Practical Insights on Business for ICT4D Projects

What are Business Ideas for ICT4D Solutions?

Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) support and enable sustainable economic and social development in developing countries. There are many potential business ideas for ICT4D solutions, including:

  • Mobile health services: Developing mobile applications or platforms that provide health information and services, such as telemedicine, disease tracking, and medical appointment scheduling, in areas with limited access to healthcare.
  • Agricultural technology: Developing technologies such as precision agriculture systems, irrigation systems, and weather monitoring systems to improve the efficiency and productivity of small-scale farms.
  • Educational technology: Developing educational platforms, such as e-learning platforms or mobile apps, to provide access to education in remote or underserved areas.
  • Renewable energy solutions: Developing technologies such as solar panels or wind turbines to provide clean, affordable energy in areas without access to traditional electricity.
  • Digital financial services: Developing technologies such as mobile banking or digital payment systems to provide financial services to underserved communities.
  • Disaster response and management technologies: Developing technologies such as early warning systems or communication platforms to assist with disaster response and management efforts in developing countries.
  • Water and sanitation technologies: Developing technologies such as water purification systems or improved sanitation systems to address water and sanitation challenges in developing countries.
Tropicalized Computing with Aurora Wireless

Tropicalized Computing with Aurora Wireless

Published on: Sep 12 2009 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Tropicalized Computing with Aurora Wireless
Aurora Wireless works in Northern Nigeria, a dry area not known for rain forests. Yet general manager, Abdulhamid Yahaya, is keen on “tropicalized computing”...
Write About Your Business Challenge – Win $4,000

Write About Your Business Challenge – Win $4,000

Published on: Sep 07 2009 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Write About Your Business Challenge – Win $4,000
Do you have a business challenge while working in low-income communities, that has created a new business model or initiative? Regardless of its success or failure,...
1.3 Trillion Naira Opportunity: Buy Naija Code

1.3 Trillion Naira Opportunity: Buy Naija Code

Published on: Sep 02 2009 by Wayan Vota - 2 Comments
The market opportunity for Nigerian software development is stunning, if you take a moment to look at its size. First we have Umar Bindir, Director General of National...
Follow the Four C’s of ICT Deployment for Success

Follow the Four C’s of ICT Deployment for Success

Published on: Aug 21 2009 by Wayan Vota - 4 Comments
With the explosion of the field of ICT4D in the recent years including countless conferences, working groups, and projects being implemented both formally and informally,...
African Business Opportunity: Multi-Platform Craigslist

African Business Opportunity: Multi-Platform Craigslist

Published on: Aug 12 2009 by Wayan Vota - 4 Comments
Here at ICTworks, we are always thinking about new business opportunities for ICT companies in Africa. Our latest thought would bring the Craigslist online classified...
Arbitrage Nigerian Telecom Rates: Commercialize Question Box

Arbitrage Nigerian Telecom Rates: Commercialize Question Box

Published on: Aug 07 2009 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
In a twist of policy that I do not pretend to understand, telecommunications in Nigeria are skewed opposite to what I expect in an African country. International...
Facebook is Driving ICT Adoption in Africa

Facebook is Driving ICT Adoption in Africa

Published on: Aug 04 2009 by Wayan Vota - 9 Comments
tweetmeme_source = 'ICT_works'; During a recent Inveneo training of ICT professionals, I was amazed to hear that most everyone had a Facebook account. Not only...
Kenya is Investing Ksh16.3 Billion in Rural ICT to Benefit Wananchi

Kenya is Investing Ksh16.3 Billion in Rural ICT to Benefit Wananchi

Published on: Jul 29 2009 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
With the eminent arrival of Seacom and Teams broadband infrastructure to Kenya, it’s Minister for Finance, Uhuru Kenyatta, proposed three major investments...
Quixotic Quest: Registering Prepaid Mobile Numbers

Quixotic Quest: Registering Prepaid Mobile Numbers

Published on: Jul 27 2009 by Wayan Vota - 4 Comments
As everyone in Kenya knows, there’s been explosive growth in voice and data usage, mainly through mobile phones. And while the vast majority of mobile phone...
Win $100K Towards an Sub-Sahara African Business

Win $100K Towards an Sub-Sahara African Business

Published on: Jul 20 2009 by Wayan Vota - 3 Comments
A new program from USAID is offering 10-20 matching grants of between $50,000 and $100,000 each for start-up and existing businesses that are partnerships between...