Technology has the potential to have a dramatic impact on developing countries. The cost of connectivity and components has fallen significantly, while the power and utility of technology have massively increased. In critical sectors like health and education to financial inclusion and open government there is an opportunity for poorer countries to perform a “digital leapfrog”: to use technology to accelerate growth and development.
However, to really take advantage of technology, developing countries need people and organizations who understand and can apply these tools and processes. In many developing countries, these kinds of innovation ecosystems don’t exist. But, they can be built.
In this brief, Omidyar Network’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence David Madden looks at what can be learned from the example of Myanmar, where he founded Phandeeyar, a tech hub and accelerator that has spearheaded the development of that country’s innovation ecosystem.
Read the full report here and download the Executive Summary here.
Listen to David Madden share these learnings and the story of Phandeeyar on the Revolution of Necessity podcast.