Events

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) organized a three-day international conference titled Digitalization and New Frontiers of Service Delivery: Opportunities and Challenges from 20 to 22 June 2022 at the BRAC Center Inn Auditorium, Dhaka.

Researchers, practitioners and policy actors from around the globe shared their experiences and insights on a wide range of issues on digitalization and development.

Session 1 | Inaugural Session—Digitalization for Inclusive Development: Opportunities and Challenges

The inaugural session introduced the conference’s core theme: Digitalization for Inclusive Development. The conference was officially inaugurated by Prof Vincent Chang, Vice-chancellor of BRAC University. The sessions included keynote speeches by Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford and Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor, a2i, Government of Bangladesh, that delved into examples from both global and local perspectives analysing the key challenges, opportunities, and lessons in ensuring inclusive digitalization.

Session 2 | Power, Institutions & Economics: Framing Perspectives on Digitalization of Service Delivery

The second session framed the digitalization of service delivery from the perspective of power, institutions, and economics, drawing examples heavily from Bangladesh’s attempt at service delivery digitalization. Mushtaq H. Khan, Professor of Economics, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and Sajjad Zohir, Executive Director, Economic Research Group (ERG) and Senior Advisor at BIGD, BRAC University delivered presentations in a discussion moderated by Asif Mohammad Shahan, Associate Professor of Development Studies, University of Dhaka.

Session 3 | Digital Literacy, Divide and Usage: Concepts and Empirics

This session, chaired by Shahriar Hoque, Director, Technology, BRAC, critically investigated various measures of digital literacy. Presentations were delivered by Mehnaz Rabbani, Head, Operations and Strategic Engagement and Partnership; Semab Rahman, Research Associate; and Avinno Faruk, Research Associate, from BIGD, BRAC University, followed by presentations by M. Shahadat Hossain Siddiquee, Professor, University of Dhaka and Pritika Reddy, Academic Researcher, Fiji National University.

Session 4 | Panel Discussion on Birth Registration and Unique Identification

Unique identification is required in availing of many e-gov services in Bangladesh. Since NID (National Identification Number) covers only the adult population, universal coverage of civil identification remains a prerequisite for digitalizing e-services to individuals and families. This session delved into these issues with talks and presentations from both the public and academic sectors.

Session 5 | Digitalization, Women Empowerment, and Social Transformation

This session discussed existing interventions to enhance women’s access to technology and earning opportunities through the use and scope of digitalization. The session also delved into some of the barriers that digitalization creates for women.  Sajeda Amin, Senior Associate, Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program, Population Council moderated the discussion, where presentations were delivered by Md. Raied Arman, Senior Research Associate, BIGD, BRAC University, Lopita Huq, Research Fellow, BIGD, BRAC University, Pragyna Mahpara, Senior Research Associate, BIGD, BRAC University and Nova Ahmed, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North South University.

Session 6 | Use of NLP in New Research Methods

This session explored alternative new methods emerging in the social science sector with a heavy focus on natural language processing. Nabeel Mohammed, Associate Professor, North South University, Daryl Collins, CEO and Founder, Decodis, USA and Munshi Sulaiman, Research Advisor, BIGD, BRAC University, delivered presentations, chaired by Sajjad Zohir,  Executive Director, Economic Research Group (ERG) and Senior Advisor at BIGD, BRAC University.

Session 7 | Digitalization, Platform Services, and their Implications for the Labour Market

The session focused on labour processes associated with platform-based service exchanges. A good number of presentations addressed the conditions of platform workers, with one proposing an alternative measure of workers’ welfare. The session also included a paper that assesses the problems of introducing a digitalized platform for casual workers in Dhaka city.

Session 8 | Digitalization, Local Governance, and Social Protection

This session had two segments. The first one explored the experiences with digitalization and local governance in Egypt and China. The second segment had three papers with a central focus on experiences in revitalising social protection under digital governance. While one of the papers draws upon the Indian experience, the second paper focuses on the Bangladesh experience. The third is a review of literature on the subject.

Session 9 | Digital Innovations in Delivery of Health Services

This session explored digital innovations in health services taking study examples from Bangladesh, Colombia and beyond through different research methods. The session also included the topic of using behavioural activation games for improving mental health.

Session 10 A | Digitalization and Education: Analytical Framework and Innovation

The first segment of the session explored digital and online education primarily from Bangladesh through different paper presentations by M. Rokonuzzaman, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North South University, Mohammad Farrukh Mohsen | Computer Literacy Program for the Underprivileged (CLP), USA and B M Fazley Rabbi | Senior Program Manager, Agami Foundation. The session was chaired by M. Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan | Former Cabinet Secretary, Government of Bangladesh and Senior Advisor, BIGD, BRAC University.

Session 10 B | Digitalization and Education: Innovation During COVID Times: What Have We Learned?

The second part of Session 10 delved into innovation during COVID times in the digital education sector from Bangladesh and beyond. Papers were presented by Silvia Guglielmi,  Researcher, Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE), Susan Nicolai, Research Director, EdTech Hub and Senior Research Fellow, ODI, Asadul Islam, Director, Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability (CDES) and Afsana Alam, Research Associate, BIGD, BRAC University.

Special Session | Introducing BIGD Research Program and Fund – Women’s Economic Empowerment & Digital Finance

We introduced BIGD’s Research Program and Fund on Women’s Economic Empowerment and Digital Finance in this special session. Speakers at the discussion said Bangladesh is a rapidly developing economy facing complex gender dynamics. Read more about the session here.

Session 11 | Algorithmic Governance, Data Protection, and Citizens’ Identity

This session included presentations on the topic: Data Privacy, Protection and Identity, including new methods through which these issues can be solved.

Learn more about the closing session from blog post:

Session 12 | Knowledge Agenda for Shaping a More Inclusive and Transformative Digitalization Future

The concluding session was a panel discussion to create a call for action for a better future based on the findings and insights from the preceding conference agenda. Discussants included Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford; Mushtaq H. Khan, Professor of Economics, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London; Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Joint Secretary, Cabinet Division, Government of Bangladesh; Khandoker Azizul Islam, Additional Secretary, Planning and Development Wing, ICT Division, Government of Bangladesh; Asif Saleh, Executive Director, BRAC Bangladesh;  Sonia Bashir Kabir, Founder and Managing Director, SBK Ventures and Foundation; and Imran Matin, Executive Director, BIGD, BRAC University.  The discussion was moderated by Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor, a2i, Government of Bangladesh. Read more about the session here.