This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 12th International Development Informatics Association Conference, IDIA 2022, held in Mbombela, South Africa, in November 2022. The 20 revised full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 61 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on​ theories and practices in digital-for-development ecosystems; emerging technologies for transformation, inclusion and sustainable development; privacy and security in digital-for-development ecosystems; human-computer interaction (HCI) for digital inclusion; artificial intelligence (AI) for good.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 12th International Development Informatics Association Conference, IDIA 2022, held in Mbombela, South Africa, in November 2022. The 20 revised full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 61 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on theories and practices in digital-for-development ecosystems; emerging technologies for transformation, inclusion and sustainable development; privacy and security in digital-for-development ecosystems; human-computer interaction (HCI) for digital inclusion; artificial intelligence (AI) for good.

There are essential questions surrounding Africa's digitalization journey, including whether or not the continent can truly serve as the last frontier for socio-economic transformation through digital innovation. An examination of countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and Rwanda, which are actively pursuing digitalization, may provide some answers. To evaluate the potential implications, both real and potential, that arise from this focused pursuit, a critical analysis is necessary. Scrutiny of digital infrastructure by companies like Huawei, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and the advent of quantum computing will open new pathways to understanding and establishing promising approaches to the advancement of this region. Examining the Rapid Advance of Digital Technology in Africa offers a comprehensive exploration of the transformative power of digitalization in Africa and its implications for the continent's socio-economic development. It engages with the field of science and technology studies, linking it with socio-economic impacts and transformation, to track, analyze, understand, and critique Africa's contributions to digitalization. The chapters cover a wide range of themes, including ICTs and the business environment, education, healthcare, creative industries, media, culture, tourism, agriculture, ecology, artificial intelligence, blockchain and cryptocurrency revolution, algorithmic governance, the quantum age, and urbanization. This book is a must-read for researchers, scholars, investors, and policymakers who are interested in Africa's digital transformation, as it offers valuable insights into the latest empirical and theoretical aspects shaping the continent's ongoing digitalization.

ICTs and Sustainable Solutions for the Digital Divide: Theory and Perspectives focuses on Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D), which includes any technology used for communication and information. This publication researches the social side of computing, the users, and the design of systems that meet the needs of "ordinary" users.

Information and Communication Technology for Sustainable Development shows how ICT, as an enabler for all spheres of development, can help innovate business processes and operations, and provide faster integration of new technologies into business systems. Focused on sustainability, the book addresses strategic approaches to cope with a range of climatic, environmental, cyber-security threats and other global risks, and aims to promote prosperity and economic growth. Furthermore, it explores how the adoption of new technologies, and collective action based upon a strategic behavioral theory of new leadership, can be applied when responding to specific set of conditions that allow for the proposed strategies to cope with risks. Information technology and strategic planning complement each other to attain the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Risk management frameworks, business continuity systems, and strategic planning methodologies such as mechanism design theory, strategic adaptive cognition (SAC), and risk mechanism theory (RMT) are the fundamental components needed to have a universal approach embedded into the national development plans agenda. As technology no longer follows an orderly, linear path, but improves exponentially, developing a strategic approach to ICT implementation help world leaders in the difficult but inspiring task of making a sustainable world and consequently find solutions to achieve the SDGs and the desired growth pattern that must be sustained, inclusive and equitable. Features: Discusses for the first time the potential of ICT as a transformative power in finding solutions to climatic and economic issues. Illustrates comprehensive strategic planning for leaders to implement in both public and private organizations. Integrates standards and frameworks in the context of sustainable development along with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Describes in detail how mechanism design, risk management, business continuity systems, a comprehensive strategic planning using SAC (Strategic Adaptive Cognition) and risk mechanism theory can be used to address environmental risks and attain sustainable development goals (SDGs). Explains eHealth as an adaptation strategy to address future changes in climate and impacts, and the links between mitigation and adaptation to ICTs.

