6th IDIA Conference 2012
ICT for Development
The 6th IDIA Conference was held in Istanbul, Turkey — the first in a European/Middle Eastern setting — broadening the geographic reach of the development informatics research community. The conference examined ICT deployment across multiple development contexts with a focus on cross-regional learning.
Key Themes
- Cross-regional perspectives on ICT4D
- Open data and transparency in development
- Social media and participatory development
- ICT and disaster risk reduction
- Digital literacy programmes and outcomes
- Evaluation frameworks for ICT4D projects
Legacy & Current Relevance
IDIA 2012's cross-regional perspective proved remarkably durable. The open data and transparency themes explored in Istanbul have since become central to digital governance policy globally — from open government data mandates in the US and Canada to transparency requirements embedded in BEAD programme accountability frameworks. The conference's examination of ICT and disaster risk reduction also anticipated the role broadband connectivity now plays in emergency response and community resilience planning.
Social media and participatory development, another 2012 theme, has evolved into a broader conversation about community engagement in infrastructure planning. The most effective broadband deployment programmes today incorporate community input processes that draw directly on participatory ICT4D methodologies developed and refined through IDIA and similar forums.
Conference Series
Preceded by IDIA 2011 in Lima and followed by IDIA 2013 in Cape Town. See the full archive for all years.