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MERL Tech Initiative

@merltech.bsky.social

110 followers 108 following 59 posts

We care about responsible monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) in the development, humanitarian, peace building and social sectors. Join our natural language processing (NLP-CoP) community of practice: merltech.org/nlp-cop

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Dr Margie Cheesman @margchee.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Book launch! Please join us online on 16 Sept to launch *AID & ID* -- a new anthology in which humanitarians reflect on the promises, perils, and politics of digital identity systems in crisis. merltech.org/join-the-hum... @merltech.bsky.social

Join the Humanitarian MERL+AI Learning Group for the book launch of “Aid and ID: Making People Matter” with editor Margie Cheesman and contributors - MERL Tech

On September 16th, the Humanitarian AI+MERL Learning Group will host Margie Cheesman alongside book contributors for the official launch of “Aid and ID: Making People Matter." You can register here to...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

With large, resource-intensive, general-purpose AI models harming the environment and communities, SLMs built in purposeful, controlled ways can be an alternative. Registration is open for our SLM course for social impact, development, and humanitarian professionals: merltech.org/trainings/sm...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

🎉 We partnered with the American Evaluation Association for a Virtual Hackathon — and submissions so far have been great! 📅 The hackathon runs through April 25. All paths take 10–30 minutes and require no paid tools. merl-tech.github.io/AEA-MTI-HACK...

merl-tech.github.io

AEA/MTI Hackathon 2: Critique • Create • Collab

AEA/MTI Hackathon 2: Critique • Create • Collab — a virtual hackathon for evaluation practitioners exploring AI in evaluation practice.

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Interested in the nuts & bolts of Design and UX for AI tools that address global development challenges? Join our first meetup on Thursday, March 12th at 2 pm GMT / 5 pm EAT. merltech.org/events/mar-1...

March 12: UX Design of AI Learning Group - MERL Tech

Despite years of effort mainstreaming Responsible Digital Development thinking and Human Centred Design into international development lifecycles, too many AI powered interventions are being designed ...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Although it’s a new year, when it comes to AI, humanitarians will likely continue to grapple with many of the same questions. How do humanitarians prepare for the unknown of AI? How can humanitarians anticipate the ways that AI could trouble, or even remake, foundations of how humanitarians work?

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Just Giulio @giuliowolfe.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

For a refreshing view over alternative AI models, please read the latest report by the @merltech.bsky.social merltech.org/africa-ai-me...

Launching our Made in Africa AI for MERL Landscape Study - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative is pleased to launch our publication, “Made In Africa Artificial Intelligence Approaches In Monitoring, Evaluation, Research And Learning: A Practitioner Perspective And Lands...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

The MERL Tech Initiative is pleased to launch our publication, “Made In Africa Artificial Intelligence Approaches In Monitoring, Evaluation, Research And Learning: A Practitioner Perspective And Landscape Study”, authored by Varaidzo Faith Magodo-Matimba. merltech.org/africa-ai-me...

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

What could happen if we decenter large, resource-intensive, general-purpose AI models, which cause undeniable harm to the environment, the climate, and communities around the globe? Later this month, we are hosting a 2-day course for those who want to explore using SLMs in their work. 👇

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

What could happen if we decenter large, resource-intensive, general-purpose AI models, which cause undeniable harm to the environment, the climate, and communities around the globe? Later this month, we are hosting a 2-day course for those who want to explore using SLMs in their work. 👇

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

📢 We are hosting a course on Small Language Models (SLMs). Join us on October 30 and November 06 for a hands-on, 2-day workshop led by experts Cathy Richards and Jonas Norén. merltech.org/small-is-bea...

Small is Beautiful: Learn what SLMs can do for you - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative is hosting a course on Small Language Models (SLMs). Join our workshop on October 30 and November 06 to learn from experts Cathy Richards and Jonas Norén.

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton and Linda Raftree. Register in the following link to join: merltech.org/intermediate...

