7 Questions to Ask Before Adding ICTs to Your Development Project

When looking at integrating ICTs (Information and Communication Technology) into existing programs, or making an initiative go further or work better with ICTs, there is a lot to figure out before you even get started.

Over the past few months, I’ve been supporting the development of a mobile data gathering/ crowd sourcing and mapping workshop for youth in Benin. The training is part of a broader initiative to reduce violence against children.

ICt integration planning

We’ve decided to use Frontline SMS and Ushahidi as tools in the project because we think (and want to test whether) mobile data collection/ crowd sourcing incidents of violence will allow for a better understanding of what is happening in this area. We also think that geo-visualizing reports of violence against children may have an impact on decision makers and might allow them to better plan prevention and treatment programs and services.

At first I was most worried about whether we could get the technology itself set up and working, but as I started digging in, it was immediately apparent that the technology was the last thing to worry about.

The first thing to consider is probably: Why are you doing this?

Well, we all have our different reasons. But even in a worst case scenario where someone wants you to use ICTs because they are cool or you have funding for them (*not the case in the project I’m writing about, but I’ve seen a lot of this going around) you might be able to salvage the project if you ask the right questions and get the right people involved in finding the answers.

Many of the questions I’m asking myself and my colleagues now will be asked again next week when we are all together on the ground with local staff, youth and community members. I expect there will be more questions added to this list, and that a lot of our current assumptions will change. But here is the starting list that we’re working from (in no particular order, as answering one may alter answers to another one):

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  1. What are your specific information and communication needs and goals?
  2. Are you working within a particular framework or project/program already?
  3. How is the issue you are working on currently dealt with?
  4. What are the parameters for information collecting? What is the local use of ICTs?
  5. What are the privacy and protection issues that you may run into?
  6. How will you close the circle and manage expectations?
  7. What other questions come up based on the context of your initiative and your experience?

Read the complete discussion of these questions on 7 (or more) questions to ask before adding ICTs by Linda Raftree.


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Posted by: Linda Raftree on March 12, 2010
FrontlineSMS, ICT Planning, ICT4D, Linda Raftree, Ushahidi
Management

Which is Better: $100 Smartphone or $15 SMS Mobile Phone?

The $100 smartphone price barrier is broken! Nokia recently announced the 2730 Classic and Synchronica released the MessagePhone. Both mobile phones will retail for $100 or less across the developing world.

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Price is also the major selling point for the Vodaphone 150, a self-proclaimed "world's cheapest mobile phone". Its only $15. But it only supports SMS and voice. Which brings us to an interesting question:

Which is better: price or functionality?

You could argue that its better to have something, even a stripped down $15 mobile phone, than nothing. But is price really the only factor? Even for the poorest, I would argue not. Consider the $35 Simu ya Solar which has its own solar panel, a perfect phone charging solution.

In addition, Ken Banks points out the "emerging market" handset trap with these low-end phones:

The prices may have changed, but functionality has largely stagnated. You couldn’t browse the web on the Motorola in 2005, nor the ZTE in 2008, and today you’d have the same problem on the Vodafone 150. You can’t download applications onto any of them, either. They all have monochrome screens and look pretty-much-the-same despite having a five year gap between them. Very little has changed other than price

More mobile phone functionality, please

Voice is the killer mobile phone application - bar none. Next up, SMS is the most popular application - bust should it continue to hold that title? For multiple reasons, I believe that Africa's mobile phone future is IP based, not SMS. To gain, IP needs data enabled phones. Handsets like the 2730 and the MessagePhone.

So while I applaud Vodaphone for cutting costs, might all this gone a bit too far? Could we have innovation on functionality at a higher price point? I could see a $50 smartphone having greater impact than a $15 voice/SMS phone.

A $50 smartphone would drive data usage out to rural areas now limited to SMS-only. It would also allow for much greater opportunities by all the actors involves - rural communities and the business and development organizations that want to reach them.

A $50 smartphone would also challenge the high costs of smartphones in the developed world. A South to North innovation we all could applaud.


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Posted by: Wayan Vota on March 10, 2010
Mobile Phone, Nokia, Smartphone, SMS, Synchronica, Vodafone
Hardware

Promouvoir les Femmes en Promouvant les TIC

Célébrée le 8 mars de chaque année, la Journée internationale de la Femme trouve son origine au XXe siècle en Europe et aux États-Unis dans la lutte pour le droit de vote et de meilleures conditions de travail. En 1977, les Nations Unies a officialisé la journée et maintenant on la fête partout dans le monde afin de promouvoir les droits des femmes.

