ICT4D Conference Podcast: Global Tech, Local Good Sonja Ruetzel

Dr. Lisa Schirch, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Research Fellow at the Toda Peace Institute, introduces us to peace tech, its history, trends, current examples, and their impact - including Ushahidi, Build Up, Polis, and the “Angry Uncle” Chatbot.
More about Lisa’s work at www.toda.org and https://kroc.nd.edu/faculty-and-staff/lisa-schirch/ 

Adrienne Brooks, Senior Advisor for the Technology for Development team at Mercy Corps, specializes in addressing the weaponization of social media as it relates to peacebuilding. She introduces Mercy Corps’ global framework for understanding risks and resilience of social media and conflict and how it is applied in local context. 

Jomari Guillermo, Communications Manager at Catholic Relief Services in the Philippines, shares lessons learned from social media training of youth activists for strengthening their peace agendas and increase influence.  

Alice Nderitu, the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide at the United Nations, explains how civil society organizations can join the collaborative flight against hate speech and contribute to the prevention of atrocity crimes.  
For more information visit https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/ 

Dr. John Reeder,  Director of TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Disease, based at the World Health Organization, gives an overview of digital technologies used globally to help fight malaria, their benefits and potential, as well as challenges or barriers to overcome. 

Jocelyn Williams (Director of Business Development, Every1Mobile) on the role of digital tech in empowering women and addressing digital diversity and inclusion.