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| kiwanja.net
focuses on projects which lower barriers to entry and put the power of technology in the hands of those who need it most. The full focus is on the end user, typically grassroots non-profits and innovators who are often overlooked in today's high technology-driven development sector. FrontlineSMS
As a result, many NGOs which could benefit from SMS usage were unable to use the technology. Since 2005 FrontlineSMS has successfully bridged this gap, and is today being used in over eighty countries around the world in a wide range of non-profit activities. Further details are available on the FrontlineSMS website
Means of Exchange
Further details are on the Means of Exchange website
Silverback
Silverback is a mobile phone game which takes advantage of the game-playing features of today's mobile phones, and over eight levels teaches people about gorilla conservation. Taking the player from a juvenile gorilla to a fully-mature silverback, the game highlights threats to gorillas in the wild, and contains numerous help screens and gorilla facts. Silverback was re-launched in the Spring of 2008 in response to the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, home to the last remaining mountain gorilla populations. Details of the game, and instructions on how you can download it to your phone, are available on the Silverback
website nGOmobile
nGOmobile was a prototype competition aimed at grassroots non-profit organisations in the developing world, designed to encourage them to think about how text messaging could benefit them - and the impact and reach - of their work. Launched in the autumn of 2007, nGOmobile awarded prizes of laptop computers, mobile phones, GSM modems, software and cash to four NGOs who came up with the most innovative application ideas. Further details on the competition, its partners, the prizes, the expert judging panel and the rationale behind it are available on the nGOmobile website
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Over the past few years text messaging (SMS) has emerged as a leading tool for communicating a wide range of messages to communities and individuals around the world, particularly developing countries. Most of the text-based systems driving these services were developed independently, at high cost, and largely with commercial users in mind.
Means of Exchange is a new project, launched in 2012, which focuses on methods of economic self-sufficiency. The project looks at how emerging, everyday technologies can be used to democratise opportunities for economic self-sufficiency, rebuild local communities and promote a return to local resource use. A number of apps to support this work are planned for rollout during the year.
Today's feature-rich mobile phones open up whole new opportunities for the conservation and development communities. While text messaging is leading the way in the developing world, in mature markets (which generally contain the majority of new technology early adopters) there are increasing opportunities to exploit the growing features of higher-end devices.
