This is the third episode of our podcast based on the vignettes contributed by friends and colleagues to Tim Unwin’s new book Digital Technologies in an Unequal World: An Empancipatory Manfesto. In it, Ken focuses perceptively on the reasons why so many digital initiative notionally intended to help the poor often fail to do so. As he says “I worked for 15 years trying to give a voice to, and support, the work of grassroots organisations through digital tech, but
my frustration in a wider development system that didn’t seem to want to do what they knew was best for those they were meant to serve eventually forced me to step away”. The full vignette can be read here.
Ken (kiwanja.net) is a social innovator, author and technologist known for developing tools that empower grassroots change. He founded kiwanja.net and created FrontlineSMS, helping communities worldwide. His work bridges technology, development and impact, earning global recognition for supporting social entrepreneurs, local leaders and underrepresented voices through practical, human-centred solutions (UK).
Full details of the book are available through the following links:
- An overview
- What others are saying about the book
- Chapter summaries
- Draft of opening chapter
- Full drafts of all the 31 vignettes contributed by other leading researchers and practitioners
- Flyer about the book
Other recent episodes
Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 16) – Benita Rowe on “The Tech Will Save Her’ – False Promises in Digital Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Solutions” – ICT4D Collective » ICT4D
- Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 16) – Benita Rowe on “The Tech Will Save Her’ – False Promises in Digital Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Solutions”
- Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 15) – Nimmi Rangaswamy on “Social, Shared and Sustainable: Whatever Happened to the Community Internet?”
- Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World (Episode 14) – Nnenna Nwakanma on “Working WITH, not FOR”
ICT4D Collective 