- Web Summit is the largest tech conference in the world with over 70,000 attendees from companies like Google, Amazon, and the Gates Foundation. - The talks at Web Summit in 2019 focused on sustainability, social good, climate change, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, showing that even the largest tech companies are prioritizing environmental issues. - Development organizations should consider how to engage with major tech companies to advance issues like sustainability and climate change. New technologies like 5G, blockchain, and AI could support efforts towards the SDGs.

1. Digital Insights for SDG -focused Development Organisations
Debrief from Web Summit 2019

2. What the heck is Web Summit and why does it matters to
Development organisations anyway?
Largest tech conference in the world with 70,000 attendees, 1200 speakers,11,000 CEOs, 2,500 journalists.
Atlantics says of it, “Where the future goes to be born.”
KPMG, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Gates Foundation, European Commission, Just Water, Vice Media, NYT.
Tony Blair, EU Commissioner, Brexit Chief negotiator, Edward Snowden, Guo Ping, Kate Brandt, Jaden Smith.
Cross-pollination of diverse tracks lead to discussions that penetrate beyond the bubble: tracks like
Planet:tech, Future Societies, Corporate Innovation Sustainability, ContentMakers, Deep Tech and more.

3. “triple bottom lines”
“sustainability”
“regenerative”
“social good”
“carbon footprint”
“climate friendly”
I expected to hear about technology, AI, VR, AR, IoT, robotics but instead…

4. P&G’s “Ambition 2030” goals
as presented by Data
Consultancy, Starcount.
Positive environmental impact
while creating value for the
brand and consumers.

5. “A digital 21st century”
MD of the Boston Consulting
Group, Francois Candelon
begins his talk with this slide.

6. 21 year old rapper talks about his
sugarcane-based packaging and
just efforts that go into his clean
water company.

7. And Google boasts of it’s
new launches:
AI for Social Good Impact
Challenge
Start up Accelerator dedicated to
the SDGs

8. “What struck me is that in tackling
some of the worlds trickiest problems
like climate change and biodiversity
loss – no one company can do it alone,”
“We need uncommon collaboration and
it is only through harnessing the skills,
resources and creativity of diverse
players in a bold way that we can make
the level of progress needed to meet
the UNs goals.”
Jane Wakely, CMO, MARS

9. “We need to shape business, new ways of collaboration to save
the planet. We don’t have a planet B.” Global energy company,
EDP

10. If the biggest technology conference in the world is talking about
key environmental issues, then organisations that tackle these very
issues should also consider how they pro-actively engage with big
tech to advance their cause?

11. Various ways Google tech is being
developed to support a sustainable future.

12. UNICEF Innovation introduces ability to send donations via
cryptocurrency
UNICEF introduces blockchain technology for Refugees IDs as they
travel from country to country without a home.
We have to applaud the audacious steps the agency is taking.

13. So, how is all this applicable to Communication?

14. 5G is here, currently commercial in 20 countries.
Greatly enhances the speed, coverage and
responsiveness of wireless networks.
1gigabit per second. That’s like downloading a
whole season of Stranger Things in seconds.
Fuels big data, AI, AR, VR, iOt.
Access in remote places where previously “no
internet connection available.”
How we can integrate into our digital efforts?
Upgrading ones digital ecosystem with high
performance sites, thinking about new audiences
that couldn’t be reachable before and
incorporating iOt and AI into communications.
Delivery

15. Privacy
Transparency
Data is a powerful tool. Some development organisations maybe exempt
from GDPR, but careful planning is essential around how scientific and
personal data is used, how it’s funnelled and the transparency around it.
“What do you do when the most powerful institutions in society
have become the least accountable to society?” Snowden
“Being regulatory compliant is not good enough. It’s about how
you use the regulations to protect data and provide
personalised customer experiences that win the trust of your
audiences.” SAP

16. “Social is dead” - Giphy
founder.
More Gifs are being
circulated via private
conversations, micro
moments than on social.
Risk of more polarizing
opinions on issues such as
Climate Change.
Engagement

17. Print magazines have given way to
digital-only publications.
Condenast has found that their
“digital covers” with interactivity
and motion cut through the clutter
and linger on peoples minds more
than the content.
Think through that hero memorable
thing that stands out in your
campaign. Is it a quote, statistic,
video, image or..?
Recall

18. Data can help us uncover
deep insights and simple
truths with which to tell
unique, untold stories - Data
platform, Domo.
To do that, satisticians need
to be communicators and
communicators need to
understand statistics.
Persuasion

19. NYT branded content Creative
Director shared this brilliant ad
and spoke about the need to stop
making the brand the protagonist
in the story.
At a time, when fear-mongering is
the talk-du-jour, how do we put our
message out there in a subtle,
subliminal way but also in a way
that resonates loud and clear?
Resonance

20. So, I leave you with this:
How will you elevate your Communication to match stride
with the changing digital landscape while rooting firmly in
the organization positioning and values?

21. @poojamunshi
Head of Web - UNEP Communication