Data and Digital Technology as Enablers for Environmentally Sustainable Societies

Societies everywhere on the planet are facing environmental challenges. Danida Fellowship Centre teamed up with Tech4Civ and DTU Compute to develop a learning programme that demonstrated how data and technology can be used to address critical environmental issues.

By Sophie Kjær

Data are incredibly versatile. We can use them to make informed decisions, enhance our understanding of environmental complexities and steer the development of innovative solutions. Furthermore, with its innovative tools and applications, digital technology can serve as a driving force moving us towards greener, more sustainable societies.

With this in mind, Danida Fellowship Centre teamed up with Tech4Civ and DTU Compute to tailor a learning programme for people whose job it is to address local environmental challenges and promote sustainable societies. The programme was entitled “Data and Digital Technology as Enablers for Environmentally Sustainable Societies.”

See the detailed programme for Data Data and Digital Technology as Enablers for Environmentally Sustainable Societies

The learning programme took place in Denmark 11 – 29 September. Prior to the in-person part of the programme, the participants had taken part in online sessions in June and August and will follow up with online sessions in January, March and April. The learning programme has brought together participants from Brazil, Ghana, South Africa and Kenya who work in institutions that have strategic partnerships with Denmark for the exchange of expertise and mutual support in advancing the green transition. The 28 participants had very different professional backgrounds but were united by a shared objective: to be inspired, to learn from each other and to collaborate across functions in order to develop and advance sustainable solutions to challenges facing our world.

During the learning programme, participants gained insight into the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability. They were introduced to ways of spotting the potential in digitalising public services and ways to do it. As part of the programme, the participants engaged with highly experienced researchers, who shared the latest breakthroughs in digital transformation. They visited knowledge hubs such as Statistics Denmark, the Confederation of Danish Industry and DTU Skylab that work with innovation, digital technologies and sustainability in different ways.

Among the programme’s highlights were the collaborative group projects that participants worked on throughout the entire period of the learning programme. On the final day, they had the opportunity to pitch these projects to a panel of experts. The feedback received during these presentations will be invaluable when participants continue their work within their respective organisations after returning home.

Meet the participants and Danida Fellows Eunice Kibunga and Hugo Rezende, and trainers Jan Madsen and Mie Weile: