Design for Change Singapore’s Post

"Many powerful organizations have been insulated from having to interrogate how their power has been used or abused because the conversation remains abstract. The Power Footprint seeks to make it less abstract." Just finished reading this fascinating exploration of a framework for measuring and redistributing power in international development and philanthropy. Well done, Sonja Betschart, and the many minds who contributed to this report! While the entire report is worth a read, here are the observations I found most resonant: 1) The phenomenon of "capacity-building" in international development is uni-directional and laden with inequity. "How capacity is understood and talked about is a reflection of where the power rests. INGO staff have never required capacity training to work in the South but Southern NGOs require capacity to work in their own communities." 2) The catch-22 (and inherent risk) of models that are designed to enhance transparency and accountability, like the Power Footprint, or impact-weighted accounting, or any others that have emerged, is that they require the buy-in on those whose power they are intended to challenge. "An irony emerges, that even in designing innovations such as the Power Footprint to disrupt the status quo, it must be done with the approval of those that often benefit from that status quo – a further manifestation of the Global North power that compels actors to innovate within its rules." 3) As imagined in a more just and equitable future, power is "a facilitator rather than a restrictor." I think this point is so crucial in understanding why something like the Power Footprint is needed – better understanding and measurement of power will inevitably affect how it is distributed and wielded.

🌟 Excited to co-publish the Power Footprint learning report today with Camber Collective and Disrupt Development . 💡 The idea was publicly launched with a (virtual) ecosystem event at the 2022 Skoll World Forum. We are doubly excited for the opportunity to share this report just in time for the 2024 Skoll World Forum. Over the 2-year journey, we facilitated an extensive exploration of power in the context of international development with over a hundred individuals from international organizations, foundations, development agencies and local organizations such as Ashoka, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and World Vision Switzerland and Liechtenstein, nurturing the Power Footprint to its current stage of development. 🙏 To everyone who contributed their invaluable insights, resources, and support, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. We are thrilled to unveil the learnings gathered from diverse stakeholders throughout this odyssey. It serves not only as a retrospective analysis but also as a springboard for charting the course ahead as we release the Power Footprint initiative into the public domain. 🔶 We invite you to download and explore the Power Footprint report now and discover a fresh perspective on power within the development sphere and a case for how international organizations can rewrite the script, becoming true agents of change and building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/dRcmexz3 #PowerFootprint #InternationalDevelopment #DEI

The Power Footprint Learning Report is a timely and informative resource that serves as a fresh perspective towards building and nurturing a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive ecosystem! Check it out :) WeRobotics

📢 Exciting News Alert! 📢 We are thrilled to announce that our CEO, Mr. Peh Zhan Hao, has been conferred the Digital Achievers (Individual) award by the Singapore Computer Society 2024 Tech Leader Awards! 🏆🎉 This prestigious recognition is a testament to the relentless dedication and innovative strides we've taken at Dive Analytics in revolutionizing digital transformation within K-12 education. 🏫 Zhan Hao underscored the transformative impact we've made in education, particularly through our innovative solutions like Roster, our relief teacher planning app. By streamlining administrative processes, Roster has already saved teachers over 600 hours annually, allowing them to focus on what truly matters – educating our future leaders. 📚✨ Moreover, Zhan Hao shed light on the remarkable analytical capabilities of our student development platform, Nurture. Through deep dive analytics and social network analysis, Nurture empowers educators with timely insights into students' wellness and holistic development, enabling them to provide more personalized support and intervention. 💡 As we celebrate this milestone, we're incredibly proud of the impact Dive Analytics is making in shaping the future of education. We're committed to continuing our journey of innovation and collaboration, and we're excited to expand our reach across and beyond Singapore, partnering with more schools to drive positive change in education! 🚀 #TechLeaders #Edtech #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #Education #K12Education #DiveAnalytics #Software #Productivity

📢 Webinar recap - Impact of transformational agreements (TAs) in APAC: Lessons from the East and the West As part of Open Access Week, we hosted an engaging panel discussion yesterday on the impact of TAs, featuring expert insights from Hong Kong, Japan and South Africa. Our panelists provided invaluable lessons on how these agreements are transforming scholarly communications and driving global research collaboration. 💡 Webinar highlights: Regional perspectives: How are libraries leading the shift to open access? In what ways TAs have impacted libraries and access to scholarly research? Fostering collaboration: What kind of support could libraries provide to researchers to ensure their needs are met? What are the opportunities for collaboration between publishers and librarians? Challenges and opportunities: How are different regions addressing barriers to open access? How will TAs shape the future of academic publishing in the next five years and beyond? I love this quote from Flora - "Be open to open." To embrace transparency in research and promote accessibility of data. This encourages researchers to adopt practices that not only enhance the quality of their work but also contribute to a more equitable and innovative scientific community. In celebration of Open Access Week, Wiley has published a blog post that explores how open research fosters collaboration and drives scientific progress. 🌐 Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/d5ZAq4uB 🎥 Missed the webinar? You can watch the full recording here: https://lnkd.in/dXXSVf5z A huge thank you to our panelists (Amane Koizumi, Flora Ng and Glenn Truran), our host and moderator (John Morris) and the attendees for making this discussion a success! #TransformationalAgreements #OpenAccess #OAWeek2024 #CommunityOverCommercialization #ScholarlyPublishing #Library #Librarians #OpenResearch #TAs #Webinar

The Digital Innovation Center (DIC) is proud to announce an ambitious and transformative initiative aimed at empowering one million youth. As part of this mission, we are embarking on an intensive 2-month training program designed to equip young minds with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to thrive in today’s fast-evolving world. This program is more than just a training; it is a movement to inspire innovation, foster creativity, and unlock potential. Through hands-on sessions, mentorship, and real-world applications, we aim to empower youth to become problem-solvers, innovators, and change-makers in their communities. Join us as we ignite the spark of possibility and create a generation of empowered leaders who will drive sustainable development and innovation. Together, we can reach this milestone of impacting one million youth and shaping a brighter future.

