Project by Projects

As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the many conversations we have had — in side chats, donor meetings, community calls, and governance tables — where the role of technology global development work kept resurfacing. One thing is clear: digital transformation is no longer a side conversation. It’s now central to how we design, fund, govern, and deliver impact.

This piece offers a quick dashboard of the digital trends observed across philanthropy, advocacy, civil society, and systems-change work. It’s not exhaustive. But it captures the pulse of what is shifting, what’s sticking, and what is still contested. This is written for fellow practitioners, funders, movement builders, and systems thinkers who want to ground themselves as we move into 2026. You’ll find:

• Eight big-picture trends explained simply
• Links and resources to go deeper
• Questions to reflect on or bring into your next team meeting
• And a call to share your own insights, because this is only the beginning of the conversation.

🔥 1. Generative AI for Mission-Driven Work 

From program design to donor reports, AI is showing up in our daily operations. But can it show up equitably?

• Program design & reporting automation: Civil society organizations (CSOs) are using AI to draft proposals, M&E reports, and theory of change models — reducing admin burden.
• Narrative power & storytelling: AI is enabling more organizations to create high-quality multilingual content for advocacy, fundraising, and community engagement.
• Caution around ethics and voice: There’s active debate about AI’s role in reinforcing existing biases. This is prompting calls for localised models and community-owned data sets.
  

E.g. Microsoft 365 Copilot is now being used by nonprofits across the U.S. to auto-draft theories of change, summarize team notes, and respond to donor emails. The time savings are significant — but so is the risk of over-automating insight and stripping local nuance. Read a techsoup case study more here

Reflection:

• Are your staff trained to prompt AI effectively?
• Do your AI tools reflect your community’s voice?

🕸 2. Digital Public Infrastructure & Civic Tech Resurgence

Participatory, context-aware, and low-bandwidth first — civic tech is evolving beyond flashy dashboards.

• Digital ID, e-governance, and open data platforms are growing in influence, particularly in South Asia and parts of Africa.
• Civic tech 2.0: After early disillusionment, we’re seeing a new wave of civic tech focused on accountability, transparency, and participatory governance, often built in partnership with grassroots organizations.
  

E.g. Ushahidi, a Kenyan-born SMS platform for crisis mapping, continues to inspire second-generation civic tech tools globally. It prioritizes community voice, accessibility, and rapid response over design awards. Learn more here

Reflection:

• Are your digital tools co-built with end users?
• Could they work with just an SMS and a basic phone?

📊 3. Data Sovereignty and Decolonized Knowledge Practices

Communities are pushing back against extractive data models and reclaiming control over their own information.

• From extractive to participatory data models: Funders and NGOs are being challenged to rethink how data is collected, who owns it, and how insights are shared.
• Rise of African and Indigenous data platforms: Initiatives like Data for Development, and regionally grounded AI/ML projects, are shifting power in the knowledge economy.
  

E.g. The “Digital for Good” report from Kenya reveals how local giving and mobile money are reconfiguring what philanthropy looks like — deeply tied to community values like Harambee. Read here

Reflection:

• Who owns the data your program collects?
• Are community members part of defining success metrics?

💸 4. Digital Grantmaking & Infrastructure Modernization

AI is entering grantmaking systems, but without thoughtful design, it could reinforce bias and exclusion.

• Digital-native grant systems: Foundations are adopting end-to-end digital workflows, but the focus is shifting from just “efficiency” to equity and accessibility (e.g. SMS-based applications, voice-driven portals).
• AI-powered due diligence: Automated tools are being used for partner screening and risk management — though they risk excluding organizations without a strong digital footprint.
• Decentralized funding platforms: Some early adopters are experimenting with blockchain-based philanthropy, DAOs, and transparency in fund flows.

E.g. Latimpacto’s “SIAL” platform maps investment flows across Latin America, allowing funders to track gaps, overlaps, and blind spots in near real-time. Explore the dashboard here

Reflection:

• Can your grantmaking platform work in multiple languages and formats?
• Have you stress-tested it for inclusion?

🌍 5. Localization, Language Inclusion, and Digital Equity

Designing for low-bandwidth, multilingual, and offline contexts is no longer optional.

• Real-time translation & voice interfaces: These are opening doors for non-English-speaking communities to engage meaningfully in global processes.
• Offline-first tools: Developers are prioritizing tech that works in low-bandwidth, low-literacy, or crisis contexts.
• Digital literacy as rights-based programming: CSOs are embedding digital capacity-building into core program areas (e.g., women’s rights, youth organizing, health advocacy).

E.g. Eneza Education delivers SMS-based learning to thousands of students in rural Kenya and Ghana — no internet required. See UNESCO spotlight here

Reflection:

• What assumptions are your tools making about connectivity?
• Could your core services run on voice or text alone?

🔐 6. Cybersecurity & Digital Safety for Activists

With increased digital repression and surveillance, cybersecurity is a frontline concern for civil society.

• Digital threat protection: As surveillance increases, activists and journalists are prioritizing secure communications, VPNs, and encrypted tools.
• Donor-supported digital resilience: Some funders (like Ford, Mozilla, OSF) now provide cybersecurity grants or toolkits alongside programmatic support.
• Infrastructure hardening: Movement networks are investing in safe digital spaces, especially during elections or civic crackdowns.

E.g A growing number of funders now offer “cybersecurity resilience” add-ons to traditional grants — including VPNs, encrypted comms tools, and staff training. This study details more

Reflection:

• Do your frontline partners have a digital safety protocol?
• Have you conducted a recent digital risk audit?

🌱 7. Tech for Climate, Health, and Humanitarian Response

AI, mobile, and satellite data are now powering climate adaptation, humanitarian response, and crisis communication.

• AI + satellite + mobile data for climate monitoring, early warning, and community-based adaptation.
• Misinformation tracking tools (e.g., social listening dashboards) are being adapted for humanitarian use and public health campaigns.
• Interoperable humanitarian tech stacks are slowly replacing one-off app development.

E.g Latin American governments and NGOs are using AI + satellite data to predict droughts, monitor deforestation, and pre-position emergency services. Learning from this event

Reflection:

• Are your programs climate-informed and digitally-enabled?
• Could data integration strengthen your advocacy or preparedness?

🧩 8. Systems Integration and Knowledge Platforms

From Notion collectives to Airtable hubs, communities are building their own digital knowledge spaces.

• Unified MEL dashboards: Social impact orgs are connecting program data with finance, HR, and storytelling tools.
• Community-owned platforms: There’s growth in horizontal platforms like Grassroots-led Wikis, Airtable networks, and Notion collectives to share resources, training, and advocacy wins.

E.g Philanthropic organizations are now investing in platform interoperability — linking MEL, finance, comms, and community learning into unified dashboards. This report details how

Reflection:

• Are your digital tools talking to each other?
• How can you open access without compromising data integrity?

Summary: What This Means for Global Development Actors

“Digital transformation is not about tech tools. It’s about power, presence, and possibility.”

Yop Rwang Pam

• Digital is not just tech — it’s structural. It’s about shifting power, changing mindsets, and designing from the margins.
• Trust and transparency are the new UX. Communities are demanding more voice and visibility in digital decisions.
• Digital transformation is not optional. But it does need to be equitable, inclusive, and resourced with long-term vision and not short-term tools.

As we head into a new year, you are invited to reflect on which of these trends are showing up in your own context, and what they’re asking of you. Maybe you’re ready to pilot an AI-powered impact dashboard. Or maybe your team just needs a conversation about SMS-based access. Either way: we are in this together.

Let’s talk about what is shifting where you are. Connect with us here