Mobile & Women’s Networks How can mobile phones be used to strengthen the great work already happening among women around the world? Prepared by Mary Jane Marcus at InSTEDD, [email_address] - DRAFT of 6/5/09

Desired outcomes Women’s networks/groups are harnessed through peer knowledge sharing and mutual support. As a result, these regional networks are stronger, more effective, vibrant and connected! Women with only a mobile phone are as engaged as those with internet access Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

Women’s networks/groups are harnessed through peer knowledge sharing and mutual support. As a result, these regional networks are stronger, more effective, vibrant and connected! Women with only a mobile phone are as engaged as those with internet access

How can people work together across distances? CURRENT OPTIONS: TRAVEL TO MEET FACE TO FACE Meet Face to Face Petrol, transport expensive Roads poor Costs considerable time and money Delays in moving forward Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

CURRENT OPTIONS: TRAVEL TO MEET FACE TO FACE

Meet Face to Face

Petrol, transport expensive

Roads poor

Costs considerable time and money

Delays in moving forward

How can people work together across distances? CURRENT OPTIONS: TECHNOLOGY Voice – no conference calling, voice calls extremely expensive Internet – internet access is expensive, intermittent, not constant Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

CURRENT OPTIONS: TECHNOLOGY

Voice – no conference calling, voice calls extremely expensive

Internet – internet access is expensive, intermittent, not constant

How can people work together across distances? OPPORTUNITIES: CELL PHONES (GROUP COMMUNICATION) Cost of text message Always available Already being used Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

OPPORTUNITIES: CELL PHONES (GROUP COMMUNICATION)

Cost of text message

Always available

Already being used

How can a peer group or network work together with only a basic mobile phone? Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

Testing and deployment process Assessment – what are the needs? what is the technical capacity? Partner development – which groups already have networks that exist and women who want to work more closely together? Identify small pilots for a few scenarios. Technology options - what would be appropriate? InSTEDD’s GeoChat could be useful..use it as a conversation starter Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

Assessment – what are the needs? what is the technical capacity?

Partner development – which groups already have networks that exist and women who want to work more closely together?

Identify small pilots for a few scenarios.

Technology options - what would be appropriate?

InSTEDD’s GeoChat could be useful..use it as a conversation starter

Existing technology options to support women’s networks: InSTEDD’s GeoChat Group Conversation over SMS Peer to peer communication (unlike most tools are top to bottom or visa versa) Group member sends one message Send water All team receives the message Goes thru internet Within and between countries Send water supplies to Village C Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

Peer to peer communication (unlike most tools are top to bottom or visa versa)

Group member sends one message

Send water

All team receives the message

Goes thru internet

Within and between countries

Why GeoChat Might Have for Women Group SMS – Share resources and support Women’s Circles Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

Group SMS –

Share resources and support

Women’s Circles

Possible Scenario for GeoChat: Helping Women Connect with Their Team (possibly spread out in different villages, towns) Chief says women are protected here HQ: Good to hear from you 100 women came to gathering! Need more water Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

Possible Scenario: Connecting Women Working on Similar Issues in a Region Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

Possible GeoChat Scenario: Strengthening the Movement: Women Connect Between Countries/Regions Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

In a way that is connected with women technologists! Prepared by InSTEDD, marcus@instedd.org

How to Use GeoChat: Takes 5 minutes Create a group on the GeoChat website. Ask group members to join from their mobile phones with their name and the group name. Send: “ YOUR NAME*GROUP NAME” (example: paul zula*foi) to the number for your country. Numbers here: http://geochat.instedd.org/Home/SharedGateways Display Name (ex: Paul Zula)– the name that will appear before each message you send. Make sure your team can recognize you with this name. Group name (ex: FOI, for Friends of InSTEDD) – enter the short version of the group name