Digital Divide Data

{{Short description|Social enterprise}}

{{primary sources|date=May 2015}}

DDD is a social enterprise that delivers digital content, data and research services to clients worldwide. Customers receive high-quality{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} competitively{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} priced digital content services. At the same time, DDD's innovative social model enables talented youth from low-income families to access professional opportunities and earn lasting higher income. This model, established by DDD in 2001, is now called "impact sourcing{{Cite web |url=http://www.accenture.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/Accenture-Exploring-Value-Proposition-Impact-Sourcing.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002150323/http://www.accenture.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/Accenture-Exploring-Value-Proposition-Impact-Sourcing.pdf |archive-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} and has been implemented by dozens of firms around the world. Featured in Thomas L. Friedman's The World Is Flat as an example of socially responsible outsourcing, DDD's clients include Reader's Digest, Harvard Business School, New York Daily News, Ancestry.com, and Stanford University.

History

In February 2001, Jeremy Hockenstein (co-founder and CEO of DDD) travelled to Angkor Wat and was struck by the mix of poverty and progress in Cambodia. Though there were computer schools offering training to young people, there were still no jobs for the students once they graduated. Recognizing the opportunity to make a difference, Jeremy assembled a group of friends, who all saw an opportunity for growth: applying India's outsourcing model to Southeast Asia could provide jobs and contribute to the region's development. The group returned to Cambodia during the summer and founded Digital Divide Data, (now known as DDD) with a plan to start a data entry operation in Phnom Penh.Thomas L. Friedman The World Is Flat (New York, 2006), 450

DDD opened for business in July 2001.Thomas L. Friedman The World Is Flat (New York, 2006), 451 The enterprise began as a single small office in Phnom Penh, digitizing the Harvard Crimson.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/our-story |title=Our Story {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131802/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/our-story |archive-date=2014-07-14}} In 2003, Digital Divide Data opened an office in Vientiane, Laos, which in early 2004 was followed by a third office in Battambang, Cambodia. The Battambang operation was merged into the Phnom Penh office in 2012. A fourth operations center was opened in Nairobi, Kenya in April 2011.

DDD currently operates three offices with over 1000 staff.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/our-story |title=Our Story {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131802/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/our-story |archive-date=2014-07-14}} It is currently the largest technology employer in Cambodia and Laos.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/our-story |title=Our Story {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131802/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/our-story |archive-date=2014-07-14}}

Social Model

The innovative work/study program that is core to DDD's social enterprise enables young women and men from very poor families to gain work experience plus access to higher education. As a result, they secure professional jobs and earn lasting higher incomes, breaking the cycle of poverty. Since 2001, the projected increase in lifetime earnings for youth in DDD's program is more than $250 million.

DDD recruits disadvantaged high school graduates, ages 17–24, including young women and men, and youth with disabilities. Recruited youth participate in a work/study program which offers training, employment, and the opportunity to complete higher education. A rigorous recruitment process ensures that the youth who join DDD have the skills, commitment and maturity to succeed in the work/study program.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

Participants typically work 36 hours a week providing digital content services to clients. After a one-year probation period, they are eligible for a scholarship package to support their university education. Once enrolled in university, they continue to work, enabling them to study and complete their degrees in 4–5 years.

{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/impact/|title = Impact}}

Since 2001, DDD has trained over 2000 youth, employed more than 1500, and graduated over 500 to better paying jobs. Graduates of DDD earn more than four times the average annual income in Cambodia and Laos.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/|title=Mission and History}}

Board of directors

Jeremy Hockenstein, CEO*

Jaeson Rosenfeld*

Jan-Maarten Mulder

Alex Jaimes

Stefan Kappeler

Kay Lot

Anne Njuki

Sameer Raina

Divyata Ashiya

Robert Shutlz

Asterisk denotes co-founder of DDD

{{cite web|title=Board of Directors|url=https://www.digitaldividedata.com/company|publisher=Digital Divide Data|accessdate=1 June 2023}}

Services

  • Research services include: market research, web research, and digital marketing.
  • Data entry and conversion services include: academic data entry, database content and support, survey digitization, and direct marketing support.
  • Digital publishing services include: XML enhancement/conversion, eBook conversion, magazine conversion, journal digitization, and newspaper conversion.
  • Digital libraries services include: digitization of archives, newspaper digitization, EAD conversion, and OCR assessment.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/what-we-do|title = What We do}}

Awards and recognition

  • ICT Association of Kenya 2013 Value Award for Excellence in Digital Content{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • The Global Journal's List of World's Top 100 NGOs, 2012 and 2013{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • Vision 2030 Award for Best Business Process Outsourcing Firm in Kenya{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • eAsia Award for Best Employment Creation Initiative in Asia, 2011{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • Skoll Foundation Award for Social Enterprise in 2008{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • World Bank Development Marketplace Award{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • IFC Grassroots Business Initiative{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • Global Knowledge Partnership{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • 2008 Clinton Global Initiative panelist and participant{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • Siemens Non-Profit Global Impact Award for Supplier Excellence, June 2009{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}
  • Member of The New York 100 for business, July 2009{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |title=DDD Awards & Recognition {{!}} Digital Divide Data |website=www.digitaldividedata.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111659/http://www.digitaldividedata.org/about/awards-case-studies |archive-date=2014-07-14}}

Notes and references