À l’occasion de cette Journée internationale de la Femme, une question que les femmes se poseront pourrait concerner la fracture numérique de genre qui existe partout dans le monde, surtout en Afrique.

fracturenumeriquedegenre_0.jpg

Une publication de APC , Association pour le progrès des communications, « La fracture numérique de genre en Afrique francophone: Une inquiétante réalité », examine les disparités de genre par rapport à l’accès aux TIC dans 6 pays : le Bénin, le Burkina Faso, le Cameroun, le Mali, la Mauritanie et le Sénégal. Selon l’auteur, «Globalement, les femmes ont un tiers de chances en moins que les hommes de bénéficier des avantages escomptés de la société africaine de l’information ».

Mais pourquoi une telle disparité existe? En Afrique, les femmes doivent faire face à plusieurs barrières aux TIC: des barrières linguistiques et d’alphabétisation, le manque de temps libre à cause de leurs nombreuses responsabilités familiales et la déstabilisation des relations de genre que les nouvelles technologies peuvent causer.

UgaBYTES, une ONG ougandaise promouvant l’accès aux TIC dans les zones rurales d’Afrique de l’Est, a mené une étude sur deux télécentres ruraux pour découvrir pourquoi ils n’attiraient pas les femmes rurales. Une des raisons était le fait que les femmes et les hommes cherchaient des informations différentes. Tandis que les hommes cherchaient de l’information sur la politique, l’économie, et le marché des affaires, les femmes cherchaient de l’information sur la santé, y compris le VIH et le SIDA, l’éducation et les bourses, les conseils pour la formation professionnelle, et la sécurité alimentaire. Si l’information n’était pas disponible, les femmes retournaient chez elles pour continuer leurs tâches familiales tandis que les hommes restaient pour jouer des jeux, utilisant le télécentre comme un lieu de divertissement.

Beaucoup de femmes avaient des difficultés à trouver du temps libre pour aller à un cybercafé parce qu’elles avaient beaucoup de responsabilités familiales. En plus, comme l’anglais est considéré comme la langue primaire de la technologie, des femmes analphabètes en anglais ne se sentaient pas toujours à l’aise en utilisant l’Internet et les ordinateurs.

Une dernière barrière qui empêche les femmes est le fait que l’Internet et le téléphone portable sont des TIC qui sont aperçues comme des déstabilisateurs des relations de genre établies, comme entre un mari et sa femme. Qui contrôle le téléphone mobile dans un ménage est une question de pouvoir qui peut provoquer des conflits. Cependant, selon l’organisation GenderIT, le téléphone portable est un outil clé dans la lutte contre la violence contre les femmes. Elle a trouvé que les femmes qui ont des portables ont beaucoup plus de chances de signaler à quelqu’un si elles sont attaquées.

Pour en savoir plus sur la fracture numérique de genre, consultez l’étude de APC ou un article du site Global Voices qui donne un bon résumé sur tous ces défis en utilisant aussi la vidéo (anglais).

Exprimez-vous et laissez vos commentaires: à votre avis, pourquoi existe-t-il toujours la fracture numérique de genre? Que ferez-vous pour fêter la Journée internationale de la Femme ?

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Posted by: Miriam Young on March 8, 2010
Femmes, Fracture Numérique, French
Technology

Write a Guest Post for ICTworks Today!

What is the impact of ICT on the developing world? Will expanded Internet access bring a revolution in business revenues and social advancement? How can ICT implementers translate technology headlines into practical, actionable activity?

With ICTworks we want to share expertise in sustainable ICTs for the developing world and we need your help. We need you to Guest Post with your ideas, opinions, and know-how.

Look, I'm on ICTworks!

How to Guest Post on ICTworks

  1. See tweet, gadget, or article that makes you think?
  2. Email us your thoughts as a short article
  3. Don;t worry about spelling or grammar - we don't!
  4. We'll publish the Guest Post on ICTworks
  5. You revel in the fame and glory of ICTworks authorship

Yes, its that's simple! So what are you waiting for? Look for ideas that excite you and then email us today!


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Posted by: Wayan Vota on March 5, 2010
Guest Post, Guest Writer, ICTworks
Marketing

Social Networking for the Global South: February #ICT4D Twitter Chat Wrap-Up

Without a doubt, social networking has changed the technology landscape in places like Europe and the United States. But what is the role of this technology in the Global South? The February #ICT4D Twitter Chat focused on this during a lively 90-minute dialogue between technologists, implementers, and others in the ICT4D world. (Take the Chat Survey)

  1. Social networking is driving ICT adoption, but which tools, why, and to what extent?
  2. How can social networking increase donor, implementer, recipient participation in development?
  3. What are the gaps and limitations in social networking engagement - where doesn't it work?

