RESEARCH INSIGHTS
Unlocking Digital Perspectives in Togo: Student Insights for Climate Adaptation AI
Rural West African communities, particularly in Togo, face significant climate change impacts. This study investigates Togolese university students' views on digital technologies and their potential role as a bridge to rural subsistence farmers for co-creating DIY ICT solutions to adapt to climate challenges.
Executive Impact
Our analysis of student perspectives reveals key areas of opportunity for AI and digital technology implementation in climate adaptation efforts.
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Students Surveyed
0%
Top Interest: Knowledge & Information
0%
Expressed Interest in AI Applications
Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications
Select a topic to dive deeper, then explore the specific findings from the research, rebuilt as interactive, enterprise-focused modules.
Knowledge & Information (25% of responses)
This category was the most popular, reflecting a significant level of curiosity and demand for information among participants. It encompasses tools for knowledge acquisition and retrieval, vital for students and academic pursuits.
Student Quote: "Duolingo to enable me to speak several languages... Google Scholar, because that's where you'll find lots of research on scientific studies on the topics you're interested in."
AI Applications (12% of responses)
Participants expressed fascination with AI, particularly ChatGPT, due to its ability to offer general solutions, access broad knowledge databases, and optimize everyday task performance.
Student Quote: "ChatGPT, because today's world has evolved and we need many different approaches to solutions, and ChatGPT provides this solution."
Communication & Collaboration (12% of responses)
This category includes social networks, instant messaging, and email services, highlighted for enabling large target audience reach, professional networking, and remote information transmission.
Student Quote: "Facebook allows you to reach a large target audience... Linkedin, because it is a professional network for sharing experience."
Specialised Software (12% of responses)
Participants recognized the potential of specialist software like STATA (econometric) and KoboCollect (survey) for economic predictions, climate change solutions, and data collection.
Student Quote: "I would have loved to be an econometric software such as STATA because with that I could make regressions for the economy of a country."
Climate Services (10% of responses)
This category highlights participants' strong interest in using digital applications for meteorological and climatological purposes, particularly to address rainfall irregularity and enable accurate weather forecasting for agriculture.
Student Quote: "The application must be one that will help in the field of climatology. To solve the problem of the irregularity of rainfall..."
Office Applications (9% of responses)
Includes preferences for various office suites and components like Word and Excel, seen as fundamental for digital documentation and creative content generation (e.g., Canva for design).
Student Quote: "Word, this application allows us to write down our ideas digitally... Microsoft Office: the basis of transmission; digital and virtual."
Hardware (4.5% of responses)
A small proportion viewed themselves as hardware, primarily as a computer (access to knowledge) or radio (local information), and drones (remote observation).
Student Quote: "A computer, since it has a lot of capacity; in short, it's a world reduced to a window."
Other (2% of responses)
A singular response indicating a general perception of digital applications as essential for modern daily life, where "everything is done digitally."
Student Quote: "A digital application, because today everything is done digitally."
Enterprise Process Flow: Workshop Stations
Information about you
→
Soldering
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Introduction to the magic of code
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Measuring with sensors
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How to turn research results into gold
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Climate change and you
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How to make your voice heard: Policy brief and fact sheet
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Notes
25%
of students prioritized digital tools for Knowledge & Information, highlighting a core demand.
| Technology | Primary Function | Origin/Implication |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | AI-powered chatbot | OpenAI (USA) - Kenyan clickworkers involved |
| Google (Search, YouTube) | Information retrieval, video sharing | USA - Headquarters in California |
| Facebook, WhatsApp | Social media, messaging | Meta Group (USA) - Headquarters in California |
| Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) | Productivity software | Microsoft (USA) - Headquarters in Washington |
| Duolingo | Language learning platform | USA - Multilingualism is key in Togo context |
| STATA | Statistical software | USA - For econometric predictions |
| KoboToolbox | Survey software | Mission-driven for data collection (exception to general trend) |
| Python Software Foundation | Programming language | USA - Open-source, global contribution |
Case Study: Co-creation for Climate Adaptation in Togo
The two-day workshop in Kara, Togo, successfully engaged university students in exploring DIY ICT solutions for climate change adaptation. By posing the 'If you were a digital application...' question, the workshop fostered creative thinking and offered invaluable insights into student perspectives. This methodological approach proved effective in initiating a meaningful co-creation process, bridging emic (insider) and etic (outsider) viewpoints, and informing the design of relevant ICT solutions for rural sub-Saharan West Africa. The interactive stations and workbook enabled participants to reflect on and articulate their ideas, laying a strong foundation for future collaborative research with rural communities.
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Your AI Implementation Roadmap
A strategic phased approach for integrating AI, ensuring sustainable impact and knowledge exchange in local contexts.
Phase 1: Contextual Analysis & Workshop Initiation
Launch initial engagement to understand local needs and perspectives on digital technologies, fostering empathy and setting the foundation for co-creation.
Phase 2: Bridge Emic & Etic Perspectives
Actively integrate insider (emic) viewpoints from local students with outsider (etic) research perspectives to inform culturally sensitive AI solutions.
Phase 3: Co-create DIY ICT Solutions
Collaborate with students and rural communities to develop practical, resilient DIY ICT applications for climate change adaptation, focusing on accessible information.
Phase 4: Integrate Local Wisdom & Open Technologies
Develop digital solutions that preserve African wisdom, support multilingualism (local languages), and utilize open-source approaches to foster community autonomy and knowledge.
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