DemTech: Our Blog

But I've Been Nice!: The Truth Behind Santa's Shocking Lack of Accountability

By Katherine Maher | Dec 23, 2010

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We are staunch advocates of accountability over here at NDItech. And in the 25+ years our organization has worked in more than 110 countries around the world, the one thing we've found in common? Children everywhere can be both naughty…

Can a Radio Station Govern a Country?

By Katherine Maher | Dec 21, 2010

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Radiodiffusion Television Ivorienne news station

My friend Hannah Bowen has a great post up at the World Bank's…

The [not so] Secret Ingredients to Tech-Enabled Programs

By | Dec 20, 2010

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The Golden Triangle

I've written a related post on this topic before, but my recent talk at …

Democracy: A Googley Sort of Value?

By Katherine Maher | Dec 17, 2010

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Jared Cohen, the new director of Google Ideas, stopped by NDI this week. He's been something of a perpetual motion machine of late, zipping around the country and world,…

You See Names, We See Data

By Katherine Maher | Dec 15, 2010

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A handwritten register of 7 names and the organization represented

A few months ago I visited Haiti to learn about opportunities for NDI partner organizations to use mobile phones in community organizing, and met with volunteers…

Data for the Decisionmakers: Afghan Election Edition

By Chris Doten | Dec 14, 2010

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Uncle Sam poster with text "I want YOU to provide visualization tools"

NDI does some cool stuff, but for real influence you can't top good ol' Uncle Sam. One of the most important audiences for NDI's AfghanistanElectionData.org visualization tool is policymakers at the State Department, USAID, and on Capitol Hill.…

Tech-Enable Your Ground Game - Avoid Tech-Driven Approaches

By | Dec 13, 2010

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At NDITech, we use the term "tech-enabling" our democracy programs in contrast to what we sometimes see as “tech-driven” approaches.

A tech-enabled program uses technology as an enabler by combining with effective traditional program…