CALL FOR PAPERS

Special Issue:

Indigenous knowledge and Information

Technology for Sustainable Development

Information technology (IT) has proven to be a critical enabler of the sustainable development
goals (SDGs). Its widespread diffusion has facilitated the development and implementation of
innovations, business opportunities, financial services, and institutions necessary to eradicate
poverty and reorient unsustainable development practices (United Nations, n.d.; Zheng et al.,
2018). Yet, IT is often criticized for its adverse effects on sustainable development's
environmental, economic, and social dimensions, such as increased inequalities and
environmental pollution (Rothe et al., 2022).

At the same time, indigenous knowledge currently occupies a privileged position in discussions
regarding achieving development that genuinely targets the interests of poor and marginalized
communities (Cibangu, 2020; Hasan et al., 2022). In this Special Issue, indigenous knowledge
refers to knowledge unique to people living or evolving in a particular geographical area
resulting from historical behaviours and resource-use practices in complex ecological systems
in their localities (Grenier, 1998). This body of knowledge is grounded in literature arguing that
linking indigenous knowledge and technology use can effectively engage communities in their
contextual development process and contribute to building strong partnerships between
communities and development institutions at local, national and international levels (Osei-
Bryson and Bailey, 2019).

Integrating new technologies within local indigenous communities can be challenging due to
cross-cultural communication, misunderstandings, and inevitable political dimensions
(Korpela, 1996). Nevertheless, it is critical to understand, and place value on local dimensions
to avoid eroding knowledge, and to re-balance power that would empower communities
(Dennehy et al., 2013).

These technologies can interfere with traditional lifestyles that affect indigenous peoples'
priorities and identities (Sillitoe, 1998). Although indigenous communities may use IT similarly
to non-indigenous communities, they may conceptualize and interact with IT in vastly different
ways, hence the need for contextualized reflections on the need for certain IT innovations
(Osei-Bryson and Bailey, 2019). Increasing the involvement and collaboration of indigenous
peoples and local communities in development strategies touches upon contemporary issues
such as cultural identity and intellectual property rights (Prakash, 2000; Pushpangadan et al.,
2017). Furthermore, indigenous knowledge is guided by inherent, long-standing relationships
with the land, ecological wisdom, and cultural values. Therefore, reliable indigenous
knowledge that can be applied under changing conditions is essential for successful
development-focused technology-based strategies.

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IT for development requires emancipatory and participatory sustainable development projects
that value and include indigenous knowledge and peoples in the IT design, development, and
implementation processes. Research shows how indigenous knowledge has been combined
with IT to enhance farming practices (Puri and Sahay, 2003; Smidt and Jokonya, 2022) and
identify high-risk areas in low- and middle-income countries (Membele et al., 2022). Indigenous
knowledge has also been combined with IT to improve contextual seasonal forecasts
(Streefkerk et al., 2022). Other studies have investigated how IT can help to preserve and
disseminate indigenous knowledge (Gomez et al., 2019) and sustain Indigenous cultures
(Simons et al., 2020). Still, research on the relationships between indigenous knowledge and
IT design, development and implementation is scarce (Myers et al., 2020), especially as it
relates to the achievement of the SDGs (Prieto-Egido et al., 2022). In addition, indigenous
peoples and their knowledge continue to be systemically discriminated against due to
colonization (Bastien et al., 2022; Khene and Masiero, 2022).

Aims and Scope

This Special Issue aims to stimulate rigorous scientific research on the role of indigenous
knowledge in IT for sustainable development. Heading into the critical second half of the SDG
2030 agenda, this Special Issue focuses on how to leverage and integrate indigenous
knowledge to increase the contribution of IT solutions to the achievement of the SDGs. It
aspires to demonstrate how strengthening the involvement of indigenous peoples, local
communities, and their knowledge can influence the impacts of IT-based development
strategies that meet the needs of poor and marginalized communities. Thus, we welcome
papers that reveal the positive and/or negative aspects of associating indigenous knowledge
and IT for sustainable development.

Topics of submission include, but are not limited to:

§ Respecting or discriminating indigenous knowledge and organizations in IT for
sustainable development projects.
§ Indigenous knowledge and IT for poverty eradication.
§ Indigenous knowledge and digital health.
§ Indigenous knowledge and IT for quality education.
§ Indigenous knowledge and IT for gender equality and women empowerment.
§ Indigenous knowledge and IT for community projects (e.g., agriculture, water, and
energy management)
§ Indigenous knowledge and IT for environmental protection.
§ Indigenous knowledge and IT for economic development (e.g., financial inclusion,
circular economy, tourism).
§ Indigenous knowledge and IT for better local governance.

This Special Issue welcomes papers from all disciplines and encourages multidisciplinary that
apply quantitative, qualitative, design science or mixed-methods research approaches.

