Bottom-Up Inclusive Community Development Using Technology

Real development begins at the community level.

On 20 January 2026, Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) held a roundtable discussion on Bottom-Up Inclusive Community Development Using Technology, bringing together experts to discuss how inclusive and green development can be delivered more effectively at the community level.

Chaired by Dr. Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, it focused on why strong policies and global targets often do not translate into real change on the ground. The session started with Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, Chairman of the George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies (GIOAS) and former KRI Chairman, emphasising that development is about action and learning by doing. He highlighted how community-led efforts, backed by data, digital tools, and inclusive financing can deliver real impact at the local level.

The discussion was further enriched by Prof. John W. Crawford, Emeritus Professor of Sustainability and Complex Systems at the University of Glasgow, who stressed the importance of place-based and community-driven approaches, and Sneha Poddar, Head of International at GIOAS, who introduced the New Earth Ecosystem, who shared practical examples of how integrated, data-driven frameworks can support more balanced and resilient development.

Overall, the roundtable reinforced a shared understanding that inclusive development cannot be imposed from the top. It must be shaped with communities, guided by local realities, and supported by technology that enables real impact.