Intermediate Data Analytics with AI: Digging Deeper with LLMs - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton a...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

The NLP-CoP is hosting an event on August 21 to discuss how these AI directives may affect our work and what opportunities exist for advocates to raise concerns and fight for an approach to AI that is ethical and rooted in public well-being and sustainability. merltech.org/event-what-d...

Event: What does the US AI Action Plan mean for the use of AI in the social sector? - MERL Tech

Join the discussion on how these AI directives affect our work as MERL Professionals and non-profit workers and what opportunities to advocate for an approach to AI that is ethical, responsible, and r...

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton and Linda Raftree. Register in the following link to join: merltech.org/intermediate...

Intermediate Data Analytics with AI: Digging Deeper with LLMs - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton a...

Reposted by MERL Tech Initiative

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Current concerns about AI’s adverse climate impacts are largely confined to operational energy and water use by data centers. While these impacts are important, they represent only a fraction of the ways in which AI can influence climate outcomes, write Felippa Amanta and Charlie Wilson.

The Overlooked Climate Risks of Artificial Intelligence | TechPolicy.Press

Felippa Amanta and Charlie Wilson explore how AI contributes to climate risks beyond data centers.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

August will be a busy month at the Natural Language Processing Community of Practice! 🧵https://merltech.org/events/

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

We're launching our AI and Climate Working Group on July 17 at 10 am ET! Join us if you’d like to hear about and help shape our plans for the rest of the year, as well as discuss all the ways how climate and AI intersect. merltech.org/join-us-on-j...

Join us on July 17 for the Climate + AI Working Group Kick-off Call - MERL Tech

We are launching a new AI and Climate Working Group on July 17! Join if you’d like to discuss all the ways how climate and AI intersect.

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

What can we learn from emerging evidence of GenAI use in Social and Behaviour Change chatbots? Our NLP-CoP brought together 6 organisations all using GenAI to deploy and evaluate SBC interventions. Here's what we've learned: merltech.org/what-can-we-...

What can we learn from emerging evidence of GenAI use in Social and Behaviour Change chatbots? - MERL Tech

The SBC & AI Working Group brought together 6 organisations all using GenAI to deploy and evaluate SBC interventions.

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

How are qualitative researchers navigating the use of AI tools by research participants? This month, the Ethics and Governance Working Group (EGWG) at the Natural Language Processing Community of Practice (NLP-CoP) is discussing the use of AI by research respondents. merltech.org/qualitative-...

Qualitative researchers are not OK: adapting to the use of AI by research respondents - MERL Tech

A conversation about the use of AI tools by research respondents, how this impacts qualitative research, researchers themselves, and how it connects to respondents' agency, and long-standing issues wi...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Technosolutionism, magical fixes, and lack of oversight: As one of our speakers noted during our event, “People in leadership positions are moving fast and breaking things, but when we’re talking about people’s lives, that isn’t a good thing.” merltech.org/event-recap-...

Event recap: “Should we be using AI right now?” A conversation about the ethical challenges of the current moment - MERL Tech

We gathered over 90 members of the NLP-CoP to discuss the ethical challenges of using AI in the current moment. Read the key takeaways.

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

🧵This week at The MERL Tech Initiative, we published a bunch of new resources! 👇

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

📣 The MERL Tech Initiative offers trainings for orgs/individuals interested in responsible, ethical, realistic design, use, and governance of digital tech and digital data. Our trainings are designed based on decades of experience in MERL + critical approaches to tech. merltech.org/trainings/

Training by The MERL Tech Initiative - MERL Tech

Who we are The MERL Tech Initiative (MTI) is a social venture that sits at the intersection of digital technology, human-centered information and communication, and the social sector. We support thou...

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

We just released a new AI Vendor Assessment Tool designed for folks in the international development, humanitarian, and social impact sectors who need to assess AI vendors but don't have specialized knowledge in AI systems. Check it out and give us some feedback! merltech.org/new-resource...

