Co-designing Ethical Interventions in Resource Constrained Environments

By on July 17th, 2021 in Video & Podcasts, Videos

This SSIT Guest Lecture was presented by Miriam Cunningham, IST-Africa Institute, Ireland at a Joint Chapter Meeting organised by IEEE UK and Ireland SSIT Chapter and co-hosted by IEEE Madras Section SSIT Chapter, IEEE Bangladesh SSIT Chapter, IEEE Kerala SSIT Chapter and SSIT IST-Africa SIGHT on 23 May. Click here to view this SSIT Guest Lecture on IEEE.tv

Focus

This SSIT Lecture focuses on social implications and ethical issues to be considered when co-designing and implementing interventions in resource constrained environments. It introduces the concepts of collaborative open innovation and co-design in the context of addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It then discusses socio-cultural differences, ethical conundrums and ethical research principles when engaging with local communities.

These concepts will be contextualised through an African case study (mHealth4Afrika) focusing on the consultative, multi-stakeholder, co-design approach taken to implement and validate a cross-border, health oriented, research and innovation project supported by the European Commission under Horizon 2020. The lecture will conclude by sharing good practices and recommendations to be considered when co-designing interventions in resource constrained environments.

This lecture will share insight into volunteer activities undertaken by SSIT IST-Africa SIGHT members providing digital literacy training to healthcare professionals in health facilities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa. It will also facilitate discussion around potential opportunities for IEEE and non-IEEE members to get more involved in ethical Sustainable Development and ICT4D activities locally.

Speaker

Miriam Cunningham is Head of Research, IST-Africa Institute, and a Senior Consultant primarily focused on ICT and Science Technology and Innovation (STI) related policy analysis, research, implementation and adaptation, and the impact of Research and Innovation on socio-economic development. Miriam has over 20 years’ experience in ICT R&D working with public, private and education and research stakeholders in Europe and Africa. Miriam has extensive practical experience undertaking needs assessment, evaluating, monitoring and assessing Research and Innovation (R&I) projects in Europe and Africa as well as field experience creating, implementing and managing cross-border R&I projects in Europe and Africa.