Author Archive:

Wow! Viber Beats Facebook in Myanmar

Wow! Viber Beats Facebook in Myanmar

Published on: Sep 12 2014 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
Often, we have the perception that a developing country’s use of technology is limited to voice and SMS text messages on basic or feature phones. When you...
Do Development Constituents Have a Right to Be Forgotten Too?

Do Development Constituents Have a Right to Be Forgotten Too?

Published on: Sep 11 2014 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
Since Google started to comply with a European Union court ruling on individuals’ “right to be forgotten” by the search giant, its received 70,000...
A GIS First Step Towards Open Data in USAID Grant Requirements

A GIS First Step Towards Open Data in USAID Grant Requirements

Published on: Sep 08 2014 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
Have you read the recent USAID/Malawi RFA for The Girls’ Empowerment through Education and Health Activity (ASPIRE)? There on page 13, wedged between the...
mEducation First Step in Myanmar: Paving Cow Paths

mEducation First Step in Myanmar: Paving Cow Paths

Published on: Sep 05 2014 by Wayan Vota - 6 Comments
In the technology world, “paving cow paths” means automating a business process as it exists in the analog world, without analyzing whether or not that...
RSVP Now: How Can We Improve M&E With ICT?

RSVP Now: How Can We Improve M&E With ICT?

Published on: Sep 03 2014 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
September 25-26 in Washington, DCRSVP Now New technologies are opening up all kinds of possibilities for improving our efforts in monitoring development programs...
RSVP Now: What is the Future of Technology and Democracy in 2025?

RSVP Now: What is the Future of Technology and Democracy in 2025?

Published on: Aug 27 2014 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on RSVP Now: What is the Future of Technology and Democracy in 2025?
It’s only 2014, but the future is here. Last December, Thai journalists used drones to record protests, giving a birds-eye view of crowd sizes and police conduct....
Accept the Smartphone Reality in Development. Everyone Else Has

Accept the Smartphone Reality in Development. Everyone Else Has

Published on: Aug 25 2014 by Wayan Vota - 15 Comments
Recently, Elvis Mushi of Twaweza, shared with me interesting mobile phone survey results from his Sauti za Wananchi program. I find them remarkable in two ways....
Is Selling Mobile Phone Airtime Really Entrepreneurship?

Is Selling Mobile Phone Airtime Really Entrepreneurship?

Published on: Aug 22 2014 by Wayan Vota - 2 Comments
Ooredoo and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women made a Clinton Global Initiative commitment to enable 30,000 women by 2016 to become entrepreneurs by selling...
Myanmar Will Be the First Smartphone Only Country

Myanmar Will Be the First Smartphone Only Country

Published on: Aug 20 2014 by Wayan Vota - 15 Comments
Today, Myanmar has the same mobile phone usage as North Korea, Eritrea, and Cuba – less than 10% – with only the urban elite owning smartphones, and mobile...
Think: A Tigo Rwanda Start-Up Incubator Idea Gone Bad

Think: A Tigo Rwanda Start-Up Incubator Idea Gone Bad

Published on: Aug 08 2014 by Wayan Vota - 6 Comments
thinkRwanda is a new mobile application incubator in Kigali, founded by Tigo Rwanda. It is now accepting applications for a first round of start-ups, who will get...