Introduction

The global COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of digital solutions. Governments, aid agencies, and nonprofits scrambled to use digital means to extend support to the most vulnerable. This revealed an exacerbated divide between those smoothly transitioning online and those encountering challenges notably low and middle-income countries in the global South.  Our reliance on digital tools to do everything from looking up a weather forecast on a smartphone to automating the analysis of complicated datasets through cloud computing is set to only increase further over time. However, the digital divide will persist in disparities related to geographical distribution, accessibility, usability, and the equitable benefit derived from digital solutions.

Description of Project

In response, Athena Infonomics and Genesis Analytics, alongside USAID's Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS), developed the Inclusive Digital Design Toolkit (IDD). Recognizing the diverse backgrounds of smallholder farmers, producers, and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners, including their gender, age, education, and social norms, this toolkit emphasizes support for marginalized groups, intersectionality, and robust local engagement.

Who is it for?

The IDD toolkit serves as a comprehensive user-friendly guide for staff from donor organisations and implementing partners on how to design inclusive digital technology interventions.  

Objective

The primary objective of the Inclusive Digital Design Toolkit is to mitigate the unintended consequences of the digital revolution, such as unequal geographic spread, accessibility challenges, usability issues, and unequal benefits from digital solutions. The Toolkit provides:

• A comprehensive understanding of what digital inclusion means,  
• Why it is important to be inclusive
• Practical and actionable guidance and tools  

Key Focus Areas:

• Understanding User Realities: The toolkit emphasizes the complexity of potential users' realities, acknowledging factors that may affect their ability to use, engage with, and benefit from digital tools. It delves into the intersectionality which sensitizes the reader to the opportunities and challenges different individuals face. It seeks to ensure that individuals, regardless of their background, can effectively use digital tools and experience positive outcomes both online and offline.
• Utilizing Digital Inclusion Framework: The toolkit provides a structured Digital Inclusion Framework to assess ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring that digital technologies are accessible and beneficial to a diverse range of users. It provides different pathways to incorporate digital inclusion and helps implementing partners determine which digital inclusion approach aligns best with their objectives and resources
• Implementation Guide: The toolkit is designed as a practical guide, offering modules that combine informational content, mini cases, and activities. Users have the flexibility to navigate the toolkit based on their needs, whether they are new to digital inclusion, eager to understand intersectionality, or looking to incorporate digital interventions into ongoing activities.  

The Inclusive Digital Design Toolkit while acknowledging the unique challenges faced by marginalised populations, asserts that digital exclusion is not inevitable. We know that purposefully designed solutions can empower individuals.

Along with the Toolkit, we have created a companion workbook to facilitate practical application of the Toolkit's activities - Inclusive Digital Design: Workbook

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To learn more about this work, contact Shruti Viswanathan.‍

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