I’ve worked at the intersection of community development, gender, youth participatory media, rights-based approaches and digital development since 1994, starting in El Salvador where I spent the 1990s. I’m an anthropologist by degree and a participant-observer by nature.
I’ve been exploring the responsible use of digital approaches and digital data for the past decade via the MERL Tech Initiative (formerly “MERL Tech”), Technology Salon NYC, and as an independent consultant.
- The MERL Tech Initiative brings together critical thinkers from the monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL), data science, and digital technology sectors to collaborate, develop capacities and strengthen good practice. In 2024, the MERL Tech Initiative is expanding to include a core group of consultants with a range of deep, related expertise.
- Technology Salon convenes technologists and social sector practitioners for intimate, in-person, off-the-record conversations on emerging opportunities and challenges.
- As an independent consultant (via Linda Raftree, LLC) I’ve advised foundations, bilateral agencies, and non-governmental organizations on responsible data policy and practice, applied research, digital safeguarding, child online safety, inclusive digital approaches, trust and safety, and safe digital programming. I’m a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP and CIPM).
Current projects:
- supporting The Asia Foundation to develop and implement responsible data policy and practices
- advising on digital social and behavior change communications with iMedia/Gates Foundation
- leading a Natural Language Processing Community of Practice (NLP-CoP) focused on MERL
- developing guidance on Generative AI and MERL for the CoP, Girl Effect and others
- developing digital impact and safeguarding strategies for YLabs
- convening Technology Salon in New York City
- developing a new Salon series on Art, Activism and Gen AI
Recent projects:
- advised The Mastercard Foundation on MERL Tech, digital development, and responsible data
- supported UNICEF EAPRO (through Development Gateway) to develop organization-wide data governance strategy and practice
- provided training on digital safeguarding and data protection to regional members of the Funders Safeguarding Coalition
- developed online group moderation guidelines and a training pack for Save the Children International, reviewed/updated the organization’s suite of internal policies to meet the digital age
- worked with a small group of evaluators to query and address colonial practices in evaluation at individual evaluator and systemic levels
- developed a report and framework for UNHCR on feasibility of designing safe digital mental health and psycho-social support for adolescents
- supported Amnesty International with scoping research for a new child/youth digital rights and well being program
- coached a large social media company on child safety via Child Wise
- worked with a team to conduct an assessment of WHO’s chatbots at the height of COVID
- researched remote M&E opportunities and challenges during COVID-19 for ALNAP and for the International Development Law Organization
- provided responsible data governance and M&E support and guidance to CLEAR Anglophone Africa
- co-authored UNICEF’s manifesto on good governance of children’s data
- developed a report for Save the Children on digital safeguarding for migrating and displaced children
- conducted a gap assessment of the Principles for Digital Development and draft guidance on digital inclusion, transparency and accountability, and data responsibility
- created data responsibility guidance and two case studies for the Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP)
Other consulting work has included supporting CARE, Humanity United, Civic Hall, Farm Radio, Girl Effect, Catholic Relief Services, Girls Who Code, and USAID to develop responsible data principles, policies, guidelines, and practices. I also advised The Rockefeller Foundation on innovation and ICTs in evaluation from 2012 to 2018. Prior to consulting, I worked with Plan International for sixteen years on youth engagement, child rights, digital development, innovation, and transparency & governance. I’m Certified as a Privacy Professional by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (CIPP and CIPM).
I’ve written reports, toolkits, guidance, and other publications related to digital development, data responsibility and digital safety. (See below and read more on my LinkedIn profile).
Side Projects and Creative Commentary
- In 2010 I co-created Stuff Expat Aid Workers Like, a commentary on colonial attitudes in the aid sector.
- From 2010-2019 I worked on Regarding Humanity,
I used to tweet as @meowtree….
Publications:
2023
2022
Responsible Data Governance for M&E in the African Context. Part 1: Overview of Data Governance
Responsible Data Governance for M&E in the African Context. Part 2: Practical Guidance
Non-work obsessions include my cats, my neighborhood in Brooklyn, politics, music, my bike, hot yoga, and healthy food.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog/website are my own. They do not represent the views or opinions of my employers or affiliates, past or present.
