5th IDIA Conference 2011
ICT for Development: People, Policy and Practice
The 5th IDIA Conference was the first held in Latin America, reflecting the association's commitment to a genuinely global perspective on development informatics. Held in Lima, Peru, it examined the human, policy, and practice dimensions of ICT deployment in developing world contexts.
Key Themes
- People-centred approaches to ICT4D
- Policy frameworks for digital development in Latin America and beyond
- Practice-based evidence from ICT deployments
- Mobile money and financial inclusion
- ICT and indigenous communities
- Bridging the urban-rural digital divide
Legacy & Current Relevance
IDIA 2011's focus on people, policy, and practice — and its location in Latin America — reflected a recognition that digital inclusion cannot be solved by technology alone. Policy frameworks that account for language, culture, and local governance structures are as important as the infrastructure itself. This insight is now foundational to digital equity work in North America, where effective broadband adoption programmes pair infrastructure investment with culturally appropriate digital literacy, local language support, and community-trusted intermediaries.
The mobile money and financial inclusion research presented at IDIA 2011 also proved prescient. Mobile-first financial services for underserved populations, pioneered in the developing world, have become a significant focus for community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and fintech firms targeting unbanked and underbanked communities in the United States and Canada.
Conference Series
Preceded by IDIA 2010 in Cape Town and followed by IDIA 2012 in Istanbul. See the full archive for all years.