What social networking technology is involved?

Vincenzo Cosenza recently published a map reinforcing the dominance of Facebook as a powerhouse in the social networking world. And with new features like Facebook Zero, its also changing the way people interact with the Internet.

While Facebook is the major player in social networking, more local and regional sites like Mixi and Hi5 also have a presence in the Global South. Many others are being rapidly launched, even using other platforms, such as SMS. In fact, on Twitter, 50% of tweets are not in English.

Older technology tools like email can be used to connect and communicate with existing social networks. Still, the idea of the social networking site as a stand-alone platform has undeniably taken hold in the developing world - 25% of Kenyans who are online do not have email addresses yet 80% of all Kenyan Internet users are on Facebook.

Social changes increase participation in development work

Not surprisingly, this month's roundtable seemed to reach a consensus around the value of social networking for international development work. Social networking has tremendous potential to give voice to the people on the "receiving" end of international assistance.

It's also helping implementers in the actual work of development. Organizations are using different social networks for different purposes - Facebook is seen as a great for public outreach and youth engagement, while Twitter is better for peer exchange and identifying new partnerships.

This is one reason that ICTworks has a Facebook empowerment strategy.

Limitations on social networking

The largest constraint on social networking's influence and reach is the limited Internet infrastructure of the Global South. Communities that are not online do not feel the impact. In addition, socio-economic barriers like literacy and education can limit adoption and growth in connected societies.

Also be warned that big numbers of Facebook or Twitter followers doesn't directly translate into meaningful interactions. In fact, during the #ICT4D Twitter Chat, we came across one group that's steadfastly held its own against the social media tide: the "big men" of Africa - ministers and other government decision makers.

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Reaching government decision makers with social networks

There is a still a strong culture among government leaders that "big men" don't use computers. The feeling that typing is for clerks or students. However, even if government officials are not using Facebook or Twitter professionally, they may be online in their personal life.

Regardless of personal status, they are listening to what their employees, direct reports, and family hear though online social networks. After all, they're "big men" because of their skill in reading offline social networks.

Here are a few early adopters:

Social networking future impact on development

Social networking technology is disruptive - no longer are donors and "big men" in government the only voices that communities have; those parties can be bypassed directly to launch grassroots movements. Indeed, many government and NGO leaders are reluctant, unable, or unwilling to use technology and are in fact being "leapfrogged" by the people they serve.

As today's youth who are growing up aware of social networking technology (even in the developing world) become the leaders and decision-makers of tomorrow, the role of global communication in "mainstream" international development will grow even more rapidly. The fast-paced spread and dropping costs of mobile technology will only feed the fire.

Michael Downey is a graduate student in human-computer interaction and ICT4D at Indiana University School of Informatics, and leads the Community Infrastructure Team for OpenMRS.


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Posted by: downeym on March 3, 2010
Big Men, Facebook, Global South, Hi5, ICT4D, Mixi, Twitter, Twitter Chat
Marketing

Two Ways The African Union Can Take ICT Seriously

At the 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of African Union, Bingu wa Mutharika, the African Union (AU) chairperson, has called upon member countries to take information and communication technologies seriously.

I could not agree more. I salute African Union's call to truly embrace ICT as a facilitator of development and progress across all African nations. I also call on the African Union to follow up its declaration with the following two changes across its membership:

1. Open and Competitive ICT Markets

Too many African countries artificially constrain the ICT sector with unreasonably high fees, unnecessary regulation, and outright corruption, if they let ICT competition take place. Often they do not. In too many countries, the incumbent telco is given every advantage to suppress new entrants and maintain high prices with poor service. The result is striking. The entire African continent - home to over 50 countries - has fewer Internet users than France alone.

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2. Universal Service Fees used for Universal Access

Many African countries impose a Universal Service Fee on ICT usage. These fees generate millions of dollars in revenue each year. Yet many rural Africans are still waiting to see any impact from USF projects in their areas. At the same time, the private sector, which contributes the majority of the funds, is excluded from decision making.

The Time to Act is Now

Africa is poised for rapid growth, facilitated by information and communication technologies - and industry in itself. ICT is already said to be Nigeria's 2nd largest industry. And we have sucessful models to follow.

Let us unleash that industry, remove its regulatory shackles, and let it bring Africa into the modern world.


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Posted by: Wayan Vota on March 1, 2010
African Union, Bingu wa Mutharika, Competition, ICT Market, ICT Policy, Universal Service Fee
Connectivity

Today! #ICT4D Twitter Chat: How Can Social Networking Increase ICT4D?

