Key presentation topics

▲Data for Development: Utilization of data for predicting loan constraints for Nigerian households, ▲ Financial inclusion and ICT: Mobile loans in Kenya, ▲E-Government Project Demonstration Research in Developing Countries: Cameroon’s E-customs system, ▲Disconnected Network: ICT training for high school teachers in Ethiopia.

On the afternoon of December 21, KISDI (President Kwon Ho-yeol) held the 2021 Information Communication Broadcasting and International Development Cooperation Forum (online) on the theme of ‘ICT ODA Research, In Search of a New Spectrum’.

In the new environment surrounding international development cooperation, which is currently faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of utilizing information communication technology (ICT) is being increasingly emphasized, and awareness of the importance of ICT is growing accordingly. As such, we have reached a point in time when discussions of ICT are essential.

KISDI has been undertaking ODA projects on the behalf of the Ministry of Science and ICT and collaborating with the Korea Association of International Development and Cooperation and the ICT4D research subcommittee in jointly planning and hosting the forum since 2018. KISDI has been conducting critical analyses and holding in-depth discussions about research in the ICT ODA and science-technology areas with people involved in projects in these areas. This year’s forum was planned specifically to host discussions on how to find new spectrums in ICT ODA research at a time when the international development environment must deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Session 1, the main theme was the financial inclusivity aspect of ICT ODA projects. Assistant Research Fellow Ryu Eun-jin from KISDI gave a presentation titled ‘Data for Development: Utilization of data for predicting loan constraints for Nigerian households’, while Kim Min-jin, a PhD candidate from the University of East Anglia, UK, gave a presentation titled ‘Financial inclusion and ICT: Mobile loans in Kenya’.

The main themes of session 2 were education and public administration. Researcher Chung Hyo-rim gave a presentation titled ‘E-Government Project Demonstration Research in Developing Countries: Cameroon's E-customs system', while PhD Researcher Jang In-cheol from the University of East Anglia, UK, gave a presentation titled ‘Disconnected Network: ICT training for high school teachers in Ethiopia’.

These presentations were followed by panel debates in which the participants discussed ways of expanding the spectrum of ICT ODA research and strengthening research capabilities.