Mobile phone killed the laptop star?

Mobile phone killed the laptop star? Roxanna Samii International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) WCCA/IAALD/AFITA joint conference 24-27 August 2008

ICT4D mantra
FOCUS on PEOPLE, not technology
Ensure ownership and appropriation
Develop local content
Ensure language and cultural pertinence
Ensure participation

What type of ICTs can be at the service of small-scale farmers?
Affordable
Scalable
Self-sustaining
Sensible
Participatory
Appropriate
The availability and use of ICT is no longer optional A. Sen

Mobile telephony: the panacea?
3.3 billion mobile subscribers globally *
Integrated platform offering, content and telecom services
280.7 million mobile phone subscribers in Africa
Pre-paid subscriptions account for nearly 95% of total mobile subscriptions in Africa
High penetration rate make it “universal service”
* Wikipedia estimates as of 30/11/07

Mobile phone: Catalyst for social inclusion
Point of contact
Predominant mode of communication
Reduces the digital divide
Accessible technology for previously marginalized groups
Relatively affordable and easy to use
Brings families together
Provide medical services to remote villages and monitor patients
Social networking and knowledge transfer tool

Mobile phone: Catalyst for economic growth
Small businesses participate in the economic system
Access to price information
Communication with buyers
New and innovative businesses
Increased job opportunity
Annual increase of 0.6% in GDP growth
Minimize travel cost
“ When you get a mobile phone it is almost like having a card to get out of poverty in a couple of years” Muhammad Yunus

Mobile phones enhancing rural connectivity: Some examples
Fishers in Mauritius
Weather reports
Inform “buyant” or middleman of their catch
Get price
Small-scale farmers in Mozambique
Market analysis
Inform buyer (supermarket)
Get price
Tradenet.biz
Commodity price, harvest, transport, trading offers, disease outbreaks, weather and more
SMS and internet

Mobile telephony growth drivers
Shorter payback period on investment
Lower installation cost
Subsidization of handsets
Pre-paid offerings
Continued liberalization of the telecom sector
Low penetration rates
Lower level of skill to use
Positive social and economic impact

Mobile phone killed the laptop star?
One billion people have access to internet
3.3 billion mobile subscribers globally
Wifi technology: internet and mobile telephony happy marriage
VoIP
Wide range of services including agricultural extension services

US$100 laptop or $10 mobile phone: Which one will make it?
Appropriate, affordable, scalable, self-sustaining and sensible technology
Public-private partnership
Universal and more equitable access
Sustainable funding

Question time
When was the last time you talked to a farmer and asked him/her what type of ICT does he/she needs and what are his/her priorities in terms of ICTs?
Can you share an example showing sustainable ICT for rural development projects, which goes beyond a pilot project?
Why were these projects successful?

ICT4D: Common pitfalls
Lack of understanding and awareness of the needs and challenges of small-scale farmers
Failure to use participatory approaches
Lack of systematic inclusion of ICTs in national poverty reduction strategy
Building the capacity of communities and local organizations to lead and own the process of appropriation
Fragmented coordination among donors
Convergence of old and new technology to create a three-tier system: public, commercial and community

Thank you
www.ifad.org
www.ruralpovertyportal.org

Mobile phone killed the laptop star?

by IAALD Community on Aug 25, 2008

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