2017 ICT4D Conference

Digital technologies increasingly used in development and humanitarian programs accelerate the speed, types and volume of data collected and shared, amplifying both potential benefits and harms to individuals and communities. Risks of harm from loss of privacy and unintentional use of data are especially pertinent to individuals and communities who are vulnerable and disempowered. USAID and other development actors – especially those working in rapid response and crisis zones - have identified privacy protection as one of the Principles for Digital Development that is perhaps most challenging to put into practice. Good practices however must balance needs for mitigating privacy and security risks with the need for data use, while promoting transparency, accountability and public good through data sharing and open data. They also need to be grounded in legal and ethical frameworks and the“real- world” context of program implementation.

The USAID Responsible Data Guidelines for Digital Development project aims to produce guidelines that will help inform USAID, implementing partners and other international development actors on good practices for responsible collection, use, management sharing and release of data in field-based digital development programs.Using an interdisciplinary approach combining legal and policy analysis, qualitative analysis of stakeholder perspectives and real world case studies, these guidelines are being developed in a collaborative away. We will present results of our research to date and solicit feedback from the attendees and other stakeholders.