Author Archive:

Are You Guilty of Helping Safaricom Prey on Rural Women?

Are You Guilty of Helping Safaricom Prey on Rural Women?

Published on: Nov 17 2016 by Wayan Vota - 5 Comments
There are multiple development initiatives to increase women’s ownership and usage of mobile phones – everyone from GSMA to USAID to Mobile Network...
Pop Quiz: What Is the Difference Between mHealth, mEducation, and mAgriculture?

Pop Quiz: What Is the Difference Between mHealth, mEducation, and mAgriculture?

Published on: Nov 10 2016 by Wayan Vota - 6 Comments
I do hate sectoritis – the innate desire of development actors to isolate into health, education, agriculture, civil society, and all the other sector silos...
To Celebrate or Morn Ushahidi For USA Elections?

To Celebrate or Morn Ushahidi For USA Elections?

Published on: Nov 08 2016 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
Today Americans go to the polls across the country to choose the next President of the United States. Yet, leading up to this day, there was much talk of long lines,...
ICT4D Academics Are Failing the Poor

ICT4D Academics Are Failing the Poor

Published on: Nov 03 2016 by Wayan Vota - 2 Comments
How much does ICT4D academic research achieve actual economic and societal impact? That was the question asked by ICT4D researcher Roger Harris in a recent study,...
Wow! Universal Service Funds are Hoarding Over $12 Billion in ICT4D Funding

Wow! Universal Service Funds are Hoarding Over $12 Billion in ICT4D Funding

Published on: Oct 27 2016 by Wayan Vota - 7 Comments
The concept of Universal Service is pretty simple: telecommunications services should be accessible to the widest number of people at affordable prices. We can...
You Are Following the Humanitarian UAV Network Code of Conduct, Right?

You Are Following the Humanitarian UAV Network Code of Conduct, Right?

Published on: Oct 03 2016 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on You Are Following the Humanitarian UAV Network Code of Conduct, Right?
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer the potential to improve humanitarian assistance and disaster reduction. As such, they offer the possibility to better meet...
Stop Giving Away Smartphones!

Stop Giving Away Smartphones!

Published on: Sep 15 2016 by Wayan Vota - 11 Comments
Pretty much every day, I hear the same failure refrain repeated again and again, “We gave away 50-100 smartphones for our mobile project.” Why is this...
Apply Now: $100,000 in Grant Funding for Digital Financial Services Entrepreneurs

Apply Now: $100,000 in Grant Funding for Digital Financial Services Entrepreneurs

Published on: Sep 08 2016 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now: $100,000 in Grant Funding for Digital Financial Services Entrepreneurs
Do you have an inner flame that compels you to be a founder at a startup? Do you have deep expertise in fintech, payments, or retail finance? Do you dream of creating...
Where is DFID in Digital Development?

Where is DFID in Digital Development?

Published on: Sep 05 2016 by Wayan Vota - 2 Comments
Recently, DFID commissioned a review of how digital tools are being used in its programmes to benchmark DFID’s current activities and support the development...
Please Register Now for MERL Tech 2016

Please Register Now for MERL Tech 2016

Published on: Aug 29 2016 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Please Register Now for MERL Tech 2016
Please register now for MERL Tech 2016, the premier conference on the use of technology for monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning. Over 300 of your peers...