Project Leader:  David Bernard

 

Institution: SANGONet

 

Region: Multiple regions

 

Start Date: June 20, 2008

 

 

Mobile phones are helping to reduce the digital divide in developing countries. Many actors working in development strongly believe that the future in connectivity is mobile and that mobile solutions can make a difference in the lives of the poor. Over the past few years, several innovative mobile solutions have been developed and piloted in different parts of the world. Many of these initiatives were funded by IDRC. This project will support the organization of a conference bringing together several actors and stakeholders from Africa, Asia, Latin America and elsewhere in the world, currently involved some way or another in using mobile technology for social change.

 

 

The aim of the project is to share knowledge and expertise and learn from best practices, and potential new innovative solutions that would help NGOs and other stakeholders effectively deploy mobile technology to support civil society work. The structure of the conference is very much innovative in itself offering space for people to interact, showcase their mobile technology solutions and tell their stories. Training workshops will also be offered during the conference. The event will cover a broad range of topics around mobiles and should attract many stakeholders working in this area and in this space.

 

This project will support the organization of MobileActive08 a conference bringing together stakeholders from NGOs, private sector, donors, researchers and others to share best practices and lessons learned from the use and application of mobile technology in support of social action.

-          Support the participation of ICT4D partners from different regions currently undertaking research in the area of mobile use and application.

-          Promote opportunities for knowledge sharing.

-          Learn about the latest developments on the use of mobile for social impact.

-          Facilitate networking opportunities that could result in future project development opportunities

 

MobileActive08, was jointly organized by MobileActive.org and the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT), and took place from 13-15 October 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was supported by several donors, but IDRC was the main sponsor. The theme of the event was "Unlocking the Potential of Mobile Technology for Social Impact”.  It convened key stakeholders interested in the use and application of mobile technology in support of social action.

 

It included, impressively, close to 380- participants from NGO/nonprofit practitioners using mobile phones in innovative and creative ways; mobile technologists; researchers studying the use of mobile phones; government officials; donors, and representatives from the telecommunications industry. Originally it had been assumed that the conference would only attract approximately 200 people.

 

The conference was intentionally designed to be cross-disciplinary as lessons and experiences dealt with various disciplines in this emerging field. However, specific attention was given to the role of mobile technology in health, human rights, economic development, advocacy, education, citizen journalism and democratic participation.