My colleague Dr. Paula Lytle and I will be hosting one of the sessions at next June's Tech4Dev conference, focusing on the policy side of integrating technology into disaster response and preparedness. The Federal Polytechnic Institute in Lausanne is hosting the event; they do a great job and the city of Lausanne is lovely. If … Continue reading Tech4Dev Conference: Call for abstracts closes Oct. 14
Economic development
Samoa update: A little informed consent, a lot of economics
I'm embracing my status as a political scientist working in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MCIT). While a lot of my experience in the tech space tends to be tool-centric, I'm finding more and more that the challenges on the user end (in this case Samoa) are related to policy and economics. The … Continue reading Samoa update: A little informed consent, a lot of economics
Samoa Week One: There’s tech and there’s practicality
I'm wrapping up my first week on the job with the Samoan Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, where I'm working as part of my Fulbright-Clinton Fellowship. I'm working in the Policy Formulation Office of the Ministry, and over the course of the year, I'll be working on ICT for disaster response policy, cyber security, … Continue reading Samoa Week One: There’s tech and there’s practicality
Peacekeeping, economic growth and technology
The economics of peacekeeping are difficult to unpack but there are signs that when a mission has a strategy that includes long-range economic planning, it can have positive long term effects on the host country’s economy. This could help us understand the strategic value of communication technology as not just a tool for good governance … Continue reading Peacekeeping, economic growth and technology
Tech, Development and the Pacific Region: Analysis from Gerard McCarthy
I haven't posted much recently, and probably won't be able to post much for the next week or so (blasted comprehensive exam and Fulbright paperwork), but I started my morning off right when I came across my colleague Gerard McCarthy's new article on how AusAID could benefit from an institutional technology for development strategy. Gerard's article is … Continue reading Tech, Development and the Pacific Region: Analysis from Gerard McCarthy
Fulbright-Clinton Fellowship: Quite the welcome
So this week is the orientation week for 23 of my colleagues and me as we prepare to head off and do our Fulbright-Clinton Fellowships. People will be going all over: Burma, Ethiopia, Haiti, Malawi, Samoa, Cote D'Ivoire and Guatemala. What really struck me was the history and the timelessness of the Fulbright program. Former … Continue reading Fulbright-Clinton Fellowship: Quite the welcome
My TechChange Swan Song
Cross posted from the TechChange blog This past Thursday and Friday (May 8 & 9) I participated in the ICTs and Violence Prevention workshop hosted by the World Bank’s Social Development Office. We had an excellent collection of experts from across academia, NGOs, and government who discussed the complexities of using technology for violence prevention. One … Continue reading My TechChange Swan Song
“Africa’s Silicon Savannah”…What will Kenya get from Konza?
I was on BBC earlier today and came across this article on Konza Technology City, a tech center that will be built in Kenya outside Nairobi. In a bit of excitement I posted a comment on Facebook that this could be a boon to investment...then I re-read the article. I think that, indeed, it could be … Continue reading “Africa’s Silicon Savannah”…What will Kenya get from Konza?
Bad Economic Analysis
I can't help myself...I saw this on Facebook and had to comment. But instead of bombing my friend's comment section, I decided something that was becoming a 300 word blog post should just be a proper blog post. Read the picture below; I've provided commentary underneath. There are a few problems with the above analysis. … Continue reading Bad Economic Analysis
Crowdsourcing 2013’s Content!
So with the new year starting Tuesday, I will be continuing to blog into 2013. The past year has mostly focused on my interest areas, political science, conflict and technology. But I've also mused on things that are not my "core expertise", such as gun control and domestic politics. Since I'll be finishing coursework this … Continue reading Crowdsourcing 2013’s Content!
Charles P. Martin-Shields 