1. Portfolios of useful solutions
Are you looking for tested and viable technology solutions that support your work? The Fingo Powerbank has published the Technology Solutions Portfolio which provides information about numerous technology solutions for development NGOs. It contains, for example, tools for digital data gathering.
There are also other similar and highly useful platforms. For instance, the Kopernik Impact Tracker Tech is a free online catalog that contains affordable and simple tools – planned for development NGOs and similar organizations.
2. Learn how technology can support your efforts
How can different kinds of technology – for instance, mobile devices or digital services – be used to create a fair and sustainable world? The SDG-ICT Playbook provides answers to this question by explaining how information and communication technologies (ICT) can support the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The guide is full of practical examples, and it demonstrates the connections between different areas of technology and development. For instance, it describes how mobile devices can help to ensure healthy lives for all.
3. Plan before investing
There are many things to consider when you are making investments to digital tools: How to ensure the solution fits the actual needs of the users? How does the country’s policy landscape align with it? The Digital Investment Tool by USAID helps you to understand the many challenges but also to find answers to them. Overall, it contains tips and best practices about 13 topics.
4. Learn the best practices of digital development
The brief history of digital development contains multiple success stories but also numerous failures – from which you can learn from. The Principles for Digital Development base on these experiences and offer the 9 best practices that are useful for any development NGO. The principles suggest, for instance, that organizations should design with the users and reuse available solutions. Further, the principles also give guidance on how to implement the tips in different phases of your projects. Read our summary of the principles, and visit their website.
5. Build organizational capacity
When it comes to development and technology, building organizational capacity – basically, the skills and knowledge – is highly important in order to move forward systematically and to reach long-term objectives. The Organizational Guide to ICT4D offers support for the capacity building by providing multiple useful approaches and practices. For instance, the guide gives practical tips about how to lead organizational change, manage processes and build your own technology portfolio.