Athena Infonomics

11/05/2026

Earlier, we shared that Athena Infonomics and TolaData will be participating in ICT4D 2026 in Nairobi.

As we get closer to the conference, we’re looking forward to bringing conversations on data, AI, and implementation into sharper focus.

Here’s what you can expect from us at ICT4D 2026:
• Interactive demos of how teams use TolaData for programme tracking and data management
• Real examples of integrating digital tools into programmes and field operations
• Conversations on adoption, scalability, and what makes data systems usable in practice
• Insights from implementation contexts across sectors and programmes

Throughout the conference, we’ll also be sharing insights, observations, and key takeaways from Nairobi.

If you’re attending ICT4D 2026, we’d be glad to connect. Anupama and Yazeed from both Athena and Toladata will be there. Do stop by for a conversation.

07/05/2026

AI can generate outputs in seconds.

From coding qualitative interviews and synthesising findings to generating summaries and supporting programme decision-making, AI tools are already influencing how evidence is analysed and interpreted.

But faster outputs do not automatically lead to stronger evidence.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in evaluation workflows, the challenge is no longer only technical. It is methodological, ethical, and deeply human.

At Athena, we’ve been exploring both sides of this question:
→ how AI systems should be evaluated responsibly
→ and how AI can strengthen evaluation workflows without weakening evidence quality
We’ll be sharing more over the coming weeks.

Stay tuned.

06/05/2026

Across agriculture systems, the challenge is often not the absence of solutions, but how they come together on the ground.

Inputs, advisories, market access, and financial services operate in silos, supported by disconnected data systems, making coordination at the farmer level difficult.

Aligned with Andhra Pradesh’s Swarna Andhra@2047 vision, the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Gates Foundation India are working to strengthen agrifood systems through more data-driven, locally responsive, and market-oriented approaches.

Athena Infonomics, in partnership with Catalyst Management Services and Vassar Labs, is supporting this effort by designing and operationalising a technology-enabled Programme Management Unit (PMU) within the Department of Agriculture.

The initiative is anchored in two key systems:

▪️ APAIMS 2.0, the state’s integrated agriculture data and decision-support platform
▪️ Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs), which are being strengthened as local service, planning, and advisory hubs for farmers

Through this work, Athena is helping connect strategy, data, technology, and last-mile delivery, so agricultural support can become more coordinated, timely, and actionable.

Swipe to understand what the project is about.

05/05/2026

Where do data systems meet real-world impact? At the ICT4D 2026.

ICT4D 2026 in Nairobi brings together practitioners, funders, governments, and technology leaders to explore how digital tools are shaping development in practice.

This year, Athena Infonomics and TolaData will be there together, focusing on a simple but critical question: how do data tools actually get used in programmes on the ground?

If you’re working across data, technology, or programme delivery, we’d love to connect and exchange perspectives.

Anupama (Athena Infonomics) and Yazeed (TolaData) will be at ICT4D. Do stop by, say hello, and explore what this could look like in your work.

Watch this space for more details!

04/05/2026

Nearly half of India’s exports come from MSMEs.

Yet across these units, the adoption of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains limited, particularly in day-to-day manufacturing operations.

As part of our ongoing work in this space, the IndiaAI Mission at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has commissioned a study to develop a practical, operational roadmap for AI adoption across MSMEs in Textiles, Pharmaceuticals and Medtech, and Electronics.

The study is being implemented by the National Institute for Smart Government (NISG) in partnership with Athena Infonomics, with engagement from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

The focus is on sectors where MSMEs play a critical role, and where integrating AI into everyday manufacturing processes can make a measurable difference.

The study aims to:

✔️ Identify high-impact AI opportunities grounded in real manufacturing processes
✔️Translate these into feasible adoption pathways aligned with MSME capabilities
✔️Generate insights to inform policy and ecosystem-level support for scaling adoption

A key consideration is that AI is not treated as a standalone solution but rather as a complement to existing processes and operational improvements.

We’ve now brought together more details on the approach and scope here: https://www.athenainfonomics.com/projects/advancing-ai-adoption-in-msmes

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are central to India’s manufacturing economy, contributing 31.1% of GDP, 35.4% of manufacturing output, and nearly 48.6% of exports. Despite their scale and importance, the adoption of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains l...

29/04/2026

On 23 April 2026, a group of leaders, practitioners, and builders came together in Oxford around a shared question:
What does it take to translate ambition into real pathways for livelihoods?

At the inaugural Rubanomics Global Forum, held at India Impact House on the sidelines of the Skoll World Forum, the conversation moved beyond big ideas to something more grounded: how to design systems that connect talent, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies like AI to real opportunities on the ground.