Contact me at linda [at] merltech [dot] org.
WP – Better! Nice!
thanks Elisa! I feel like I finally graduated from blogging pre-school… 🙂
hello,
I love your blog. Am also involved in the same area at the coastal region of kenya and I want to see how I can Use ICT to share and generate knowledge. We can get intouch Ias I could greately benefit from your experince. I could offer my email address if its ok
Hi Teddy, thanks for reading! It would be great to connect about ICTs in the coastal region. It’s fine if you send me your email.
New blog looks great, Linda !
i like about this web site
[…] initially sought. In particular, the complicated nature of Africa mobile Internet was explained by Linda Raftree from her personal experience. Katrin Verclas, of Mobile Active, provided the initial introduction, […]
People sometimes get /amazingly/ offended and upset when I incorporate *blink* into online conversation.
Now I can say, “It’s no big deal. It just means something like ‘Wait, what?'”
thanks for this
and for the blog
stay well
ben
lraftree
I am getting so impressed about you and your activities. You are such a great innovitor. As I said, I need some partnership link with you. I need similar development for Liberia. The facts that You can leave your country to go to the remote parts of Africa and sit with African to help change their mind, It mean you are truly a African savior. I am so impressed about. Keep the good and God will help yoouu to achieve your goals.
Harris
Hi Harris and thanks again for the kind words. However I would say that you are doing more for the continent of Africa than I am with all of your efforts to train the youth in Liberia. I really congratulate you for that work and encourage you to keep it up! Have you contacted Computer Aid in Liberia? or Plan Liberia? You can probably find their contact information by doing a Google search to see if they are working on any programs in your district or if they would be interested in hearing more about what you are doing. Best, Linda
Very interesting blog!
I find your blog very interesting and you are just a wonderful multi-talented individual intervening in different aspects of human life.
Let me give you a typical Bafut interpretation of your Blog title Wait, What?
N yu’u ta ke? meaning, Take action.
Since you are focusing “on integrating new information and communication technologies (ICTs) and social media into community development programs and communications initiatives to improve impact, reach and quality, and to offer tools that can help increase youth participation and voice at local, national and global levels”, would you mind considering using video phone technology for distance learning progams? This is an area of interest to me and we could share ideas.
Thanks again Edmund for the comment, I really appreciate it! Are you using video phone technology for distance learning now? At what level? Primary, secondary or higher education? How has your experience been?
Hi Linda, you may remember me from the writing workshop in kenya earlier this year. I wanted to let you know that I finally got round to starting a blog – you might find some of it interesting and hopefully not too cynical! http://kitchenaid.posterous.com/
I read yours with interest. Take care!
Hi Leila! love your blog! have left mine a bit dormant this past month or so… too much going on…. hope you are well!
Hi Linda,
Working in Plan Sweden with Corporate Engagement in the Programme Department. Trying to learn more about ICT4Dev and Plans work in the area and came across your blog. Understand you are a key person in the field 🙂
Cheers
Elin Wallberg
Hi Elin – look forward to working together!
Hi Linda – I think you have a fabulous blog! You and your colleagues may be interested in this: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/onlinediscussion/
Hola Linda.
La felicito por su blog esta muy interesante, especialmente lo referente a El Salvador. Agradecería me enviara su dirección de correo electronico.
Atentamente
Luis Manzur
Amazing examples of how networking technologies can make such a difference to people in remote areas, and living in very difficult situations. I’ve been researching how different organizations are using mobile technology to develop services to alert and educate people. I never knew the power of something as basic as SMS. I did chat with FrontlineSMS recently and saw what a difference a small organization can make.
[…] Tech was started by Linda Raftree and Wayan Vota in 2014 with the M&E Tech Conference and Deep Dive, supported by The […]
Wow! great and outstanding contribution to Data Digitization. Thank you Linda.