
Hasib Ahsan
PhD fellow
- Technologies in Practice
Research Group
- TIME
Research Group
- Business IT
Department
IT University of Copenhagen
Rued Langgaards Vej 7
DK-2300 Copenhagen S
Denmark
Building: 3D05
- Email: hahs@itu.dk
Information Desk: 72185000
Curriculum
Hasib has been as a researcher and practitioner of Digital Transformation in the Global South, ICT for Development (ICT4D), ICT Policy, International and Sustainable Development for more than 14 years. He worked with governments, NGOs and private sectors, universities and with social enterprises including marginalized communities.
By using Human Centred Design (HCD) approach, he ideated, designed and implemented large scale digital services in 'Digital Agriculture', 'Digital Health', 'mHealth', IT-based Water and Sanitation, Mobile-based Livestock Service, Refugee crisis and ICT, Digital M&E, etc. Currently he is working as a PhD Researcher and also as a Co-PI at the IT University of Copenhagen (ITU), Denmark. His PhD research is on 'Digital Transformation and Impact in the Global South Countries'. He applied and received external grant around DKK 1.75 million from Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) with his supervisor during his PhD tenure.
Before joining ITU, Hasib worked around 12 years in ICT for Development and International and Sustainable Development. He was the Director of e-Agriculture (On a study leave now) at mPower Social Enterprises Ltd in Bangladesh and implemented various large scale 'Digital Development' projects as Team Lead which are funded by USAID, Geodata for Agriculture and Water (G4AW) - Netherlands, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands (EKN), Netherlands Space Office (NSO), World Bank-IFC, UkAiD (DfID), GiZ (Germany), Water Aid etc. He was involved to implement customized information technology-based solutions which helped development organizations to make social impact in the rural and disadvantaged communities. So far, he was involved in designing and implementing services for aprox. 200,000 people in South Asia and South-East Asian countries. Hasib worked with government and ministries, NGOs, private companies, universities, social enterprises and formed multiple national/international consortiums to attract external funding and execute projects in the underpreviledged communities.
His works are recognised in different international arenas and he participated in Nobel Prize Week in Sweden, 2016 as a international fellow from the Swedish Institute (SI). He received notable recognitions, fellowships and awards, such as, United Nation World Summit Award (WSA), Standard-Charted Bank Agrow Award, South Asian mBillionth Award, National Mobile Application Award, MIT D-Lab Design Thinking Fellowship (IDDS), Asian Young Scholar Award from IDRC, Canada, Swedish Young Connectors of the Future (YCF) Fellowship, ETHOS World Bank Fellow in ICT and Entrepreneurship, Internet Governance Fellowship from of APIGA and ICANN.
Total external fund received from donors and foundations: USD 25 million (Approx)
Research areas
My research interests focus on Digital Development, ICT4D, Digital Transformation (Global South), HCI, International Development, SDG.
Employments/positions
♦ Director of e-Agriculture, mPower Social Enterprises Ltd. Bangladesh (Jan 2017- Sep 2018)
Projects
- Team Lead, mPower (2016-2018): The Netherlands Space Office (NSO) funded Geo data to control late blight fungal disease in potato in Bangladesh (GEOPOTATO) project with 50,000 farmers.
- ICT Head of Operations (2013-2018): USAID funded Agricultural Extension Support Activity Project (e- Agriculture) with 110,000 farmers in Bangladesh
- Team Lead, mPower (2015-2018): The Netherlands Space Office (NSO) funded Geodata based information services for small farmers in Bangladesh (GEOBIS) project – with 50,000 beneficiaries
- Team Lead, mPower (2017-2018): World Bank-IFC funded Digital Agriculture Advisory Service for PPCR Project with 30,000 farmers in Bangladesh and Nepal
- Project Director, mPower (2017-2018): Water and delta capacity development project (DeltaCap) – 4 years long project funded by NICHE (Netherlands Government)
- Team Lead, mPower (2017-2018): USAID Feed the Future Asia Innovative Farmers Activity (AIFA) funded AgriBytes Project: A Platform that Brings Together Diverse Stakeholders in the Agricultural Sector of Bangladesh through Sharing Data, Strategies and Innovation.
- Team Lead, mPower (2017-1018): Smartphone app based and female entrepreneur driven farmer advisory services pilot project. Implemented by mPower and iSocial Bangladesh
- Team Lead, mPower (2016-2017): Climate and Agriculture Information Service (CAIS) Project – funded by Welthungerhilfe, Germany.
- Team Lead, mPower (2016-2017): Mobile based Climate Smart Agro Information and Services for Farmers Project – funded by Christian Aid Bangladesh
♦ Senior Program and Research Manager, mPower Social Enterprises Ltd., Bangladesh (Jan 2013 - Dec 2016)
Projects
- ICT Head of Operations (2013-2018): USAID funded Agricultural Extension Support Activity Project (e- Agriculture) with 110,000 farmers in Bangladesh
- Team Lead (2013-2014): Mobile Phone based Program Management Information System (mPMIS) in water and sanitation sector – Funded by WaterAid
- Team Lead (2012-2013): Pilot intervention in ‘Intelligent’ Mobile-based Livestock Management System Project – funded by UKAid (Current name, FCDO)
- Research Lead (2012-2013): ‘Digital Monitoring and Evaluation System’ and ‘Mobile-based Change Management Evaluation System’ of ‘SHIREE Project’ – the biggest extreme poverty and economic empowerment project in Bangladesh funded by UKAid (Current name, FCDO)
Research outputs (1)
- Published
Rohingya mHealth: Investigating Mental Health in Kutupalong Refugee Camp
Research output: Journal Article or Conference Article in Journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Press (3)
Don’t miss the Solution for the Technology - An Interview with Hasib Ahsan
Press/Media: Press / Media
Lockdown Vs Social Distancing: Need for Effective Communication
Press/Media: Press / Media
Solution Using Information Technology - Rohingya Refugee Crisis
Press/Media: Press / Media
Prizes (3)
Standard Chartered Bank Agrow Award for best use of technology in Agriculture in Bangladesh 2017
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions
World Summit Award (WSA) winner in Environment and Green Energy – Best Technology Innovation in 2018 for GeoPotato Project
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions
United Nation World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) Champion Award (Notable Presence)
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions
ID: 83376652