Don't forget that we're having a Twitter Chat today. We want to explore the impact of social networking technologies on businesses and communities in the developing world with our guides: ICTworks, Michael Downey, and Chloe Feinberg.

  1. Social networking is driving ICT adoption, but which tools, why, and to what extent?
  2. How can social networking increase donor, implementer, recipient participation in development?
  3. What are the gaps and limitations in social networking engagement - where doesn't it work?

We'll start at 12-noon Eastern Time ( noon worldwide ) with introductions, then move into the discussion, using the #ICT4D hashtag in Twitter.

For those not on Twitter, you can watch the action via the handy embed below or this separate webpage:

For those new to Twitter Chats, its a freewheeling conversation around our central questions on the Twitter platform. Our hope is to learn from each other and find ways we can increase our impact using social media.

We'll archive the Chat too, in case you miss out.


Be sure to follow ICTworks on Twitter and RSVP today!

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Posted by: Wayan Vota on February 26, 2010
Facebook, ICT4D, social networking, Twitter, Twitter Chat
Marketing

Tapping the Nigerian Internet Market Goldmine

Nigeria is a country of over 150 million people, located in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the fasted growing telecom market in the world. Let’s me take you through the emergence of the internet market in Nigeria, the potential, and how to tap into it.

Exploring the potential

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The US is a model of what internet market can become in any part of the world, the way it transformed the economy, created young billionaires and disrupted industry to create seamless market for every available product.

Now the power is shifting away from US as emerging markets are beginning to understand the impact of the internet to economic development. It is good to note that China recently overtook the US in terms of internet users, and top technology and web companies are rushing to China to tap from the potentials.

Nigeria, being an emerging market is also a big market for those who can see it now! With over 11 million internet users and massive social media adoption, the Nigerian internet market is growing heavily.

What is obtainable now…

A recent webtrendsng.com report of the Nigeria internet market found news websites are the most visited in Nigeria followed by forum, jobs, portals and the banking sector websites. As the industry grows, there are a lot of vacuum to be filled, this ranges from payment system, local content, local social networks and advertising platform. The world's leading sites still dominate the local market as only one Nigerian site is among the top-ten websites visited by Nigerians (according to Alexa ranking).


This graph looks at the most active websites by industry in the Nigerian Internet Market in 2009. The lower the rank the higher the possibilities of untapped potentials, read full report here (PDF).

Gaining insight to tap the market

As I recently commented about the lack of understanding of the Nigerian internet market by investors as the limiting factor to tapping the goldmine. Around the globe, the internet market was stimulated by synergy of technologist and investors. Same could be applied here in Nigeria! There are number of sites that discusses the Nigerian internet market and the growing trends; some of which includes; webtrendsng.com, technologytimes.com.ng, startupsnigeria.org, and nairaland.com amongst others.

Nigerian technologist and thought leaders have been taking the evangelism of the potential of the market plus their innovations to investors. This is to intimate them about their products and market values they have. Google has identified the importance of the Nigerian internet market and will be organizing an event a week from now, to bring the technologist together, teach them about their technologies and education internet markets about Google products. It also planned invite VCs to meet up with technologist at the event

Events around the internet market this year;

  1. Google Day Nigeria: A Google sponsored event to be held this February between 18th and 20th in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos Nigeria.
  2. Technology Outlook: An annual event organized by Technology times Magazine to bring industry leaders, bank managers, Government officials and technologist together to chart the course for the industry. This year’s event is significant as for the first time since its inception there will be a session for Web 2.0. This will enable Nigerian web technologists to meet with and take their messages to investors in the country. The event will be holding from 23rd – 25th of February 2010.
  3. Barcamp Nigeria 2010: An “unconferenced” event organized by technologist for technologist. This event was started last year and brought technologist around the country together to share their experiences and passion for the development of the industry. This year’s event will come up around May 2010 with the theme “Creating local content for Nigerian web market”.
  4. Nigerian Web Conference: The event is a brainchild of forum members on Nairaland.com, the forum that have been the most interactive and most visited Nigerian site for more than 4 years. The event also plans to bring developers together for networking and business development.
  5. Nigerian Web Strategies Summit: This event plans to educate the corporate organizations about the importance of internet to their businesses and how they can explore the possibilities of the medium. One of the challenges faced by companies in Nigeria is the fact that they don’t know what the internet can do for them hence most have refused to increase their spending on internet marketing. It will also bring together solution providers in the industry to meet with their target market for business development. It is schedule to hold between August and September 2010.

