Digitalization and resilience to adverse shocks in a developing context

Opportunities and Challenges in a post-COVID-19 World

Brainstorming Room 1
Brainstorming Sessions
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
10:45 to 11:30

As of 2021, thousands of digital technologies were deployed globally to help households, SMEs, and governments maintain economic activities and access to health care during the pandemic. These innovations encompassed e-health interventions, covering issues such as health staff training or child-maternal health promotion, but also new technologies with a strong impact on transportation, transaction and information costs and thereby on poverty reduction, gender issues and so forth. These technologies cover areas such as digital marketplaces, digital financial services, logistic supply-chain applications, or digital communication software. This session aimed at discussing how such digital technologies have helped households, firms and administrations cope with the consequences of the pandemic, but also with other types of adverse shocks.

Synopsis

After acknowledging that digital infrastructure should be a complement to traditional infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa, and not a complete solution, speakers went on to highlight many of the benefits that it can provide.

From helping students in Botswana stay connected to their educational environment when schools were shut due to COVID-19 to utilising digital payments to reduce the risk of thefts from producers during harvest season, attendees heard how digital technologies are helping communities deal with day-to-day problems and adverse shocks.

Organised by

Speakers

Moderator
Holy RANAIVOZANANY
AFRICA EUROPE FOUNDATION
Antonia GLEIZES-LACOMBE
Chief Marketing Officer, Janngo and Partner, Janngo Capital
Janngo
Renée CHAO-BEROFF
Wi-Agri
Jenny AKER
Professor
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University

Photo gallery

Digitalization and resilience to adverse shocks in a developing context

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