comes from Dalberg Data Insights' People-Centered AI Playbook, which methodically dismantles the Silicon Valley mindset that's been imported wholesale into development contexts.

Stop Development Project Failure! Use This People-Centered AI Playbook

I've lost count of how many AI-for-development projects I've seen crash and burn. Not because the technology wasn't impressive or the intentions weren't noble, but because teams fundamentally misunderstood what makes Generative…

Apply Now: $14,000 for Independent Media AI Adoption in LMICs Independent news outlets worldwide face an existential crisis. Media outlets in 160 out of 180 countries report achieving financial stability "with difficulty" or "not at all," according to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. Meanwhile, Generative AI adoption is no longer optional for newsrooms—it's existential, yet smaller and mid-sized outlets often lack clear AI strategies compared to their well-resourced counterparts.

Apply Now: $14,000 for Independent Media AI Adoption in LMICs

Independent news outlets worldwide face an existential crisis. Media outlets in 160 out of 180 countries report achieving financial stability "with difficulty" or "not at all," according to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. Meanwhile,…

India’s Small Business Revolution is Rewriting Social Impact GenAI Development practitioners are focusing on the wrong AI narrative. We are debating ChatGPT's impact on humanitarian aid and fret over whether 90% of corporate AI pilots fail. Yet, something extraordinary is happening in India that challenges every assumption about technology adoption in emerging markets. Indian professionals are starting businesses at record rates because of AI. The numbers are staggering: 73% of Indians say AI has made them more likely to start their own business, and Indian LinkedIn members adding "founder" to their profiles surged 104% year-over-year – the highest globally.

India’s Small Business Revolution is Rewriting Social Impact GenAI

Development practitioners are focusing on the wrong AI narrative. We are debating ChatGPT's impact on humanitarian aid and fret over whether 90% of corporate AI pilots fail. Yet, something extraordinary is happening in India that…

Apply Now: $1 Million for Free and Open Source Software Projects The IndiaAI Mission is spending taxpayer money for open-source LLMs. India is also a strong advocate of Digital Public Goods and Digital Public Infrastructure on the global stage, both of which are deeply intertwined with FOSS. FOSS is the true engine behind any meaningful manifestation of DPI and DPG. The Linux kernel, Wikipedia, and OpenStreetMap are perhaps the best examples for the ultimate global public goods that fundamentally reshaped the world through true openness and collaboration, way before these terms were even coined.

Apply Now: $1 Million for Free and Open Source Software Projects

The IndiaAI Mission is spending taxpayer money for open-source LLMs. India is also a strong advocate of Digital Public Goods and Digital Public Infrastructure on the global stage, both of which are deeply intertwined with FOSS. FOSS…

African Countries Should Demand Better than $150M Zipline Deal The State Department's $150 million grant to Zipline represents everything wrong with current "America First" aid policy. This deal positions African governments as paying customers for a proprietary American technology system they'll never own, control, or truly understand. Zipline Drone Delivery Impact is Real With 1.7 million autonomous deliveries and zero reported safety incidents since 2016, the technology clearly works…

African Countries Should Demand Better than $150M Zipline Deal

The State Department's $150 million grant to Zipline represents everything wrong with current "America First" aid policy. This deal positions African governments as paying customers for a proprietary American technology system they'll…

What the Top 10 ICTworks Posts in 2025 Say About 5 ICT4D Trends in 2026 I started ICTworks seventeen (17!) years ago to engage digital development leaders, and help us all implement technology solutions more effectively in international development programs. This humble website is now the blog of record for a global digital development community and we’ve lasted longer than USAID itself. We now have 20,000 email subscribers from around the world, after the defunding of USAID caused many to lose jobs and change emails.

What the Top 10 ICTworks Posts in 2025 Say About 5 ICT4D Trends in 2026

I started ICTworks seventeen (17!) years ago to engage digital development leaders, and help us all implement technology solutions more effectively in international development programs. This humble website is now the blog of…

Apply Now: $5,000 for Your African Telecom Hardware Startup Idea African startups raised just $2.2 billion in 2024. That is only 0.6% of global startup funding. Worse, most startups primarily focused on software-driven solutions, while hardware and semiconductor ecosystem remains underdeveloped. For example, despite housing 18% of the world's people, Africa accounts for less than 1% of global data centre capacity, creating fundamental barriers to AI and connectivity innovation. The massive funding and capacity gap means…

Apply Now: $5,000 for Your African Telecom Hardware Startup Idea

African startups raised just $2.2 billion in 2024. That is only 0.6% of global startup funding. Worse, most startups primarily focused on software-driven solutions, while hardware and semiconductor ecosystem remains underdeveloped.…

How Will You Respond? 6 Forces Reshaping Global Health in 2026 The global health sector faces its most dramatic transformation since the creation of multilateral institutions 70 years ago. While most organizations are still planning for recovery, the data reveals something entirely different: we're not heading back to 2024. We're building something completely new from the wreckage of what's breaking. The year 2026 will mark an inflection point for global health in low- and middle-income countries.

