Leveraging Mobile Platform Technology for Pro-poor Development
Given the lack of countrywide data and landline network, this project aims to harness the only technology available for the majority of Ugandans and develop and roll out onto the market at least three SMS/ GPRS applications that respond to the information and communication needs of the rural and urban underserved communities. The cellular network reaches more than 75% of the country and the project intends to transfer the concept of ICT for poverty reduction into a practical reality by leveraging mobile platform technology for pro-poor development. The project begins with assessing the current information and communication needs of the rural and urban marginalized communities in order to identify three vital applications that will stimulate pro-poor development. Using a mobile phone, farmers can for example learn about interest rates, prices for their commodities and keep in contact with family working away from home. The project will build a strong linkage between institutions of higher learning, mobile telecom companies and the broader market. This will drive the curriculum, courses and researches to be more responsive to the needs of the communities. In addition, the process is expected to promote growth of the software industry in Uganda and develop competence within the academia and private sector.
The project was initiated by the Directorate for ICT Support at Makerere University in Kampala. With the assistance of SPIDER, suitable counterparts have been identified and involved from the beginning of the applications process. The main stakeholders are besides Makerere University, two local NGOs (the Ugandan Development Gateway and WOUGNET), Blekinge Institute of Technology (Sweden) and De La Salle University (Philippines). Private enterprises and mobile service providers are also collaborating in this development.
The objectives of this project align well with that of SPIDER; to support poverty reduction through the use of ICTs. The project will benefit greatly form the involvement of the different stakeholders. The Philippines, which is known as the SMS capital of the world, will contribute with valuable firsthand experience and know-how. The South to South networking and knowledge transfer is particularly interesting given that the Philippines had similar social structure and teledensity as Uganda, when they began emphasizing SMS applications in government, health and agriculture. Mobile technology is increasingly being recognized as the ICT for the masses. In 2005 in Uganda, there were only 100,000 landlines in use compared to 1.4 million mobiles. Furthermore, subscriptions continue to increase rapidly, having doubled between 2003 and 2005. Thus, developing applications that answer to the needs of the urban and rural marginalized communities represents a major important and current challenge. SPIDER looks forward to following the developments closly.
- To develop, pilot and roll out applications (supported by SMS and GPRS) that transder the concepts of ICT for Developmetn and ICT for Poverty Reduction to practical reality for the rural communities in Uganda and elsewhere.
- To develop the necessary back-end linkage (data sources, and servers and linking to the telecom networks) that will be the source of the data.
- To address other development information dissemination needs within the Ugandan economy that can be best served using the cellular platform.
- To build capacity of students in the development of applications for human development and/or commercial exploitation; and consequently support the growth of the software industry in Uganda.
- To lead to a greater under insight into the process of effective technology transfer, with specific focus on ICT for Development, in countries like Uganda.
Since the kick-off meeting in April 2006 an incubator has been set up, student software developers have been recruited, the first application to be developed has been identified, and research into communication and information sharing needs is underway. Within the scope of the first application that has been identified to be developed, AmateGaitu Cooperative Ltd's (dairy farming cooperative) are collaborating with the Makerere incubator to develop an Integrated Agricultural Information Management System (AGRISERVE) to share information, induce trust in the industry and provide all stakeholders with necessary information. Mobile phones will provide last mile input of data and access to information, which will allow decisions to be based on current and accurate information. It is believed that this project will quickly help to increase quality through a quality assurance mechanism, access to information and the transparency that the new system provides.
The project partners have requested an extension of utilization of funding. SPIDER is currently awating a proposal for the extended period.