What stood out was a shift in how growth itself is being understood. Rural-urban economies were no longer seen as a separate system, rather as an interconnected one, where flows of people, skills, and enterprise are constantly evolving.

Throughout the sprint discussions, there was a clear push to move from diagnosis to action, with collaboration as a way to test, learn, and execute together.

The conversations also surfaced harder questions:
Who gets represented in these spaces?
What does inclusion look like in practice?
And how do we ensure that technology remains an enabler, grounded in real contexts, not abstract solutions?

The forum was hosted together with Athena Infonomics, Catalyst AIC, Catalyst Management Services, GDI Africa, Head Held High Foundation, JAN AI, The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) and LEAD at Krea University.

Swipe to see the highlights from the conversation…

28/04/2026

At the inaugural Rubanomics Global Forum Leadership Roundtable in Oxford, Shri Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Department of Rural Development (Government of India), offered a powerful reflection on how we need to rethink development itself.

Moving beyond traditional binaries, rural vs urban, state vs market, he emphasized a shift towards viewing economies as interconnected, adaptive systems, where growth, resilience, and inclusion must evolve together.

Drawing on India’s experience, he highlighted how large-scale public programmes have expanded connectivity, strengthened livelihoods, and brought millions into the fold of economic participation. But the larger point was clear: future growth cannot be built through isolated interventions or segmented thinking, it must be designed as a system that responds to both opportunity and risk.

A key part of this transformation lies in how we think about rural regions, not as parallel spaces, but as central drivers of economic expansion, resilience, and inclusion.

He also pointed to the emerging role of AI as an amplifier of human potential, enabling better market intelligence, targeted support, improved service delivery, and stronger livelihood pathways. But equally important was the reminder that technology must be grounded in local contexts, traditions, and trust.

As he noted, the question is no longer whether rural regions will be part of future growth, but how we design systems that enable them to lead it.

The conversation at Rubanomics reinforces a larger idea — that inclusive growth at scale will depend not just on innovation, but on collaborative action across systems, sectors, and geographies.

28/04/2026

We’re looking for a Principal Consultant.

At Athena Infonomics, you’ll lead a portfolio of projects that sit at the intersection of service delivery, market systems, and digital transformation, working closely with governments, partners, and teams across geographies.

You’ll be responsible for driving projects end-to-end: from technical direction and team management to client engagement, research outputs, and new business development.

This role will work well if you:
🔹have 8+ years of experience in WASH / development / public policy
🔹have managed complex, multi-stakeholder programs
🔹understand how WASH systems and markets function in practice
🔹are comfortable leading teams, timelines, and client relationships

📍 Location: India / Africa (remote work)

If you’re interested in building systems that last, not just projects that deliver, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Apply now: https://athenainfonomics.keka.com/careers/jobdetails/125819

24/04/2026

The work is shaped by how different skills come together.

From digital platforms and cloud architecture to gender-focused research and sustainability reporting, here are three more team members and the expertise they contribute to our work.

Here’s a glimpse into the people that make it happen: https://lnkd.in/gPxCHgQx

Follow along for more!

22/04/2026

Climate resilience is only as effective as the systems that support it.
What determines whether efforts translate into real progress is how well they are measured, interpreted, and acted upon.

From our work across climate and environmental programmes, one thing is clear:
effective action is shaped by the systems that sit behind it.

At Athena, we focus on strengthening those systems through:
🔹 Designing results frameworks and indicators that make climate goals measurable
🔹 Building digital platforms and dashboards that bring together data across programmes
🔹 Structuring data collection and reporting processes to improve consistency and usability
🔹 Generating cross-programme insights to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities
🔹 Enabling learning loops so strategies can evolve based on evidence

These are not standalone tools, they form part of an integrated approach to strengthen how climate efforts are monitored, analysed, and refined over time.

This , we reflect on the systems that help climate efforts move from action to sustained impact.

20/04/2026

Over the past few months, conversations around AI in agriculture have accelerated.
But what we’ve seen through our work is more layered.

From evidence reviews to stakeholder dialogues, one thing has become clear: the challenge is not only about advancing technology, it is about understanding the systems it operates within.

Questions of access, trust, context, and design continue to shape what AI can (and cannot) achieve for farmers.

At Athena Infonomics, our focus has been on grounding these conversations in evidence, bringing together research, practice, and perspectives to better understand what meaningful adoption looks like.

Because progress in this space is not linear.
And neither are the solutions.

Follow our work as we continue to explore how AI can be designed, governed, and applied for meaningful impact: https://www.athenainfonomics.com/work/projects