GDI Annual Lecture with Dr Rachel Glennerster - Can technology solve global poverty?
| Dates: | 30 October 2019 |
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| Times: | 17:00 - 18:30 |
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| What is it: | Lecture |
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| Organiser: | Global Development Institute |
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| How much: | Free |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, External researchers, Adults, Alumni, Current University students, General public, Post 16 |
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| Speaker: | Dr Rachel Glennerster |
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The lives of the poor around the world have been transformed by relatively simple but powerful technologies from mobile phones to high yielding wheat seeds. Many of these technologies were initially invented for the rich world but developing countries adapted them to great effect: mobile money, for example, first took off in Kenya. But there remains an important gap in technologies designed specifically for the needs of developing countries. We have high performance electric cars but not reliable clean replacements for the diesel generators that power the electricity in too many small businesses across sub-Saharan Africa. The data revolution has the potential to power a new wave of technological innovation that could have a profound effect on poverty. It offers the chance to reach millions of people at low cost and the rapidly falling cost of data and data analytics opens the opportunity to tailor solutions to the needs of local populations.
In this talk, Dr Glennerster will discuss how technology has driven improvements in income and health in poor countries, why there is too little innovation designed to meet the needs of the poor, and the promise of the data revolution.
The Global Development Lecture Series brings experts involved in global development to The University of Manchester. It aims to facilitate dialogue and discussion, providing a space for leading development thinkers to share their latest research and ideas.
Lectures are followed by an audience Q&A.
This event is open to members of the public and information on the accessibility of the venue is detailed at this link: https://www.accessable.co.uk/venues/roscoe_th-b
This event is not ticketed.
Speaker
Dr Rachel Glennerster
Role: Chief Economist
Organisation: Department for International Development
Biography: Rachel Glennerster is the Chief Economist of DFID. Prior to her current role she was the Executive Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), a research centre in the Economics department of MIT. Additionally, she has held positions at the International Monetary Fund, Her Majesty’s Treasury and the Harvard Institute for International Development. Her previous research spans governance, education, health, microcredit, community development and women’s empowerment.
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
Theatre B
Roscoe Building
Manchester
