PROFILE

DIGITAL
DEVELOPMENT
FOUNDATION

a brief introduction

www.ddfglobal.org
[email protected]
CONTE NTS
1 - Name of Organization
2 - The People
3 - Type & Nature
4 - Year of Establishment
5 - Vision
6 - Mission
7 - Broad Objectives
8 - Core Programs / Thematic Focus
i. Disaster Risk Reduction & Sustainable Livelihoods
ii. Education
iii. Gender Equality & Violence Against Women
iv. Water, Sanitation and Physical Infrastructure
v. Children & Youth
vi. Environment Protection & Climate Change
vii. Health and HIV & AIDS
viii. Civil Society & Institutional Development
9 - Focus Groups
10 - Geographical Focus
11 - Legal Status
12 - Governance
13 - Management
14 - Partners & Partnerships
15 - Experience Portfolio
i. Experience in Education Sector
ii. Experience in Gender & VAWIssues
iii. Experience in Responding Natural Disasters
iv. Experience in Capacity Building
v. Experience in Physical Infrastructure Development
16 - Departments
17 - Financial Portfolio
18 - Approach & Strategies
19 - Values & Guiding Principles 20 - Policies & Systems
20 - Human Resources
21 - Review & Monitoring
22 - Accounts & Audits
23 - The Website
1 - Name of Organization
The full name / registered name of organization is "DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT
FOUNDATION" The abbreviation is "DDF".

2 - The People
Digital Development Foundation was established by a group of young and energetic people who
were highly motivated and committed for contributing their time, skills and energies for the
development and empowerment of socially disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in
Bangladesh and addressing poverty issues and gender based discriminations.

3 - Type & Nature of Organization

DDF is a development organization. It’s a non-government, not-for-profit and nonsectarian, non-
partisan organization working for social development of vulnerable and less developed people.
It’s a human-centered Organization. DDF could also be labeled as an implementing organization
which designs and implements various developmental projects with the financial and technical
support of international donor agencies and the government.

Digital Development Foundation (DDF) is an ICT organization formed by some renowned

professionals and primarily dedicated to manufacturing software’s and maintaining application
of coordination to implement the software’s for several years in Bangladesh. DDF believe that
the personality of product depends on the price and performance. With this principle we rooted
deeply inside the businesses with low price and high efficiency. It has research and development
(R&D) team with high quality, relevant experiences and excellent skill, also has gathered a group
of market and project management talents who are well-trained, spirited, and innovative. Its core
technology team has been engaged in the development of customized software’s.

Digital Development Foundation (DDF) has strong research and training wing. Those are
involved to develop human resource management in health and ICT sector. Renowned and
skilled personnel are involved with conducting research and training. ICT oriented training they
have provided. Some includes fundamental knowledge of computer, Microsoft word, Microsoft
Excel, Microsoft Power Point, Operating E-mail and Browsing Internet. In addition, tailor made
training were provided to the government and non-government organization.

Businesses and organization users can realize the web-interact work mode with the features of
multi-region, multi-system, multi-organization and multi-workflow for better management and
maximize profit. Our systems helps our clients improve the collaboration efficiency, decrease the
communication cost, optimize knowledge management, perfect workflow, and finally boost the
core competition strength. Our system makes, our clients could enjoy the fastness of work,
improvement of efficiency, increase of profit and network.
4 - Year of Establishment
Digital Development Foundation founded under society act in Bangladesh in June, 2007.

5 - Vision
We promised to create a dynamic platform for the universal coverage of ICT in Bangladesh and
to end economic poverty and social backwardness through the simple expedient of ending
information poverty by empowering marginalized and information-dark communities with
digital literacy, access to digital tools and information-rich knowledge society ushered in by the
Internet and the digital revolution.

