Justify Your Attendance

Attending the 2026 ICT4D Conference is an investment in your organization’s future. However, we know that securing budget approval and time away requires a solid business case. You need to demonstrate exactly how the insights, connections, and skills you acquire here will solve problems back at the office.

To help you navigate this process, we have curated a complete Attendance Toolkit. These resources are designed to help you articulate the Return on Investment (ROI) to your leadership team.

Attendance Toolkit

  • "The Pitch." Writing a funding request can be daunting. We’ve drafted a professional letter that you can customize in minutes. It outlines the conference specifics, breaks down the estimated budget, and provides sections for you to insert specific sessions that align with your organization’s current projects.

    • Download the letter here.

  • "The Alignment." Before you pitch to your manager, use this worksheet to map the conference agenda to your organization's goals. This tool helps you move beyond general benefits (like "networking") to specific outcomes (e.g., "Finding a solution for our data collection bottleneck in Region X").

    • Download the Benefits Worksheet here.

  • "The Proof." The best way to ensure future conference funding is to prove the value of this one. This worksheet guides you on how to capture key takeaways, new contacts, and actionable intelligence during the conference so you can present a high-impact "Trip Report" to your team upon your return.

    • Download the ROI Tracker here.

Tips for Getting Approval

Even with the right forms, the delivery matters. Here is how to use the toolkit effectively:

  • Connect the dots: Don't just list the cost; list the cost of not knowing the latest trends in ICT4D. Highlight specific sessions that address your team's current pain points.

  • Offer to be a teacher: Promise to host a "lunch and learn" or a briefing session when you return to share your key takeaways with the wider team. This multiplies the value of your ticket.

  • Focus on efficiency: Explain how meeting partners and vendors in one place at the ICT4D Conference is more cost-effective than scheduling multiple individual trips or meetings throughout the year.

  • Take advantage of Early Bird rates: Show your manager that booking now demonstrates fiscal responsibility by saving the organization money (Early Bird rates end February 28).