The highlighted events are the ones announced so far and many more are yet to be announced. For anyone willing to tap into the Nigerian internet market, these events are must attend as it will give room for networking with innovators and movers in the industry.

What does the future hold?

As stated earlier, Nigerian internet population currently stands at 11 million, while telephone users are well above 70 million. CIA Factbook reported about 68% literacy rate in Nigeria, this is about 102 million available market, representing just the literate population of the country. The question now remains who will tap the remaining 91 million Nigerians that are yet to come online?

It is also good to note the penetration of mobile phones in the country; given the advancement in web technologies, the web is shifting to mobile so before the remaining populations are covered, mobile internet will be very instrumental to anyone willing to explore in the country.

The Nigerian internet market is a goldmine waiting to be tapped, the development around the country is pointing to the right direction, before it becomes saturated, why not get connected to the market to harvest the fortune?

What are you seeing in the Nigerian internet market? Do you think the time is now? Or what problem do you think needs urgent solution to harness the potential?

Shittu Sheriff, better know as Possicon is the founder of webtrendsng.com.



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Posted by: possicon on February 24, 2010
BarCamp Nigeria, Google Day, Internet Usage, Nigeria, Possicon, Websites, WebTrendsNG
Opportunity

Facebook Zero: Web Chang’aa for Africa

As we've already discussed, Facebook is driving ICT adoption in Africa. Just look at the amazing statistic that Moses Kemibaro found: 2 million Kenyans are registered with Facebook, 80% of all Kenyan Internet users.

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Facebook on Mobile Phones

What's even more amazing about Facebook statistics in Africa is that much of that usage is on mobile phones. A recent Opera Mini report looked at their top 10 African countries, and found that with their users, Facebook is the most popular site in 6 out of 10 countries and the #2 site in three of the countries where it is not #1.

And that dominance is when mobile Internet users are constrained by limited and expensive data plans. Now Facebook is about to leap ahead on mobile phones with a free version of its site.

Facebook Zero

For all those that want to visit Facebook, but are constrained by download caps, I give you Facebook Zero. As TechCrunch reports:

It's basically a text-only version of the Facebook service that carriers can offer to their subscribers at no charge. If a user then decides to switch from text-only to multimedia (e.g. view photos from their friends), mobile operators can start charging them for ‘premium’ data service.

This system is apparently called zero-rated pages, and allows operators to use a trimmed down version of a web application as a sort of teaser, driving the adoption of certain mobile services or apps, and more data usage revenue down the line.

Facebook Zero as web chang’aa

Now what happens when you make Africa's most popular website free to access on mobile phones? You will have an explosion in web use beyond all imagination. The charts on Facebook adoption will stop being slopes and become straight lines - straight up.

And like chang’aa, jobs will be lost, marriages will break up, and all manner of parents and elders will claim its a blight on the land. Unlike actual chang’aa, Facebook Zero will also have a positive effect - its gonna increase demand for full Internet services and the computers that can support it.

All those Facebook users will want news, ecommerce, employment, and education websites, in addition to social networking. Yes, mobile phones will lead in usage by far. But make no mistake, those that get addicted to Facebook on mobiles will want the full screen upgrade - for Facebook and all the other Internet destinations. And they'll want it. Right. About. Now.


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Posted by: Wayan Vota on February 22, 2010
Changaa, Facebook, Facebook Zero, ICT Adoption, Kenya, Mobile Internet, Websites
Opportunity

How Can Social Networking Increase ICT Usage? February #ICT4D Twitter Chat

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn - these social networking technologies are driving ICT adoption worldwide. They're also increasing revenues and efficiencies in leading American and European companies.

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But what's the impact, if any, of social networking technologies on businesses and communities in the developing world? Are they really driving ICT adoption and business revenues in rural areas? Or does Facebook, Twitter, and the like just reinforce the techno-elite echo chamber - bypassing the Global South completely?

Join us for the February #ICT4D Twitter Chat, where we'll explore these vital questions with our guides: ICTworks, Michael Downey, and Chloe Feinberg.

We'll start at 12-noon Eastern Time (noon worldwide) with introductions, then move into the discussion, using the #ICT4D hashtag in Twitter. Be sure to RSVP here.

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For those new to Twitter Chats, its a freewheeling conversation around our central questions on the Twitter platform. Our hope is to learn from each other and find ways we can increase our impact using social media.

We'll archive the Chat too, in case you miss out.


Be sure to follow ICTworks on Twitter and RSVP today!

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Posted by: Wayan Vota on February 19, 2010
Facebook, linkedin, social networking, Twitter, Twitter Chat, youtube
Opportunity
       

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