6 - Mission
To adopt a seven-fold path for constantly empowering people, especially marginalized and
information-dark communities, with the power of information and knowledge using digital tools.
Our seven-fold path is:

 Access & Infrastructure: Providing people access to the Internet and making them
digitally literate

 Governance & Entitlements: Raising awareness about their rights and entitlements and
giving them the voice to demand better governance, better delivery of government services
and better protection of their basic human rights using digital literacy and digital tools

 Education & Empowerment: Enabling people to access better health, education, skill and
livelihood opportunities using digital literacy and digital tools

 Social Sector & CSOs: Empowering grassroots-level civil society organization’s working

in the developmental sector with online presence and digital literacy and digitally ensuring
protection of people's culture, heritage, environment and natural resources

 Markets & Enterprise: Digitally empowering micro-enterprises and communities by

training them to use digital tools and enabling them to access new markets through website
presence and e-commerce

 Knowledge Hub & Database: Creating a knowledge network of digital practitioners and

database of effective ICTD innovations and interventions so that these innovations and
interventions can be scaled up and partnerships can be forged for using them according to
specific socio-economic developmental needs
 Advocacy & Research: Advocacy and activism to ensure access for all to the Internet as a
basic human right and more extensive use of ICT and digital tools for development
7 - Broad Objectives
Following are board objectives of DDF:
1. Disaster Risk Reduction, Provide Timely Relief Assistance to Disaster Affected
Communities and Assist them for their Timely Rehabilitation and Early Recovery
2. Promotion of Livelihoods and Explore Sustainable & Disaster Resilient Livelihood
Options
3. Promotion of Education with Special Focus on Girls’ Education
4. Promotion of Gender Equality & Women Empowerment, and Address Gender Based
Violence Issues
5. Provision of Accessible and clean drinking water & quality Sanitation Facilities and
Improvement of Community Physical Infrastructure
6. Promotion of Child Protection, Rights of Children & Youth Development and Address
the Issues related to Abuse and marginalization of Children, Adolescents and Youth
7. Promote Environment Protection and Address Climate Change Issues
8. Promote Basic Health Facilities and Address HIV & AIDS
9. Support Development of Civil Society and Institutional Development

8 - Core Programs / Thematic Focus

Digital Development Foundation has following seven core programs or thematic focus
which helps Foundation in strategically achieving its mission.
i) Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change
ii) Livelihoods & Food Security
iii) Education
iv) Gender Equality
v) Water, Sanitation and Physical Infrastructure
vi) Children & Youth
vii) Health and HIV & AIDS
9 - Focus Groups
Digital Development Foundation’s focus is on the socio-economically disadvantaged groups of
women, youth and children. Keeping I,n view the overall socio-cultural fabric of the society and
the overall power imbalances and discriminations that exist at all levels; the focus, amongst these
groups, is again on most vulnerable and the marginalized ones. DDF also focuses on the
inclusion of minorities and special groups such as widows and physically impaired persons and
elderly people.

10 - Geographical Focus
The Foundation's overall geographic focus is the province of Sindh.

11 - Legal Status
Digital Development Foundation is a registered body. The Foundation is registered under “The
Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Act XXI of 1860) of Government of Bangladesh. The
registration number is 6741.

12 - Governance
Digital Development Foundation is governed by its Board of Directors (BoD). The Board is the
key policy making and governance body of the Foundation and works independently. It
formulates and approves policies and organizational systems and evaluates the overall
performance of Digital Development Foundation on period basis. The BoD consists of eight
members (both male and female) and is headed by its Chairperson. The Foundation’s board of
directors comprises of development professionals, intellectuals, academicians, activists and
media persons. The Executive Director of Digital Development Foundation serves the board as
the secretary and ex-officio member. The Board works in the guidelines of the Board Policies
Manual.

13 - Management
Digital Development Foundation is lead by its Executive Director who is the formal head of the
organization. The Executive Director reports to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors (BoD)
and is responsible for the overall management of the organization.
The Executive Director is supported by the manager programs and team of coordinators /
managers of different sections / programs of the foundation and they jointly form a management
structure for the Foundation.
14 - Partners & Partnerships
Partnerships are the heart-line of Digital Development Foundation. The Foundation refers as
“PARTNERS” to all those individuals, communities, and organizations and departments which
join hands for extending program interventions. Beneficiary community, the line departments,
national and international donors, the provincial governments, and other key stake holders from
civil society are the best examples of Digital Development Foundation’s Partners. These
partnerships help organization (financially and technically) to achieve its mission.

