If You Really Want to Scale ICT4D to Millions, Abandon Africa

If You Really Want to Scale ICT4D to Millions, Abandon Africa

Published on: Aug 07 2015 by Wayan Vota - 20 Comments
We all talk a good game about how we want to scale ICT4D programs. How we want to reach 100,000 or even +1 million constituents with our cool technology solutions. If that’s the true goal, and we’re honest about...
Missed Opportunities in Using Tech to Fight Violence Against Women

Missed Opportunities in Using Tech to Fight Violence Against Women

Published on: Aug 05 2015 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Missed Opportunities in Using Tech to Fight Violence Against Women
Technology is a key piece in preventing and ending violence against women. As the number of women with access to the Internet and Internet-enabled devices increases, so does the potential for social impact of “tech for...
Why Agriculture Traceability Matters to Companies, Consumers and Communities

Why Agriculture Traceability Matters to Companies, Consumers and Communities

Published on: Aug 03 2015 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Why Agriculture Traceability Matters to Companies, Consumers and Communities
Traceability is the key to buyer confidence and transparent relationships with smallholders to achieve global food security. During June’s ICTforAg conference, I set out to provide audience members with a glimpse into...
5 mHealth Innovations Using Mobile Phones and Wearable Technology in LMICs

5 mHealth Innovations Using Mobile Phones and Wearable Technology in LMICs

Published on: Jul 31 2015 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
When we interviewed Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus, at the 2013 mHealth Summit, he said that mobile phones are the “Aladdin’s lamp for healthcare”, a statement that still rings true today. Two years after...
Libraries Increase Access to Online Services in Myanmar

Libraries Increase Access to Online Services in Myanmar

Published on: Jul 29 2015 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Libraries Increase Access to Online Services in Myanmar
As Myanmar’s government ministries offer more comprehensive e-government services, rural communities have the most to gain because of their geographic isolation and limited resources. But those communities tend to...
Bring Your Innovative Workforce Ideas to USAID Indonesia

Bring Your Innovative Workforce Ideas to USAID Indonesia

Published on: Jul 27 2015 by Jana Melpolder - Comments Off on Bring Your Innovative Workforce Ideas to USAID Indonesia
On June 24, 2015, USAID/Indonesia announced a call for creative ideas on how to develop an inclusive and vibrant workforce that harnesses the skills and talents of poor and vulnerable Indonesians and gives them the opportunity...
Please Stop Asking for Equipment Donations. There is NO Hardware Santa Claus

Please Stop Asking for Equipment Donations. There is NO Hardware Santa Claus

Published on: Jul 24 2015 by Wayan Vota - 6 Comments
Recently, I was asked to help find a donor that would give a program several hundred Android tablets to support a new ICT4D initiative. I was a little surprised by the request as I thought we all moved beyond the hardware...
VAS Vendors: The M4D Partners You Did Not Know You Were Missing

VAS Vendors: The M4D Partners You Did Not Know You Were Missing

Published on: Jul 22 2015 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
Imagine gaining 200K subscribers in two weeks in Zimbabwe or reaching 11 million subscribers in Bihar, India through a mobile for development program. Either would be a crowning achievement in international development,...
3 Ways to Improve Farmer Information Systems

3 Ways to Improve Farmer Information Systems

Published on: Jul 20 2015 by Guest Writer - 9 Comments
Farmer Information Systems have found solid footing in development, and are now fine-tuning their strategy and approach in communicating market prices, weather forecasts, and farming techniques. Yet participants at the...