Back by popular demand, the American Evaluation Association (AEA) and The MERL Tech Initiative (MTI) are excited to present the 2026 Hackathon–Virtual Edition! This beginner-friendly hackathon challenges participants to create ethical AI-powered solutions for real-world evaluation problems. Everyone is invited to participate regardless of skill level or experience.

Join us on April 30th for a conversation with Giulio Coppi about emerging AI-driven dynamics of risk, oversight and digital divides within the humanitarian sector.

On May 5th, 2026, The MERL Tech Initiative is hosting an event about tech-enabled community listening and the place of emerging technologies in this work. 

Together with those at the forefront of design, implantation and critical reflection, we will consider what new models of digital identity systems may look like, and outline the kind of data protection frameworks and enforcement authorities necessary in countries developing digital identity systems.

Together, we will explore pathways to moving from passive observers of AI to actively shaping it and reclaiming control, in opposition to technodeterministic views.

This 2-day free in-person workshop will equip participants to think critically about AI, evaluate where it genuinely adds value to MERL workflows, and apply it responsibly. Facilitators Vari Magodo Matimba, Emeka Nwankwo and Linda Raftree will cover two key aspects: 1) how to apply AI to support tasks along the MERL lifecycle, and 2) how […]

In 2026, the ICT4D Conference is taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, between May 20 and 22. The MERL Tech Initiative is attending alongside global leaders, practitioners, and innovators to explore the future of digital transformation, and we are looking forward to meeting many of you in person.

The Ethics and Governance Group at the NLP-CoP is hosting a conversation about AI autonomy, regionalization and ethics on May 25, 2026, at 10am ET, 4pm Harare, 10pm Singapore. We will be joined by Chenai Chair (from Masakhane African Languages Hub), William Tjhi (from SEA-LION), and Wayan Vota (ICTworks).

We are hosting an event about designing, testing, and scaling an AI-powered sexual and reproductive health chatbot on May 28 with Alyssa Young and Xian Ho, from Dimagi.

Glocal Evaluation Week is a unique knowledge-sharing event, connecting a global community of people across sectors and regions. Over the course of a week, participants from all over the world join events – in their neighborhood or across the ocean – to learn from each other on a vast number of topics and themes. Allowing participants […]

The IPDET Workshops in Bern (Switzerland) will take place from July 13 to 17, 2026. Linda Raftree (The MERL Tech Initiative) is co-facilitating a training with Paul Jasper to help evaluators who have so far had limited exposure to emerging AI, including Generative AI (GenAI), to understand potential implications and risks for their area of work. Learn more and register here.