Senegal
Posted by LindsayEllen on Sep 30, 2011
Grassroots Support Organizations and Capacity-Building in M4D: A Case Study of the Jokko Initiative in Senegal data sheet 1112 Views
Abstract:
Fueled by renewed enthusiasm about the potential of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are implementing ambitious projects with mobile technology components in the developing world in a phenomenon commonly referred to as “Mobiles-for-development” or “M4D.”
A participatory approach that responds to the needs and realities of local communities is widely recognized as a necessary component of a successful M4D intervention. However, project failure-especially in sub-Saharan Africa- remains the norm, pointing towards the need for more thorough enumeration of best practices and more rigorous impact evaluation on the part of field-based practitioners. This thesis calls for greater attention to be given to the role of human capacity, which is a precondition for participation in M4D interventions but which also tends to be deficient in rural, poor communities. A greater focus on capacity would entail both assessing capacity- in terms of physical resources and human capabilities- at the local level and including capacity-building in project activities when necessary.
This study employs the human development and capabilities approach and the case study and participant observation methods to examine the efforts of the American NGO Tostan to integrate mobile technology into its non-formal education and empowerment program in rural Senegal. The findings of this study underscore the decisive role played by local capacity and intent and by effective, locally based intermediary organizations, conceptualized in this paper as grassroots support organizations (GSOs), that support the acquisition of the human capabilities needed to harness the empowering potential of mobile technology and other ICTs.
Posted by AnneryanHeatwole on Sep 09, 2009
KomKom data sheet 2615 Views
Organization that developed the Tool:
Problem or Need:
KomKom permits craft artisans to be more aware of their earning and spending. Thus, they can make more appropriate financial decisions in their lives.
Brief Description:
KomKom is a mobile application that allows craft artisans selling traditional African craft to manage their sales and personal and professional expenses.
Tool Category:
App resides and runs on a mobile phone
Key Features :
- Maintain sales and expenses by categories
- Share invoices and expenses by SMS
Tool Maturity:
Under development/pre-launch
Organizations Using the Tool:
- Art village of Thies
- Art village of Saint Louis
Number of Current End Users:
Number of current beneficiaries:
Handsets/devices supported:
Tested on Nokia 6300 CLDC-1.1, MIDP-2.0 devices
Is the Tool's Code Available?:
Is an API available to interface with your tool?:
Posted by AnneryanHeatwole on Sep 09, 2009
Wannigame data sheet 1889 Views
Organization that developed the Tool:
Problem or Need:
Mobile phones are prevalent, but have not been widely adapted for educational uses. Wannigame engages pupils in active and team learning in classrooms of more than 40 students in Senegal.
Brief Description:
Wannigame is a mobile application that allows teachers to supervise the learning of numbers by children between the age of 3 to 6 in Senegal. With Wannigame, children learn how to recognize numbers and how to count.
Tool Category:
App resides and runs on a mobile phone
Key Features :
- Teaches students to count numbers 1 to 20
- Scores can be sent to parents
- Allows students to count images on the screen
Tool Maturity:
Under development/pre-launch
Number of Current End Users:
Number of current beneficiaries:
Handsets/devices supported:
Tested on Nokia 6300 MIDP 2.0 CLDC 1.1
Is the Tool's Code Available?:
Is an API available to interface with your tool?: