Sustainable Development

EDC’s Gender, Diversities, and Technology Institute works at the intersection of gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, culture, and sexual orientation seeking to understand how technology can support the development of democracy and human rights. Projects focus on increasing participation in and distributing ownership of the “new knowledge society” brought about by emerging technologies.

dot-EDU was an information and communication technology (ICT) intervention mechanism for USAID Missions seeking to improve education systems in their respective countries. dot-EDU sought to assist developing countries in strengthening learning systems that improve quality, expand access, and enhance equity through carefully planned applications of digital and broadcast technologies. The dot-EDU mission had two foci. First, dot-EDU provided training and technical assistance to support USAID Missions in developing and implementing technology-assisted applications.

EDC contributes to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economic growth by identifying “high impact” information and communication technologies (ICT) applications that will quickly and significantly improve the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in entire industries. This project is designed to be Phase 1 of an ICT for Economic Growth Project that would partner with entrepreneurs and SMEs in Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop sustainable e-BIZ Enterprises, which offer fee-based high impact ICT services that create enduring, concrete, and widespread improvements in SME competitiveness.

EDC/HHD works with local partners in four countries in South and Southeast Asia to provide care and support as well as prevention education to children affected and infected with HIV and AIDS. Project activities include providing financial and in-kind assistance to orphaned children to attend school, vocational training for young people who must now support their families, and training peer educators so they can educate their friends in their own communities about HIV prevention.

The INTALEQ (INnovations in Technology-Assisted Learning for Educational Quality) project is a public/private partnership initiative that will help Yemeni students “step up” to the future by giving them a chance to master the types of skills necessary to flourish in the 21st century. INTALEQ (which means “step up” or launch in Arabic) offers a replicable model for leveraging the power and pull of technology, not just to teach computer and internet skills, but to improve core teaching and learning in Yemeni high schools, particularly in the essential areas of math and science.

The Shaqodoon program was created to provide Somali youth with greater access to training, internships, work and self-employment opportunities in order to productively engage youth and add to the stability and development of the region. Shaqodoon is Somali for “jobseekers”.

Designed to respond to Garissan youths’ needs and assets, the Garissa Youth Project (G-Youth Project) aims to empower youth to make sound career and life decisions as they transition from high school to the next phase of their lives. The project is also building the capacity of local institutions and networks to sustain the much-needed services that G-Youth will provide.

Although green technology is one of the fastest growing industries in America, studies have shown that there is an alarming lack qualified professionals in this field. GreenFab: Sustainable Design Through Engineering and Technology will address this imbalance through activities that increase participating students’ technological and engineering fluency while providing a community and framework for them to explore “green collar” jobs. CCT is providing research and evaluation support for this initiative.

Preparing Youth for Work (PAS), an EQUIP3 Associate Award, is a workforce preparation program that assists minimally educated youth (ages 16–30) from East Timor’s most rural areas in gaining the skills and expertise needed to find job opportunities and promising futures. These young men and women will benefit from the program’s 8-month combination of off-the-job classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and livelihood accompaniment.

In Chiangrai Province in Thailand, EDC and the Association for Community and Ecology Development will assist families affected by HIV/AIDS or extreme poverty to reduce household expenses and generate sustainable incomes to fulfill their basic household needs and cover their children’s education. Sixty families with children will be trained to enhance their entrepreneurial knowledge and vocational skills. Seed funds will be provided to each family to start income generating activities.