PRINCIPLE: UNDERSTAND THE EXISTING ECOSYSTEM

Well-designed digital initiatives and tools examine the specific structures and needs of each country, region and community. Spending time and resources analyzing the ecosystem or the context in which you work ensures that the technological tools chosen are suitable and sustainable and do not duplicate initiatives that already exist. Ecosystems are defined by culture, gender norms, policy environment, economy, technological infrastructure, and other factors that can affect an individual’s ability to access and use technology or to participate in an initiative. Initiatives that do not consider the challenges posed by the ecosystem are less likely to achieve their objectives or the desired scale, which can also lead to unintended consequences. The ecosystem is fluid, multidimensional and constantly changing, forcing digital development practitioners to regularly analyze the context to verify their hypotheses.

Download the handout for more information on Principle 2 in Arabic.

Claudine Lim

Manager at The Principles for Digital Development

Claudine first joined the Digital Impact Alliance in October 2017, shortly after receiving a dual masters in international relations and public relations from the Maxwell School and S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University. After working as a Program Coordinator and Researcher for DIAL’s Business Operations, she is currently working with the Principles of Digital Development.