Technology at Work in Developing Countries
It’s hard to imagine a world without computers, cell phones
and tablets! Technology is an essential part of our daily lives. I am
able to access my email, my social media, my insurance, my bank accounts, among
other things, directly from my phone! Time is of the essence: things to
do, people to see. But technology isn’t only for those of us fortunate enough
to be at the top of the pyramid. Mobile technology is revolutionizing communication
in some of the most impoverished areas of the world. More and more governments,
NGOs and multinational corporations are realizing the potential of technology in addressing development
issues around the world.
Technology can have a positive impact at all different levels within an society. The ease by which tasks can be completed and information can be diffused is essential. Entrepreneurs are busy people, imagine the information they can access through technology and the time they can save! This is even more significant because entrepreneurs are crucial for job creation, as they contribute, on average, 70% to a country’s GDP.
Monitoring and Evaluation
One example of how
mobile technology is being used can be found in USAID programming. Mobile technology is an integral part of USAID’s approach to monitoring and evaluation. They are using
mobile technology to collect live data
on the progress and performance of their interventions. They are also using it to get
feedback from their customers – the communities they serve to asses how well they are addressing their specific needs.
Small Businesses
Small business in Kenya are an integral part of a community. A
website called Oasis provides web content that provides these entrepreneurs with
information that will help them flourish and succeed. Information includes things such as sources
and prices of raw materials, how to obtain financing and what markets might be
most suitable for their products.
Farmers
MFarm is an organization that provides
farmers with up-to-date market prices and connects farmers to consumers. This enables
the farmers to get the best price possible for their goods as well as
identifying a market for their goods.
Healthcare
At a larger scale, GlaxoSmithKline and Vodafone
Group are partnering on a text messaging initiative that helps with vaccination initiatives in Africa. Their initiative promotes the use of text messages to report
their product levels to prevent stockouts. Other health organizations are using mobile technology
to text advice to pregnant women and send reminders to AIDS patients to take their
medications. Mobile technology also allows community health workers to keep records electronically.
Banking
Even the financial services sector is getting a boost from
mobile technology. Almost 68% of Kenyans who own a cell phone say they
regularly use their mobile device to make or receive payments and in Uganda it
is around 50%. Rural communities now have immediate access to basic banking functions.
The benefits of mobile technology, at its most basic, revolve primarily around
circumventing poor infrastructure. Information and finances are no longer
linked to a physical presence. So, while those of us living in the developed world
believe our mobile devices are essential to our survival, the use of mobile technology
in emerging markets, while less sophisticated, has the potential to significantly move the needle. Technology
could very well be the solution that finally starts to lift the bottom billion
out of poverty.
Lisa Gibboney
Notre Dame MBA ‘14
Sources:
http://www.accenture.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/Accenture-ADP-Technology-Spur-Job-Creation-Enabling-Employment.pdf
https://bestict4d.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/the-role-of-mobile-in-development-an-interview-with-priya-jaisinghani-mobile-solutions-director-at-usaid/
http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/the_how_and_who_of_emerging_market_tech_uptake
http://internetmedicine.com/2013/04/07/the-benefits-of-mobile-health-on-hold/
http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/02/13/emerging-nations-embrace-internet-mobile-technology/
http://www.coders4africa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=89
I love technology, always an forever. I was excited to read that entrepreneurs contribute so much economic growth to some countries. Referencing the 70 percent factoid, do you know which countries are represented? I looked at your reference to an Accenture article which references a Deloitte article. However, the link to Deloitte is faulty. Let me know if you find anything.
ReplyDeleteI find this topic really interesting. I think that there is no doubt as to the benefits of mobile technology, and one of the key issues that governments/development organizations should look into is how to get mobile or Internet technology into the hands of those who are still cut off from it. Granted, this is a big, broad area to look into - where issues of infrastructure (e.g. big thing in archipelagos), financing (of the infrastructure), electricity, etc come into play. (e.g. How can people think of getting Internet when they don't have a reliable source of power?) OLPC is one initiative that appeared promising, but didn't end up sustainable over the long run.
ReplyDeleteLisa - I like what you said about how technology can provide valuable services and help bypass poor infrastructure. At the same time, I understand what CF said, how people can think about getting technology when they don't have access to resources to fulfill basic human needs (clean water, power, etc.). Who gets to decide what types of products/services people in the BOP should and can access?
ReplyDeleteAppreciate this overview of adapting technology across several different sectors to the BoP.
ReplyDelete