Since its establishment in year 2002; Digital Development Foundation has remained privileged
in getting the opportunity to work with a number of diverse partners who not only extended
financial support for various projects; but also adequately build the capacity of organization from
different perspectives.

15 - EXPERIENCE PORTFOLIO...
i - Experience in Education Sector...
Digital Development Foundation has remained engaged in education sector since year 2004.
The Foundation has established a number of primary schools in different project areas and has
also formed a number of parents’ education committees (PECs) and school management
committees (SMCs).
For the sustainability of the schools and its effective operations; Digital Development
Foundation always uses the strategies such as the true community participation, public private
partnerships and the formation and strengthening/capacity building of PECs & SMCs.
Digital Development Foundation has established a total of about 73 primary schools in
different districts. These schools have catered the primary education needs of 2272 children in
about 73 villages. About 78 teachers are engaged in these schools to fulfill the educational
needs of the primary students.

ii - Experience in Gender & Women Empowerment Issues..

Digital Development Foundation is engaged in promoting gender equality and addressing
women empowerment issues since its inception in year 2002. The Foundation’s first ever
project (year 2003) focused the issues of violence against women (VAW) particularly the
issues of honor killing.
Over the period of 8-9 years of rich experience of working on women issues; the Foundation
has well increased its conceptual understanding and knowledge of the issues of marginalized
women and the women vulnerable to domestic violence.
During its work on gender issues; the Foundation explored and worked with a number of
critical stakeholders who could be of great support as for as addressing the issues of gender
and women empowerment - particularly VAW is concerned. For example, the Foundation
closely worked with School Teachers and Media Representatives to increase awareness and
sensitize the local communities and administration for addressing gender issues. Working
with police officers was another successful approach the Foundation successfully tested.

iii - Experience in Responding Natural Disasters..

Digital Development Foundation actively responds natural disasters and emergencies such as
flood and earthquake etc. The Foundation has been responding emergencies since year 2004.
During its engagement in various disaster response interventions; Digital Development
Foundation has well skilled itself in designing and implementing the relief and early recovery
interventions.

DDF has provided its various relief and early recovery services to about (130,000) families
i.e. about (9.6) million individuals in (05) districts.

iv - Experience in Capacity Building..

Building capacity of partners and different stake holders is the cross cutting theme for all DDF
core programs. Digital Development Foundation has been involved in capacity building
activities since year 2003.

Digital Development Foundation has conducted a large number of training workshops for
police officers, media representatives, school teachers local NGOs and CBOs, school
management committees, community groups, government officers, and project teams of
various projects. Over the period of 8 years; the Foundation has greatly developed its capacity
in designing and conducting different nature training and capacity building events for
different groups / stakeholders.

The Foundation now itself designs and conducts training, which caters the capacity building
needs of its different partners and clients. Following is the details of some of the projects /
assignments related to capacity building and institutional development which Foundation
conducted during different periods for different groups.

Nature of # of Total Total Client /

Them / Topic Year
Participants Events Groups Participants Donor
CBO Women
03 10 75 DDF 2003
Management Organizations
Women
Gender & VAW 05 10 125 DDF 2003
Organizations
Art of Social
Project Staff 01 01 25 PIDS 2005
Mobilization
Basic Training on School
13 230 DDF 2005-07
Gender & VAW Teachers
Basic Training on Media
8 120 DDF 2005-07
Gender & VAW Persons
 Basic Training on Police
13 13 305 DDF 2005-07
Gender & VAW Officers
Basic Training on
CCBs 8 24 168 DDF 2007
Gender & VAW
Environment & Government
01 01 25 IUCN 2005
Governance Officers
School Parents
Management & Education 20 100 858 BEF/WB 2007
Record Keeping Committees
School Parents
Management & Education 14 62 310 BEF/WB 2009
Record Keeping Committees
Orientation on
Early Recovery UNDP=GEF 01 16 35 GEF 2011
Projects Partners

v - Experience in Physical Infrastructure Development...

