Brainstorming ideas of what digital literacy work as part of the DFN could look like. Expect this info dump to be a mess while I collect feedback; I have yet to meet with experts in our team. I appreciate your comments & ideas!
Digital literary (DL) lives within the DFN as the way to ensure farmers/organizations (FPOs, SHGs, coops) have the skills needed to *capitalize (need the right word) from their data and *participate in (enable?) the DFN. DL serves as the skills & knowledge foundation to enable the DFN.
What could DL consist of?
Application of technology: how to use digital tools (smartphones, web browser, SMS/WhatsApp, etc.) + apps (KDE, payment apps/wallets, etc.) + platforms (TBD… )
Understanding the value of their data - what data are they providing to whom, how can the data be used, etc.
Understanding how to provide consent to sharing their data
Evaluation of the trustworthiness of those whom they share data with (Is this too loaded? It is important!)
Adult learning considerations; digital literacy of illiterate/low literacy people
Potential DL entry points (Alesha’s email Jan. 13 2022) - but should be tied to a particular data type or use case - otherwise, value could be too abstract
We incorporate DL content into our community video work. We advocate with partners to explain why this is critical and then we come up with the core components and integrate this as a part of our core package.
We also upgrade facilitator training and/or identify a new group member role, which is a digital champion role (since it might be overburdening to put so much on the same facilitator). I imagine the facilitation process on the digital tech side involves some community-driven problem solving and experiential learning using digital tech, but that's really the facilitator that drives that. We would design the facilitator training and experience (working with a partner) but this would be highly community-specific, thus contributing to their agency.
We incorporate DL components in the actual unified, farmer-facing solution.
DL activities in the next year (FY23) - refer to this write up for plans
India: Pilot to be identified
TBD
Ethiopia: Jimma SHG digitization of books/records (video here)
There is a plan already for business planning training, leadership, group development, conflict mgmt, loan collection/disbursement processes, etc. Build DL into this.
Disburse new equipment and add smartphone/computer/web/cloud use DL training. Could be video in-person with mediation.
Move forward with record digitization and add training on how to use app & record-keeping software + importance of digitization of records + value of data, & understanding their records. Training could be via video in-person with mediation.
How to make it happen? - Smartphone/equipment training may already exist/off the shelf. Translation and storyboarded into training video. Other training modules would need to be prepared (consultant? firm?) and then storyboarded into training video format.
Resources
Digital Empowerment Foundation (India) - National Digital Literacy Mission
https://www.defindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Paper_-COL-and-Start.pdf
http://www.digitalindia.gov.in