Merrick Schaefer, Technical Project Coordinator, UNICEF Innovation Team

Merrick Schaefer is a Technical Project Coordinator in UNICEF's Innovation Team based out of the UN's New York Headquarters. He both develops strategies for innovative uses of technology in UNICEF's work and coordinates the UI design, software development and field implementations of technical projects. His projects cover a wide spectrum of UNICEF's work, ranging from developing Speak Africa, a social network connecting youth in eight African nations to discuss their most pressing issues on the web and with SMS, to using SMS to provide health services to pregnant mothers and infants in Malawi and Zambia.

Merrick started working as a web developer in 1995, having a front row seat to the explosive growth of the World Wide Web. He has worked on enterprise level systems while consulting to Accenture, as well as creating websites for small businesses and non-profits while running a web development consultancy. He graduated from the University of Chicago where he earned a B.A. in Medical Ethics, when not hacking on web projects. Merrick is also an avid rock climber of 17 years, and often can be found dangling off cliffs in far flung corners of the world.

Presentation: "UNICEF on Information and Communication Technology for Development"

Track: IT - more than tools and technology

Time: Thursday 15:00 - 16:00

Location: Wordsworth Room

Abstract:

The field of ICT4D focuses on the practical application of computing and communication technology to the needs of the developing world. Traditional ICT4D has focused on basic 'Layer Zero' challenges of providing power, hardware, and basic communications links. With the development of inexpensive solar, low-power consuming computers, and wide-spread cellular connectivity, the ICT4D field has reached an inflection point where software can provide massive new efficiencies and exponential increases in social impact. In this talk, ThoughtWorks' Director of Social Engagement and Merrick Schaefer from UNICEF, will describe of the major ICT4D opensource software projects and the challenges they face.