New resource: Tool for Assessing AI Vendors - MERL Tech

Revolution Impact and MTI are publishing an AI Vendor assessment tool designed for decision-makers in international development, humanitarian, and social impact.

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

On March 12, we hosted a webinar with Gerard Atkinson, who shared his research comparing various language models on standard evaluation tasks, such as qualitative text analysis and the use of rubrics to assess documents. In case you missed it, here's an event recap: merltech.org/event-recap-...

Event Recap: Tests of Large and Small Language Models on Common Evaluation Tasks - MERL Tech

On March 12, 2025, the NLP Community of Practice's Sandbox Working Group hosted a webinar featuring Gerard Atkinson, Director at ARTD Consultants (Australia), who presented findings from his research ...

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

The MERL Tech Initiative developed guidelines to support Girl Effect's work on AI-powered Sexual and Reproductive Health chatbots. We are happy to share this comprehensive, accessible set of guidelines to support development of social and behaviour change chatbots: merltech.org/girl-effect-...

Girl Effect Guidelines on Ethical AI-Powered Social & Behaviour Change Chatbots - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative developed guidelines to support Girl Effect's work on AI-powered Sexual and Reproductive Health chatbots.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

📖New book review on our website: “'Technocolonialism' offers a mirror for humanitarian actions of the past, as well as a forward-looking litmus test for a more reflexive humanitarian practice.” merltech.org/reviewing-mi...

Reviewing Mirca Madianou’s new book, “Technocolonialism: When Tech for Good is Harmful” - MERL Tech

Book review: Madianou's ‘Technocolonialism' expands humanitarian viewpoint beyond the moment of humanitarian intervention to consider technological uptake across space and time.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

📣 We’re thrilled to welcome Varaidzo Matimba to the role of AI+Africa Lead for the NLP-CoP, thanks to The Hewlett Foundation and its support for our AI+African MERL Working Group. Learn more about Vari and the work she'll be doing here: merltech.org/welcoming-ou...

Welcoming our new AI+Africa Lead for the NLP-CoP: Vari Matimba - MERL Tech

We’re thrilled to welcome Varaidzo Matimba to the role of AI+Africa Lead for the Natural Language Processing Community of Practice (NLP-CoP).

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Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) @thesvri.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧? 🔎 A new guide by @merltech.bsky.social & the SVRI explores the potential applications and risks of using #GenAI to support research on violence against women. ➡️ Access the guide: lnkd.in/dmKmrJa6

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

📣 New guide for those thinking about using GenAI in research on violence against women. We partnered with @thesvri.bsky.social to lay out big picture, structural, and ethics questions that researchers should ask before using GenAI for violence against women research. merltech.org/new-guide-ke...

New guide: key questions to ask before using GenAI for research on violence against women - MERL Tech

SVRI and The MERL Tech Initiative have developed a guide to support researchers with critical literacy to make decisions about GenAI tools in research on violence against women.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

We hosted a panel at #RightsCon to discuss the state of M&E of humanitarian AI and the kinds of M&E frameworks necessary to ensure the sector can effectively assess AI tools. Key takeaways from the convo here: merltech.org/rightscon-re...

RightsCon Recap - Assessing humanitarian AI: what M&E frameworks do humanitarians need in the face of emerging AI? - MERL Tech

On February 26th MTI convened a RightsCon Panel that included Linda Raftree - MTI founder, Quito Tsui - MTI Core Collaborator, Helen McEIhinney - Executive Director CDAC , Heather Leson - Digital In...

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

📢 Attending CSW in NY? Join us on March 17, 4 pm! We're partnering with CNN As Equals for an event on the role of media in raising awareness and changing perspectives around online violence. merltech.org/events/tech-...

