Principles for Digital Development

Originally developed in 2014, the Principles are endorsed by more than 300 organizations, including donors, international organizations, and civil society organizations.

Discussions about the need for a set of "Digital Principles" began in 2009 when UNICEF launched itsPrinciples for Innovation and Technology Development.{{cite web|url=https://unicefstories.wordpress.com/principles/|title=Principles for Innovation and Technology in Development | Innovation|last=|first=|date=|website=UNICEF|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=2018-01-31}} A year later, meetings of 40 mhealth donors resulted in the Greentree Principles. In 2014, a "Principles for Digital Development Working Group" was established.{{Cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/ict4d-principles|title=ICT4D Principles Working Group Archive Google Groups|last=|first=|date=|website=groups.google.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://digitalprinciples.org/wp-content/uploads/From_Principle_to_Practice_v5.pdf|title=From Principle to Practice: Implementing the Principles for Digital Development. Washington, DC: The Principles for Digital Development Working Group, January 2016|last=Waugaman|first=Adele|date=2016|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} The group met nine times over the course of the year, with the participation of over 500 individuals representing more than 100 organizations. Following the working group meetings, an endorsement campaign led by USAID was launched in 2016. 54 organizations endorsed the new Principles for Digital Development. Also in 2016, the United Nations Foundation's Digital Impact Alliance became the steward of the Principles for Digital Development to help facilitate their adoption.{{Cite web|url=https://digitalimpactalliance.org/dial-steward-principles-digital-development/|title=DIAL as Steward for the Principles for Digital Development|last=Nelson|first=Allana|date=12 September 2017|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} According to the group, the principles have influenced funders' procurement policies and the design and implementation of development programmes. In 2024, the Principles were updated in consultation with individuals and organizations.{{Cite web |last=Vota |first=Wayan |date=May 8, 2024 |title=Introducing the Updated Principles for Digital Development |url=https://www.ictworks.org/updated-principles-for-digital-developent/ |website=ICTworks}} The original principle three "Design for Scale", principle six "Use open standards, open data, open source, and open innovation" and principle eight "Address Privacy and Security" and are no longer part of the updated Principles.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-30 |title={{!}} Principles for Digital Development |url=https://digitalprinciples.org/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130182044/https://digitalprinciples.org/ |archive-date=2023-11-30 }}

1. Understand the existing ecosystem {{Cite web |last=Meier |first=Chrissy |title=Understand the existing ecosystem |url=https://digitalprincip.wpengine.com/principles/understand-the-existing-ecosystem/ |access-date=2020-03-23 |website=Principles for Digital Development |language=en-US}}
2. Share, reuse, and improve{{Cite web |last=Meier |first=Chrissy |title=Share, reuse, and improve |url=https://digitalprinciples.org/principles/share-reuse-and-improve/ |access-date=2020-03-24 |website=Principles for Digital Development |language=en-US}}
3. Design with people{{Cite web |last=Meier |first=Chrissy |title=Design with people |url=https://digitalprinciples.org/principles/design-with-people/ |access-date=2020-03-23 |website=Principles for Digital Development |language=en-US}}
4. Design for inclusion{{Cite web |last=Meier |first=Chrissy |title=Design for Inclusion |url=https://digitalprinciples.org/principles/design-for-inclusion/ |access-date=2020-03-23 |website=Principles for Digital Development |language=en-US}}
5. Build for sustainability{{Cite web |last=Meier |first=Chrissy |title=Build for sustainability |url=https://digitalprinciples.org/principles/build-for-sustainability/ |access-date=2020-03-23 |website=Principles for Digital Development |language=en-US}}
6. Establish people-first data practices{{Cite web |last=Meier |first=Chrissy |title=Establish people-first data practices |url=https://digitalprinciples.org/principles/establish-people-first-data-practices/ |access-date=2020-03-23 |website=Principles for Digital Development |language=en-US}}
7. Create open and transparent practices{{Cite web |last=Meier |first=Chrissy |title=Create open and transparent practices |url=https://digitalprinciples.org/principles/create-open-and-transparent-practices/ |access-date=2020-03-23 |website=Principles for Digital Development |language=en-US}}
8. Anticipate and mitigate harms{{Cite web |last=Meier |first=Chrissy |title=Anticipate and mitigate harms |url=https://digitalprinciples.org/principles/anticipate-and-mitigate-harms/ |access-date=2020-03-23 |website=Principles for Digital Development |language=en-US}}
9. Use evidence to improve outcomes{{Cite web |last=Meier |first=Chrissy |title=Use evidence to improve outcomes |url=https://digitalprinciples.org/principles/use-evidence-to-improve-outcomes/ |access-date=2020-03-23 |website=Principles for Digital Development |language=en-US}}

The Principles for Digital Development are [https://digitalprinciples.org/endorsers/ endorsed by over 300 organizations],{{cite web|url=https://digitalprinciples.org/endorse/endorsers/|title=Endorsers | Principles for Digital Development|website=digitalprinciples.org|accessdate=2018-01-31}}.

{{reflist}}

• [https://digitalprinciples.org/endorse/endorsers/ Principles for Digital Development Homepage]
• [https://digitalimpactalliance.org/ Digital Impact Alliance Homepage]

Category:International development

Category:2014 introductions