The Foundation has been intervening for the development of community physical
infrastructure since year 2004. Digital Development Foundation always tries to develop and
improve the local physical infrastructure which can help improve the living conditions of the
rural communities.

16 - Departments
Digital Development Foundation has established its various departments which help in smooth
and systematic implementation of Foundation interventions: These include:
i: HR Department
ii: Monitoring Evaluation, Research & Documentation Department
iii: Admin & Logistics Department
iv: Finance Department
v: Complaint Response Unit

17 - Financial Portfolio
Digital Development Foundation implements its projects with the grants / funding from various
national and international donors and government of the province where it works. These grants
are usually time-bound and for specific project interventions. Digital Development Foundation
has learnt a lot while managing grants of diverse donors and has well developed its financial
management capability. Since its establishment in year 2002 till the mid of year 2011; the
organization has implemented about 29 projects in different geographic areas and in different
sectors amounting to over 400 million rupees.
18 - Approach & Strategies
The Foundation strongly believes in the true and active participation of all key stakeholders -
particularly the local communities or program beneficiaries. Fair efforts are taken to ensure that
stakeholders participate and contribute at all the stages of the interventions.

As its strategy, Digital Development Foundation particularly focuses to ensure the maximum
participation of women, children and youth wherever required and relevant - and particularly if
the program has any direct or indirect impacts on their lives.

The overall approach of work also identifies the gender sensitivities if any related to the program
and strategically addresses the same.

Digital Development Foundation, as its overall implementation approach, takes carefully into
account the local culture and traditions and fully respects the same.

Following are the key elements of DDF Program Strategies & Work Approach
 Thematic Partnerships
 Social Mobilization /Community Participation
 Awareness Raising & Sensitization
 Capacity Building
 Dialogues & Engagements
 Research & Publications
 Networking & Coalition Building
 Advocacy & Lobbying
 Review & Reflection

19 - Values & Guiding Principles

In order to achieve its mission and to make its programs even more human-centered; Digital
Development Foundation follows certain values and guiding principles in all its interventions
and dealings.

These include the following:

■ Peace & Tolerance
■ Participation & Inclusion
■ Transparency & Accountability
 ■ Non-Discrimination
■ Non-Violence
■ Equity & Fairness
■ Sharing & Openness

20 - Policies & Systems

Digital Development Foundation follows its specific set of policies and Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) which has been revised and updated a number of times up till now in order to
make them more staff friendly and organization-centered.

Digital Development Foundation uses its following manuals of policies:

- Manual of Human Resources and Administrative Policies
- Manual of Financial Policies

These manuals contain a number of basic organizational policies and procedures which help in
the creation and maintenance of a transparent, accountable and fair working environment in
Digital Development Foundation and ensure the effective achievement of overall objectives of
the Foundation.

21 - Human Resources
Digital Development Foundation has a core team with various professional backgrounds such as
management, finances and HR etc. In addition the DDF hires the project staff as and when
required. The Foundation also engages volunteers and interns on need basis.

22 - Review & Monitoring

Monitoring of projects in Digital Development Foundation is always the important and priority
matter. There is always a built in mechanism of review and monitoring for all the projects DDF
implements. The processes of review and monitoring help Foundation in achieving the project
objectives in smooth and timely manner. As the key mechanism of monitoring; the projects are
monitored by the implementation teams; the coordinators / managers of the program and the
management of DDF.

23 - Accounts & Audits

Digital Development Foundation maintains its all accounts on double entry system. Foundation
has developed various financial policies, systems and formats etc. which help it in effective
management of all its funds and maintaining a complete transparency in receipts and payments at
all levels.
Digital Development Foundation gets its accounts (receipts and payments) audited by the
recognized chartered accountants’ firms on the completion of projects or by the end of each
financial year.

24 - The Website
Digital Development Foundation Website is one of the best websites of NGOs working in
Bangladesh. Efforts have been made to ensure that website contains all the relevant information
of the organization and the same is easily accessible to the visitor. The website improvement and
updating is continuous process and organization is trying to upload in the cyber space its
maximum information possible.

www.ddfglobal.org
[email protected]