I had an amazing time moderating a panel discussion at the Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility, Loyola University Chicago's #TechForGood Bootcamp. It was a great discussion that highlighted the significant role of tech innovation in driving social change. A few key takeaways we discussed: Democratization of Giving: Technology has significantly expanded avenues for giving, offering more accessible ways for individuals to support causes. The Importance of People, Process, and Technology: Effective technology implementation requires alignment between people, processes, and technology. A deep understanding of stakeholders and existing processes is essential. Data Normalization is Key: The challenge of integrating data across multiple systems within organizations necessitates a clear data strategy. A comprehensive view of data supports informed decision-making. Addressing Cultural Barriers: A risk-averse culture can hinder innovation. Organizations must cultivate an innovation mindset that encourages experimentation and embraces new ideas. A huge thank you to Madeline Stanton and Karen Weigert for asking me to participate, as well as Deirdre Asnis, Brandolon Barnett and Linton Myers for being such wonderful panelists and helping to provide such great insight in such a short amount of time. https://lnkd.in/djnKV77V. #SocialImpact #SocialGood #Technology

🎓 Shaping the Future of Education – Join Us in Vilnius this March! The Future of Education Consortium, powered by European Diplomats OÜ, is excited to announce our next quarterly meeting, taking place during the EdTech Baltics Week! 🗓 When: March 18–20, 2025 📍 Where: Vilnius, Lithuania 🔍 What to Expect: • In-Depth Discussions: Explore cutting-edge themes in EdTech, from AI in education to equitable access and gamification. • Exclusive Insights: Learn from global leaders in education technology, policy, and innovation. • Networking Opportunities: Connect with educators, policymakers, and technology pioneers at the heart of the thriving Baltics EdTech ecosystem. • Collaborative Impact: Participate in hands-on workshops and projects aimed at transforming learning environments worldwide. 🚀 Why Attend? With the global EdTech market projected to grow to $917.3 billion by 2030, now is the time to collaborate and innovate. Together, we’ll tackle the challenges of the evolving educational landscape and uncover opportunities to make learning more inclusive, adaptive, and engaging. 💡 Join the Movement: Be part of a global network that’s redefining education for the digital age. Let’s create solutions that not only inspire, but also empower learners and educators alike. 📢 Don’t miss out – save the date and stay tuned for more updates! 🔗 Follow us here: Future of Education Consortium #EdTech #FutureOfEducation #Networking #Innovation #Collaboration #EdTechBaltics #Vilnius2025

🌍 Did you know that #Europe lacks the #talent and skilled labor force necessary to leverage the new technologies for the green and digital transition? As part of the European Commission’s New European Innovation Agenda, the 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, a pioneering program led by the EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology, will skill one million people within deep tech fields over the next three years. Quidgest is proud to be part of this network of over 3200 partners to create a powerful alliance of training providers, companies, higher education institutions, public authorities and financing partners. Together, we will contribute to the goals of the Initiative: to reach 1 million learners by the end of 2025! 💻 In the words of Tanya Roy, International Business Developer at Quidgest: “Quidgest's participation in the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative highlights the immense potential of our 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 in driving Europe's mission of digital empowerment. Our dedication to inclusivity, along with our focus on reskilling and upskilling perfectly aligns with the initiative's objectives. Through this collaboration, we aim to train Europeans in software development, providing them with essential future-proof digital skills. And by partnering with educational institutions to integrate Genio into their curricula (inside and outside the IT fields), we will expand access to cutting-edge tech education, advancing Deep Tech and strengthening Europe's leadership in technological innovation.” #quidgest #EU #skills #education #digitaltransition  

I had an incredible time speaking at the Invitation to Innovation event DePaul University hosted by ThinkChicago by World Business Chicago! 🔑 Key Point: My foundational #projectmanagement skills were meticulously curated during my involvement in student-led organizations during college. AND supporting small businesses played a crucial role in shaping my expertise. When we think about building experience, our minds often gravitate towards working/interning at Fortune 500 companies. But let's not forget that these giants were once small businesses too! 💡 When it comes to building a robust expertise history and enhancing your marketability, contributing to small businesses offers a powerful two-fold advantage. 🔥 Depth of Experience: Working with small businesses allows you to wear multiple hats. You’re not confined to a narrow role; instead, you get hands-on experience across various functions. Whether it’s marketing, operations, finance, or customer service, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how these components interconnect. This breadth of experience enriches your skill set. 🔥Expertise Amplification: The longer you engage, the more expertise you accumulate. Each project, problem solved, and milestone achieved adds to your knowledge base. Over time, you become an expert in navigating the intricacies of small-scale operations. This expertise sets you apart. At the event, I connected with fellow enthusiasts, and shared insightsfrom tech leaders with diverse backgrounds (Noelle Curtis and Sean Currie ) 🌐 Thank you so much to DePaul University Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media and ThinkChicago by World Business Chicago for having me!! #InvitationToInnovation #TechLeadership #SmallBusinessMatters #ThinkChicago #DePaulUniversity CC: Kris Romero Jessica Atieno-Walker Sudan Gaines Tatyana M. Trenton Dunn Manleen Rajput Abin Kuriakose