Thank you all so much for joining us at the Forum – we are extremely proud to co-host the first West Africa Digital Development Forum in Accra.
"The power of technology to transform development" is a familiar concept. Information and Communication Technologies have been around for decades. However, it has not always been clear how cutting-edge technology could benefit the poor. For seasoned development professionals, it seemed like a choice between providing someone with a laptop versus access to education, health services, or clean water.
Today, this calculation is no longer a zero-sum game. Mobile and digital technologies can accelerate access to education, clean water, or health services. These tools are now accessible to many more people than before.
USAID recognizes the transformative power of technology in development and acknowledges its role in shaping the future. USAID is changing its approach by prioritizing science, technology, innovation, and partnerships across all efforts. The aim is to help end extreme poverty within two decades through breakthroughs and innovations.
Many attendees are leveraging ICT for greater development impact and more efficient programs. Recent progress has turned skeptics into optimists and made some entrepreneurs wealthy.
Particularly given this progress and participants' roles in it, I am humbled to speak today. I am energized that we are in Ghana for this event. Ghana has become a hub for innovation in science and technology.
USAID believes we are at the beginning of a shift in how technology can restructure work processes.
Opportunities once unimaginable are now possible due to technological advances and realizing that mobile phones and Internet access are central to economic and social development.
At USAID West Africa, innovation is demonstrated through an alliance with Orange focusing on mobile health (mHealth) innovations across Africa. The goal is to create a regional platform with mobile applications for consumer education, health worker tools, mobile money, and data collection.
The increasing use of mobile phones makes leveraging this technology crucial for accelerating access to health information—a game changer facilitated by partnerships with companies like Orange.
More about this will be discussed later today at Dr. Mbayi Kangudie's lightning talk from USAID/West Africa's Senior Health Advisors.
Additionally, USAID collaborates with AGRHYMET (of CILSS) and the U.S. Geological Survey using remote sensing and GIS for land use maps aiding vulnerable populations against environmental changes.
The US Embassy in Ghana leads a public-private partnership gathering 100 entrepreneurs from several countries for TechCamp on February 6-8. Partners like Google understand that entrepreneurs need mentoring support—an initiative coming together successfully.
As a regional mission, USAID West Africa identifies promising innovations applicable globally while addressing local contexts as part of regional programs.
In partnership with the U.S. Global Development Lab new models promoting partnerships spur innovation harnessing scientific advances enabling leapfrogging current challenges will be scaled up through our new Africa Center of Excellence inaugurated last October—bringing partners together under "Open Development."
Today's event celebrates critical area progress driving conversations around tech-enabled regional developments highlighting innovative programs business models partnerships from across regions engaging over 100 digital tech international community members including local firms implementing partners donors transforming West African developments
Excitement surrounds hearing lightning talks on regional innovations inspiring better future actions ensuring affordable useful emerging technologies reach underserved populations
To achieve goals USAID mandates digital mobile electronic payments decreasing costs improving effectiveness working closely with partners government colleagues ensuring women underserved groups gain access broadband internet through deep engagement
Confidence lies within youth ingenuity capacity being innovators economic backbones regionally globally supported by President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative YALI bringing leaders stateside encouraging network membership continuous learning opportunities soon hosting Regional Leadership Center Accra
Belief remains bright futures require community efforts ensuring science tech innovation treasures accelerate eradicating poverty hunger regionally pledging support achieving goals
Thank you.
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