How Will You Respond? 6 Forces Reshaping Global Health in 2026

The global health sector faces its most dramatic transformation since the creation of multilateral institutions 70 years ago. While most organizations are still planning for recovery, the data reveals something entirely different:…

An African AI EduTech Moment: Move Forward with Intention We're at a critical inflection point for artificial intelligence in African education. The conventional wisdom in our community is that AI represents an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog traditional educational barriers. Genesis Analytics estimates that by 2030, AI could inject $2.9 trillion into the African economy, potentially lifting 11 million Africans out of poverty and creating half a million jobs annually.

An African AI EduTech Moment: Move Forward with Intention

We're at a critical inflection point for artificial intelligence in African education. The conventional wisdom in our community is that AI represents an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog traditional educational barriers. Genesis…

Apply Now: Digital Health Leadership Fellowship for Africans Africa's health systems are undergoing unprecedented digital transformation, yet digital health initiatives often remain fragmented or misaligned with national priorities. The continent needs health leaders who can collaborate effectively with ICT4D practitioners and guide strategic technology adoption. They must understand interoperability, data governance, and cross-border digital health initiatives. Kofi Annan Fellowship in Global Health Leadership The Kofi Annan Fellowship in Global Health Leadership…

Apply Now: Digital Health Leadership Fellowship for Africans

Africa's health systems are undergoing unprecedented digital transformation, yet digital health initiatives often remain fragmented or misaligned with national priorities. The continent needs health leaders who can collaborate…

Apply Now: TechGirls 2026 Exchange for Young Women in STEM Gender gaps in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies become evident from a young age, with girls facing barriers including unequal access to digital assets and skills. Fewer than 1% of rural young women from the poorest 20% of households complete secondary school in 20 countries, including many in Sub-Saharan Africa. Women comprise only 35% of STEM graduates globally, with the economic cost of girls' education gaps reaching $15-30 trillion worldwide.

Apply Now: TechGirls 2026 Exchange for Young Women in STEM

Gender gaps in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies become evident from a young age, with girls facing barriers including unequal access to digital assets and skills. Fewer than 1% of rural young women from the poorest…

Why Every ICT4D Practitioner Should Care About Responsible Technology When All Tech Is Human released its 2025 Responsible Tech Guide, it crystallized something I've been feeling: the work we've been doing at the intersection of technology and social impact has a name, a framework, and an increasingly urgent mandate. Subscribe Now for more digital development reports The comprehensive guide reveals a field in rapid maturation—one that ICT4D professionals are already part of, whether we realize it or not.

Why Every ICT4D Practitioner Should Care About Responsible Technology

When All Tech Is Human released its 2025 Responsible Tech Guide, it crystallized something I've been feeling: the work we've been doing at the intersection of technology and social impact has a name, a framework, and an…

We Must Help Countries Resist the Sovereign Generative AI Trap The digital development community has make this mistake before. We chase politically appealing solutions that sound like empowerment but actually deepen dependency on the very systems we claim to escape. Now we're doing it again with sovereign AI. The latest fashion in tech policy circles is pushing countries to demand sovereign Generative AI solutions - the idea that countries need their own domestically controlled artificial intelligence systems rather than relying on global models from American and Chinese companies.

We Must Help Countries Resist the Sovereign Generative AI Trap

The digital development community has make this mistake before. We chase politically appealing solutions that sound like empowerment but actually deepen dependency on the very systems we claim to escape. Now we're doing it again with…

Apply Now: $100,000 for Your Student Climate Tech Startup Idea Developing countries currently receive less than 10% of the funding needed to adapt to climate change, creating a staggering $310 billion annual finance gap by 2035. This massive shortfall is driving unprecedented demand for innovative climate solutions. Recent data shows that 88% of climate tech startups in emerging economies are youth-led, demonstrating students' critical role in developing contextually relevant solutions.

Apply Now: $100,000 for Your Student Climate Tech Startup Idea

Developing countries currently receive less than 10% of the funding needed to adapt to climate change, creating a staggering $310 billion annual finance gap by 2035. This massive shortfall is driving unprecedented demand for innovative…