A panel discussion hosted by the Student Advisory Board for the Hertie School's Centre for Digital Governance in collaboration with GIZ.
Background
Digital technologies including artificial intelligence and blockchain are touted as solutions to overcome development challenges such as poverty, access to basic services and financial inclusion. Recent studies have mapped the potential of artificial intelligence systems on progress towards the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while critical scholars have investigated the possible negative effects of digital technologies on social cohesion, human rights, and the exacerbation of existing power imbalances.
At the same time, with the global increase in access to high-speed internet connectivity, technology, online learning opportunities and falling prices of hardware components (sensors, drones, manufacturing equipment), technology is becoming ever more accessible. In this light, development cooperation today can utilize a large variety of digital technologies and data to improve their work and facilitate digital development in partner countries, e.g., building digital literacy and supporting digital transformation in public administrations. However, development cooperation in areas related to digital transformation is also situated within a broader and complex context of digital geopolitics. The rivalry between China and the US on technological issues continues to grow while the EU is making significant efforts to position itself as a player with an alternative approach to shaping the digital economy and society, sometimes referred to as the “European Third Way".
The need for “digital sovereignty” is gaining importance in the Global North and Global South. Yet, development cooperation as a means of foreign policy and for shaping international partnerships is neither neutral nor free of the self-interests of donors. A key question therefore is: how can digital development cooperation succeed in a way that strengthens the digital sovereignty of partner countries in the Global South and puts the development priorities of these countries first?
This discussion will introduce and discuss key insights of the report “Digital for Development – Ananalysis from a geopolitical perspective” commissioned by GIZ. We will study geopolitical trends and explore ways forward to leverage the potential of digital technologies for the public good while positioning the EU as a leading partner of developing and emerging economies for shaping a human-centred digital transformation.
Objectives
This panel discussion seeks to create a forum for discussion between academia and development cooperation practitioners to:
- Discuss the implications of geopolitics on international development cooperation notably key insights presented by the GIZ-commissioned report “Digital Development – An analysis from a geopolitical perspective”
- Assess the opportunities and challenges of the findings and related issues on digital development cooperation
- Create an avenue for researchers, students, and policy experts to weigh in on possible solutions to challenges highlighted
- Inspire new pathways of research into the work of development cooperation agencies to collaborate with partner countries on digitalisation in ways that respond appropriately to growing demand for digital sovereignty
Agenda
- Introduction of the panel (5 min.)
- Opening remarks – Hertie School Centre for Digital Governance
- Presentation of the report “Digital for Development – An analysis from a geopolitical perspective" by Daniel Spoiala, GIZ (15 min.)
- Panel discussion (45 min.)
- Q&A from the audience (25 min.)
Please note this event takes place under the Chattam House rules.
Speakers:
Lars Erik Forsberg graduated from Gothenburg School of Economics in 1987 (international MBA) and was employed the same year by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and served at Swedish Embassy in Colombia and in Spain before joining the EU integration directorate of the Ministry in 1993. In 1995, he started to work for the European Commission first for 3 years in the Internal Market Directorate General and then from 1999-2012 in the Directorate general for Enlargement, negotiating the chapter on Capital Movements the Stabilisation and Association Agreements with Montenegro and Serbia and later deputy head of the Serbia unit. As of 2015 Lars Erik is the deputy head in the international cooperation unit of the Directorate General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT). As such he has been active in the Commission’s efforts partnering with the Africa to develop a human centric approach to the African Digital transformation of economy and society.
Kay McGowan has a long history as a diplomat and digital development expert from her two decades with the U.S. government. Notably, Kay drove the shift across USAID and U.S. Treasury to proactively support safe and trusted digital financial services worldwide, working with country governments in some of the most vulnerable geographies including Haiti and Afghanistan. Kay brings deep expertise in policy, and a track record of conceptualizing and launching enduring partnerships, including the UN’s Better Than Cash Alliance and Smart Africa’s peer learning network for data/digital policymakers.
Daniel Spoiala is an GIZ Advisor working on the issues of data governance and he was the Lead Facilitator of the EU-AU Data Flagship. Previously to this role, he worked for 8 years in the European Commission designing the EU Digital for Development policy as well as tackling issues such as Internet Governance. Daniel started his career as the Romanian representative to the International Telecommunication Union (UN) and he was engaged in high level negotiations regarding the future of the Internet.
Moderator
Lea Gimpel has been working at the intersection of international development and digitalisation for almost a decade. She currently co-leads the project “FAIR Forward – Artificial Intelligence for All” at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The project aims to make AI training datasets available as global public goods and supports governments in Africa and Asia in building their AI ecosystem. She was a senior expert at GIZ’s competence center for digital development and led GIZ’s digital transformation initiative. She is an EMPA 2019 student.
