The Principles for Digital Development
The Principles for Digital Development
The digital prínciples are 9 “living” principles, meaning that they are not static or compulsory. Instead they are to be viewed as guidelines for how to use digital technologies in development programs. Below you can read more about how we work with the 9 principles.
Digital principle 1
Design with the user
By involving our participants in the development of our literacy program we can address the specific context, culture, needs and desires of our participants. Through continuous testing of FOCUS with the target group we have incorporated different types of texts based on the feedback received from our participants. One is the DNI, personal id card in Peru, which is an important text to know how to read and use for our participants. Knowing how to write a short text message to their children’s teacher is also something that a lot of our participants want to learn more about. As such we have incorporated this type of text into the FOCUS- app as well.
Digital principle 2
Understand the existing ecosystem
To understand the existing ecosystem we involve participants, community members, local governments and other partners in the development of our literacy program. We also coordinate with other implementing organizations, civil society and government to understand the context, local needs and to align with policies.
Digital principle 3
Design for scale
Our literacy program can be extended to new users, markets, regions and countries as we have designed it in a modular and flexible way, oriented to adapt to adults in different contexts. Our goal is to be everywhere in the world where our solution is needed. To be able to scale we also focus on collaborating with local, regional and national actors and we look forward teaming up with others to provide literacy education to all who needs it!
Digital principle 4
Build for sustainability
To build for sustainability we institutionalized our proposal by working together with partners and local educational authorities to ensure the official certification of our participants' learning and their educational continuity. Read more about this successful project here: https://dispurse.org/en/news/dispurse-literacy-program-enables-national-certification/
Digital principle 5
Be data driven
Our program is designed so that its impact can be measured continuously and incrementally, focusing on results. One tool that we are constantly developing is our DispurseAdmin, a platform were the participants progress in the FOCUS – app and other materials are stored and visualized. Read more about the systems Dispurse Admin and the app DispurseSynch which enables local synchronization in areas without internet, here:
Digital principle 6
Use Open Standards, Open Data, Open Source and Open Innovation
FOCUS is developed through using Open Source. We strive to use, when appropriate, Open Standards and through collaborations we wish to enable innovation that serves our target group.
Digital principle 7
Reuse and Improve
Our literacy program is constantly being improved based on feedback from our users and the experiences we make in field. We also reuse digital and physical resources for the continued learning of our participants in areas that they are interested in.
Digital principle 8
Address Privacy and Security
We take measures to protect the confidential information and identities of our participants from unauthorized access and manipulation of data by third parties. One example is our privacy policy for FOCUS which you can access here:
https://dispurse.org/en/about-us/main-documents/privacy-policy/
Digital principle 9
Be collaborative
We share information, knowledge, strategies and resources among initiatives, organizations and sectors leading to greater efficiency, impact and development of best practice. Read more about our current projects at https://dispurse.org/en/our-projects/