This book presents case studies to analyse the relationship between sustainability – environmental, social, institutional and economic – and digital innovation. The respective contributions offer a contextualisation of the main present and future trends concerning these two elements, and present analyses from economic, technical, managerial, and social perspectives alike. The individual sections of the book focus on interactions between sustainability and digital innovation in existing organisations and highlight the new opportunities, challenges and threats that may emerge as a result. The contributions are mainly based on case studies and research conducted in Europe and Africa, with a few focusing on Southeast Asia and Central America, and were prepared by experts in the fields of Information Systems, Computer Science, Social Development, and Economics.

In the agricultural industry, factors such as environmental degradation, resource constraints, and climate change have left traditional agricultural practices inadequate in meeting the growing global food demand. Simultaneously, the marketing landscape is evolving rapidly due to technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and the rise of online platforms. Both agriculture and marketing are faced with the critical task of adapting and embracing sustainability in this ever-changing environment. Sustainable Practices for Agriculture and Marketing Convergence offers a comprehensive solution to these pressing issues. This book is a practical blueprint for transforming the agricultural industry and revitalizing marketing strategies in the name of sustainability. At its core, the book aims to highlight the monumental significance of sustainable agriculture in mitigating the long-standing environmental impacts of conventional farming methods. It does so by presenting real-world case studies and best practices, inspiring and motivating the widespread adoption of sustainable agriculture.

Knowledge management and advanced information technologies such as AI, IoT, machine learning, and more can create digital tools and solutions to build more resilient, climate neutral, and green economies and societies. These digital tools and solutions and knowledge management can have a heavy impact on the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Asia. Perspectives on the Transition Toward Green and Climate Neutral Economies in Asia offers innovative conceptual frameworks and theories, case studies, and empirical studies to understand how knowledge management and digital innovation can foster the transition towards more circular and climate neutral economies as well as greener economies in Asia. This book discusses how key and enabling digital tools and solutions and knowledge management can support the achievement of SDGs by 2030. Covering topics such as climate neutral economies, image recognition, and usability evaluation, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for deans, heads of departments, directors, politicians, policymakers, corporate heads, senior general managers, managing directors, librarians, students and educators of higher education, academicians, and researchers.

This book offers a selection of the best papers presented at the annual international scientific conference “Digital Transformation in Industry: Trends, Management, Strategies,” which was held by the Institute of Economics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Ekaterinburg, Russia) on October 28, 2022. The book focuses on concepts for initiating digitalization processes and identifying successful digital transformation strategies in all sectors of industry. Key topics include the sustainability of digital transformation in uncertain dynamics; conditions of uncertainty and barriers; industrial logistics in the new reality; best practices for implementing digital solutions to ensure sustainable, barrier-free and flexible supply chains; the achievement of sustainability in the process of digital transition; the adaptation of enterprises to the ESG concept through digital solutions; assessing the impact of industrial digital transformation on society and the environment; and clarifying how ESG aspects affect the economy. The experiences of various countries, regions and types of enterprise implementing IT and other technological innovations are also included, making the book a valuable asset for researchers and managers alike.

Achieving Zero Hunger, defeating poverty and accelerating sustainable inclusive growth are key objectives pursued by the African continent, particularly in the framework of the UN Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063. However, the region has been facing persistent challenges resulting in high levels of food and nutrition insecurity, rampant poverty, environmental threats, underperformance of the agrifood sector, unemployment and under-employment for young (male and female) people, especially in rural areas. Addressing the challenges and seizing the available opportunities require news skills, capabilities and product development, which notably involves strongly anchoring digital technologies in all business processes. Falling costs of digital technologies and their popularisation are driving innovations to develop solutions to improve the productivity, incomes and resilience of farmers and food systems. This includes the building of more adaptive and agile value chains through use of data, leveraging the power of satellite observation and geodata to address pest and disease threats; the development of novel solutions for supporting farmers’ social protection; and the enhancement of traceability systems applied to food products from farm to fork. The COVID-19 impacts have demonstrated even more the need to mainstream digital solutions in agrifood business, policy and development programme implementation processes