Tech Salon: March 17 - How can media tell effective, real stories about online violence against women and girls? - MERL Tech

Join the Technology Salon for an exciting afternoon conversation over tea, coffee and snacks with journalists, technologists and data experts who are exploring the intersection of tech, media and onli...

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

📖 We just published a new paper by Dr. Savita Bailur and Medhavi Hassija examining how GenAI impacts women’s participation in key areas and highlighting the urgent need to address biases, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and digital divides. Read now: merltech.org/why-gender-i...

Why gender inclusion in GenAI matters now more than ever - MERL Tech

This paper examines GenAI's impacts on women’s participation in key areas and highlights the urgent need to address biases, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and existing inequalities.

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Earlier this month our NLP-CoP hosted @madianou.bsky.social (Professor and Co-Director of the Migrant Futures Institute at Goldsmiths, University of London) to discuss her new book “Technocolonialism: When Technology for Good is Harmful.” Here are some of the key takeaways from the event (1/5)🧵

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

📢 Join us next week at RightsCon: We're hosting/participating in a few online sessions. Learn how you can participate below: merltech.org/meet-us-virt...

Meet us (virtually!) at RightsCon next week - MERL Tech

Our team at The MERL Tech Initiative will be at RightsCon talking about the use of AI in the humanitarian sector and equitable data practices in AI.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

📆Last week to apply: We're hiring a part-time AI+Africa Lead for our NLP-CoP and the deadline is Feb 17! More details about the position here: merltech.org/jobs/ai-afri...

Job Description: AI+Africa Lead, Natural Language Processing Community of Practice - MERL Tech

We're hiring a part-time AI+Africa Lead for the MERL Tech Initiative's Natural Language Processing Community of Practice (NLP-CoP)!

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

📣We're hiring: The MERL Tech Initiative is looking for a part-time (60%) AI+Africa Lead for our Natural Language Processing Community of Practice. merltech.org/were-hiring-...

We’re hiring: Join MTI as our new AI+Africa Lead for the NLP-CoP - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative is hiring a part-time AI+Africa Lead for our Natural Language Processing Community of Practice. Apply by Feb 16.

Reposted by MERL Tech Initiative

Mirca Madianou @madianou.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Look forward to this conversation with Quito Tsui and @merltech.bsky.social about my new book, 'Technocolonialism: when technology for good is harmful'. 11 February 3pm GMT (online), details below:

Reposted by MERL Tech Initiative

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

📢 Next week: We're honored to be joined by Mophat Okinyi (Techworker Community Africa), Oğuz Alyanak (Fairwork), Maria Mukobi and Kriti Bajpai, and Soma Mitra-Behura (Girl Effect) for a conversation about data workers' labour conditions and what we can do to support. merltech.org/humans-in-th...

Humans in the Machine: the Impact of AI on workers - Learn More on February 6th - MERL Tech

As early as 2023, whistleblowers in countries like Kenya started alerting the world about a new form of labour inequity. Hundreds of thousands of data-workers had quietly been engaged by go-between re...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Join us on Feb 11th for a NLP-CoP members-only event with @madianou.bsky.social . More info on the event and on becoming an NLP-CoP member (both are free) at the link -> merltech.org/humanitarian...

Join us for a special NLP-CoP members-only event with: Mirca Madianou, author of Technocolonialism - MERL Tech

Join the Humanitarian AI+MERL Working Group and Mirca Madianou to discuss her new book on "Technocolonialism."

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

📢 Next week: We're honored to be joined by Mophat Okinyi (Techworker Community Africa), Oğuz Alyanak (Fairwork), Maria Mukobi and Kriti Bajpai, and Soma Mitra-Behura (Girl Effect) for a conversation about data workers' labour conditions and what we can do to support. merltech.org/humans-in-th...

Humans in the Machine: the Impact of AI on workers - Learn More on February 6th - MERL Tech

As early as 2023, whistleblowers in countries like Kenya started alerting the world about a new form of labour inequity. Hundreds of thousands of data-workers had quietly been engaged by go-between re...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

📣We're hiring: The MERL Tech Initiative is looking for a part-time (60%) AI+Africa Lead for our Natural Language Processing Community of Practice. merltech.org/were-hiring-...

