IFPRI is participating in the ICT4D Conference 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 20–22, 2026, bringing together global leaders, practitioners, and innovators to explore the future of digital transformation.
The ICT4D Conference is a leading global platform exploring how digital innovation and data-driven solutions can transform humanitarian relief and development. Founded in 2010 by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Conference has grown into a vibrant international gathering of NGOs, local organizations, governments, donors, researchers, and private sector partners — all committed to driving technology for good.
In 2026, CRS continues as conference founder while TechChange steps in as production partner, bringing fresh energy and innovation to make the event more dynamic, inclusive, and impactful than ever before.
May 20, 2026
From Access to Impact: Gender-Responsive AI and Digital Literacy in Agricultural Advisory Services | 11:30 AM – 12:20 PM (Africa/Nairobi)
The session is particularly relevant for digital tool developers, extension practitioners, and policymakers seeking to strengthen digital capacity and uptake by women farmers, and advance more equitable, accountable, and effective digital agriculture systems.
- Eliot Jones-Garcia, Senior Research Analyst, IFPRI; PhD Candidate, Wageningen University
May 21, 2026
From AI Idea to Practice: The Decisions | 2:40 PM – 3:30 PM (Africa/Nairobi)
This session brings together three organizations working at different points in the AI implementation stack: speech recognition for low-resource African languages, agentic AI in a scaled maternal health platform, and a generative AI tool for community health workers in Zanzibar. Each has moved from ideas to pilots to real-world deployment, and each has faced decisions that shaped their systems.
- Nelson Mganga, Data Science Consultant, IFPRI
May 22, 2026
Beyond the Promise: What Works, What Matters, and What’s Next in Digital Agricultural Extension | 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM (Africa/Nairobi)
This session brings together complementary perspectives on digital and AI-enabled agricultural extension, examining both the promise of these innovations and the evidence on their real-world impacts for small-scale farmers. It highlights emerging lessons from rigorous research and large-scale deployments, while critically reflecting on the conditions under which these tools deliver meaningful, inclusive outcomes. Together, the contributions point to how digital and AI systems can be more effectively designed, implemented, and governed to strengthen extension services at scale.
- Eliot Jones-Garcia, Senior Research Analyst, IFPRI; PhD Candidate, Wageningen University