Human-Centred Technology in Development: Lessons That Endure

In July 2019, in Munich, I had the opportunity to participate as a tech consultant with UNFPA Ghana during a period of active experimentation in humanitarian and development innovation. At the time, initiatives such as the WFP Innovation Bootcamp were exploring how technology-driven ideas could empower women and young people, while also reshaping how health services might be designed and delivered in the future.

That period was an early but important reminder of what effective innovation in development truly requires. It was not about technology for its own sake, nor about chasing novelty. Instead, it was about human-centred design: practical digital solutions grounded firmly in the lived realities of communities, particularly in low-resource settings where constraints are real and trade-offs matter.

Working alongside practitioners, innovators, and development professionals reinforced a core principle that has stayed with me ever since: technology is only useful insofar as it responds to genuine needs. Sophisticated tools mean little if they fail to align with local context, cultural norms, infrastructure limitations, or the priorities of the people they are intended to serve.

Six years on, the lessons from that experience remain highly relevant:

• Innovation works best when local context leads, rather than being retrofitted after the fact.
• Technology must serve people, not the other way around.
• Strong partnerships across agencies, disciplines, and sectors are essential to sustainable impact.

I remain grateful for the opportunity to have contributed as a consultant during that period, and for experiences like this that continue to shape how I approach technology for social impact today. As digital transformation accelerates across the humanitarian and development sectors, these foundational lessons feel more important than ever.

https://wfpinnovation.medium.com/wfps-innovation-challenge-brings-forth-game-changing-ideas-to-empower-small-holder-farmers-women-e7f8c067d2c6