Deadlines
§ Deadline for submission: 15 January 2024
§ Notification of initial acceptance: 31 March 2024
§ Deadline for revised papers: 30 June 2024
§ Notification of final acceptance: 30 September 2024
§ Tentative publication date: December 2024

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Paper Submission Instructions and review process
This Special Issue will consist of: (1) the best submissions from an open Call for Papers,
selected on a competitive basis; and (2) invited papers that are extended or modified versions
of selected papers accepted at the IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society
2023 (https://attend.ieee.org/istas-2023/), Swansea, Wales. In the latter case, the conference
publication must be substantially revised, and the authors must submit a letter detailing the
differences between their conference paper and the new version. All submitted and invited
papers will go through peer review; if an invited conference paper does not receive a
satisfactory review, the paper will not be considered for the Special Issue. Researchers and
practitioners are invited to submit original papers using the journal submission and reviewing
website https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/itd. Detailed submission guidelines can be found at
http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?show=instructions&journalCode=titd20

Submitted papers should follow the instructions for authors and indicate the "Indigenous
knowledge and Information Technology for Sustainable Development" Special Issue when
uploading their papers. Submissions to the Special Issue should be full research papers or
practice papers. Each submitted paper will be peer-reviewed like other submissions to the
Journal of IT for Development. Relevance, quality, and originality of the contribution are the
major acceptance criteria for each submission. Each submitted paper must contain original
results and must not be submitted elsewhere while being evaluated.

GUEST EDITORS
Ransome Bawack is an Assistant Professor of Management Sciences (Information Systems)
at Audencia Business School, France. He holds a master’s degree in Management &
Information Systems, an MBA (marketing & operations management), and a Bachelor's degree
in Computer Engineering. His research has primarily focused on the business value of artificial
intelligence (AI)-based technologies and, more recently, on digital inclusion. His work has been
published in leading academic journals like Technological Forecasting and Social Change,
Information Technology & People, Information Systems Frontiers, International Journal of
Information Management, Electronic Markets, Business Process Management Journal, and
Journal of Enterprise Information Management.

Sian Roderick is a senior lecturer of innovation management and Deputy Director of

Postgraduate Research at the School of Management, Swansea University, Wales, UK.
Underpinned by her background in psychology, her research is concerned with the perceptions
and experiences of temporary workforces, social innovation, and community cohesion. As a
result, Sian works with private and public sector organizations evaluating and researching the
impact of community initiatives, organizational support mechanisms and frontline workers. She
has published in The Journal of Strategic Marketing, The International Journal of Information
Management and Knowledge Management Research and Practice.

Abdalla Badhrus is a programme manager at the Muslim Education and Welfare Association
(MEWA), a non-governmental organization established in 1994. Since then, MEWA has
expanded its services to communities throughout the coastal region of Kenya, Tanzania,
Zanzibar, and Lamu island. Services include a hospital, library, education scholarships, ICT
training programmes, residential drug treatment and detox services, and a range of outreach
programmes that promote a healthy, socio-cultural, and economically enriched
society. Abdalla has over 25 years of field experience designing and delivering drug

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prevention, addiction treatment, and harm reduction. He co-founded the MEWA Drug
Treatment Centre, MEWA Detoxification Unit, and MEWA Drop-in Centre. This work has been
funded by international agencies including UNODC, US AID, and Irish Aid, as well as
sponsorship from private sector organisations.

Denis Dennehy is an Associate Professor of Business Analytics and School Research Lead
at the School of Management, Swansea University, Wales, UK. His research focuses on the
mediating role of technology and analytics and their implications for people, organizations, and
society. This research has been published in leading journals, including the International
Journal of Operations & Production Management, European Journal of Operational Research,
Information Systems Frontiers, Information & Management, Government Information
Quarterly, and IEEE. He is a Senior Editor of Information Technology & People and has edited
many special issues related to his field. Previously he worked with national (e.g., MEWA) and
international NGOs operating in Kenya (e.g., Foundation for Sustainable Development).

Jacqueline Corbett is a Professor of Management Information Systems in the Faculty of

Business Administration at Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada. Taking a multidisciplinary
and multi-method approach, Jacqueline's research examines the design and use of information
systems (IS) to support sustainable development and sustainable digital transformation. Her
work is published in top IS and management journals, including the Journal of Business Ethics,
Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Journal of the Association of Information Systems,
Information Systems Journal, and International Journal of Information Management.
Jacqueline is the Director of the Centre for Research and Co-creation in Innovation and
Sustainable Indigenous Business.

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Bastien, F., Coraiola, D.M. and Foster, W.M. (2022), "Indigenous Peoples and Organization
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Cibangu, S.K. (2020), "Marginalization of indigenous voices in the information age: a case
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