Insights From the Edge
Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Initiative
In this evaluation-report co-written by Troy Etulain, the focus is squarely on bridging the “governance gap” in AI: how to translate lofty ethics-statements into operational frameworks, oversight functions and long-term institutions. The report identifies critical levers: co-creating governance frameworks with practitioners, layering monitoring-and-evaluation (M&E) measures tied to adoption and behavior change, and deploying adaptive governance that evolves with fast-moving AI systems. Etulain and co-authors highlight that success means building an ecosystem in which governance isn’t an add-on, but embedded in AI development, deployment and regulation. The message resonates: for AI systems to be trustworthy and inclusive, ethics must be built into the architecture of organizational and societal decision-making—mirroring Etulain’s focus on scalable, measurable impact in tech for development.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNANCE
The report documents how ICT—mobile data collection, GIS/visualization, IVR, web portals—can improve illegal logging detection, internal workflows, and public transparency in Lao PDR and Moldova. In the lessons synthesized by Troy Etulain, success depends on aligning tech choices with long-term institutional strategies, building open data practices, and prioritizing user experience over feature lists. Key cautions include managing expectations, guarding information security, leveraging intermediaries/partners, and setting clear KPIs with robust monitoring & evaluation to prove real-world impact. The sequence—baseline e-readiness → targeted applications/training → document and scale—offers a practical template for agencies facing similar constraints. Etulain’s through-line is clear: governance outcomes first, technology second, so ICT investments actually change behaviors and strengthen forest sector accountability. profor.info