This report is the culmination of an internship for my final Master’s project. It entailed researching how to develop Africa’s digital transformation sustainably — inspired by this initiative — https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/12/14/fact-sheet-new-initiative-on-digital-transformation-with-africa-dta/ . I want to recommend how to develop environmentally responsible with tech, such as satellites, to understanding usership barriers socially and politically, to detail how a sustainable introduction to the internet would look — organizing the fundamentals of digital literacy in sort of a brief curriculum (e.g privacy, safety, online relationships, entrepreneurship, data management, big tech data use, etc), and make recommendations specifically to USAID and USTDA (agencies included in the White House initiative linked above). I will include an outline in further details. I am also including research I have referenced (it’s a bit sporadic, apologies). In particular, it is lacking regarding the past use of satellites in development of (digital) infrastructure.
Since this is not necc a research papaer, I want to be thorough yet concise, of course, as always.. Still, if this paper goes beyond 8 pages that’s okay.
I want the tone and takeaway largely to focus on the social elements, and how addressing social barriers is more powerful in this situation than simpy building infrastructure. People need support and community to get this off the ground in empowering ways in Africa. While enhancing their safety in the process of learning what there is to know about the internet. If we in America were introduced to the internet again, what would make it more sustainable and safe?
