Track Co-Chairs
Caroline Khene, Institute of Development Studies,
Dhirendra Mani Shukla, Indian Institute of Management,
Diah Priharsari, Deakin University,
Israr Qureshi, Australian National University,
Maggie Yazhu Wang, University of New South Wales,
Caroline Khene, Institute of Development Studies,
Pitso Tsibolane, University of Cape Town,
Vivian Zhou, University of New South Wales
Track Description
Marginalised contexts exist in both developing and developed countries and are manifested in various forms including, economic marginalisation, extreme poverty, social exclusions based on caste, race, and gender, marginalised communities (e.g., indigenous population, migrants, refugees, LGBTQ, and underrepresented minorities) (Bhatt et al., 2024; Qureshi et al., 2022, 2023). The resource-constraint environment along with the constraining social norms, create hurdles in addressing marginalisation. In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and interconnectedness, the role of digital technologies in fostering development within marginalised contexts has never been more pivotal. An emerging stream of research highlights the crucial role of digital technologies in enabling marginalised communities by employing effective knowledge management processes that involve knowledge commoning and scaffolding (Qureshi et al., 2022), resourcing (Sutter et al., 2023), bridging complementary institutional voids (Parthiban et al., 2020), and technoficing (Qureshi et al., 2021).
While social intermediaries are engaged in addressing marginalisation, the marginalised communities, at times, feel excluded from the process, express lack of cultural recognition, and prefer bottom up digital development initiatives. If implemented properly, digital technologies hold promise for participatory development and bolstering bottom-up approaches (Gandhi et al., 2007). Additionally, it can play a crucial role in promoting social entrepreneurship and digital social innovation, addressing challenges in marginalised contexts (Qureshi et al., 2021). It is crucial to explore innovative approaches prioritising inclusivity, sustainability, indigenous wisdom, and the empowerment of marginalised communities in navigating the complexities of the digital initiatives. However, discussions surrounding the development, implementation, and utilisation of digital technologies in marginalised communities remain inadequate, especially considering the lack of full appreciation and utilisation of indigenous knowledge, local ways of living, and local resources and skills. Merely acknowledging the characteristics of marginalised communities without actively engaging them in the development of solutions falls short of addressing their unique needs and challenges.
The purpose of this track is to encourage robust discussions that challenge current paradigms by moving beyond mere acknowledgment of the characteristics of marginalised contexts. Instead, it aims to facilitate meaningful engagement with these communities to co-create solutions that are contextually relevant and sustainable. By amplifying marginalised voices and incorporating indigenous wisdom, this track seeks to pave the way for more inclusive and empowering digital interventions that truly benefit those at the grassroots level. Join us in this vital conversation as we strive to understand and leverage the full potential of digital technologies in enabling empowerment in marginalised contexts.
Topics of interest include (but are not restricted to):
- Innovative use of digital technologies for development in marginalised contexts
- Effective solutions for digital divide
- Emerging concepts for digital development in resource-constrained environments
- Digital initiatives engaging local culture and lifestyles
- Digital technologies and constructive work in marginalised communities
- Effective knowledge management in marginalised communities
- Maximise the value of ‘good enough’ digital technologies
- Addressing intersectionality during digital development projects
- Emerging community-led social innovation models that leverage digital technologies
- Digital development for social good
- Leveraging technoficing and scaffolding approaches to create social impact in the marginalised contexts
- Digital technologies to mitigate extreme exclusion
- Role of digital technologies in enabling indigenous/social entrepreneurship
- Digital technologies and entrepreneurship by and/or for marginalised communities