We’re hiring: Join MTI as our new AI+Africa Lead for the NLP-CoP - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative is hiring a part-time AI+Africa Lead for our Natural Language Processing Community of Practice. Apply by Feb 16.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

📢 Funding opportunity: Our friends at the Safety Showcase have an open call for tech products that ground gender equality and inclusion to prevent and respond to tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Deadline is Feb 3. More info here: www.tfgbvsafetyshowcase.org/post/safety-...

tfgbvsafetyshowcase.org

Safety Showcase open call for tech products that ground gender equality and inclusion to prevent and respond to tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV)

On 11 March 2024, during the UN Commission on the Status of Women, supporters announced a Safety Showcase to everyone who shares a passion for safe and ethical technology which puts women’s and girls’...

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Reposted by MERL Tech Initiative

Lina Srivastava @linasrivastava.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

How can civil society prepare for the changes wreaked by the influence of Big Tech and the incoming administration? Read this recap by @meowtree.bsky.social of @merltech.bsky.social of last month's TechSalon in NYC for some ideas. merltech.org/the-influenc...

The influence of Big Tech in 2025: 8 ways civil society can prepare for the incoming US administration - MERL Tech

Our December 16th Technology Salon unpacked the alliance between Big Tech and the incoming US Administration and suggested ways organizations can respond.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

merltech.org/weve-mostly-...

We’ve (mostly) banned AI assistants from NLP Community of Practice events. Here’s why. - MERL Tech

We recently decided to ban AI note takers from our virtual events, with some important exceptions. Here’s why we’ve done so, as well as a few tips on how you can navigate the acceptance, denial or req...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

We want to build a "MERL Tech" starter pack. Who should we include? Nominate folks working at the intersection of research, insights, monitoring, measurement, evaluation, strategy, learning, impact, information/knowledge management, data responsibility, ICT4D, tech, NLP and GenAI (etc)

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Join the New York City Technology Salon for an in-person conversation on Big Tech's growing role in the incoming administration and what that might mean in the US and globally. mailchi.mp/technologysa...

Please RSVP Now: How will Big Tech Influence the 2025 Administration?

Join your Tech Salon peers to explore how the incoming Trump administration will reshape the Federal government

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Can humanitarians safely use AI for monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) processes? Quito Tsui recaps our Nov 7th Humanitarian AI+MERL Working Group meeting. merltech.org/humanitarian...

Humanitarian AI+MERL: mapping community questions, concerns and needs - MERL Tech

On November 7th, the Humanitarian AI + MERL Working Group had its first meeting. We took a deeper look at questions about humanitarian use of AI, identified collective community needs and surfaced gui...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Observations from the recent Deep Learning Indaba in Dakar. www.technologyreview.com/2024/11/11/1...

technologyreview.com

What Africa needs to do to become a major AI player

Inadequate funding, infrastructure issues, and fights over regulation mean the sector's future remains uncertain.

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Where are we today with with GenAI for monitoring, evaluation, research and learning? Where are we going in 2025? Some thoughts from The MERL Tech Initiative's @meowtree.bsky.social . merltech.org/its-the-end-...

It's the end of 2024: Where are we with GenAI for MERL? - MERL Tech

Some ten years after the emergence of MERL Tech, I thought it might be fun to share some observations of the evolution of the space, from the early days when people were first thinking about digital d...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Should we use AI to do research on gender based violence and violence against children? Here's what participants at the Nov 14 Tech Salon think. merltech.org/the-gbv-and-...

The GBV and VAC research spaces are changing. Are we paying attention? - MERL Tech

Our November 14th Tech Salon asked whether it's safe to use AI to conduct research on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Violence against Children (VAC). Read on for a summary.

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