Featured Break-Out Sessions Notes
Workshop 1 Highlights
University-Industry Collaborations
Eric Brewer
· Eric Brewer discussed the methods of implemented technologies in underdeveloped nations.
· One project employed WIFI internet connections which enabled an Eye Clinic to have long distance video conferencing. This allowed patient-doctor consultations and nurses to check patients’ vital signs.
· Mr. Brewer and the group also spoke of challenges to international project implementation such as funding, collaboration, and interaction with local government and local leaders; all are crucial to project successes.
Workshop 2 Highlights
Working with Multi-Lateral Organizations (MLO’s)
Djordjija Petkoski
- In working with development, its important to consider other organizations such as the United Nations and World Bank and how they may contribute
World Bank Introduction
- lots of information is available in the tremendous organization, Petkoski is from World Bank Institute-WBI (capacity sector of world bank), private sector in some countries were not enough, knowledge bank is involved in building local capacity so the countries can determine developmental needs and then determine what the World Bank Institute can do to help, wanted to work on investment climate (had yearly publication “investment climate”) and corruption formerly aka good governance, you cannot fight corruption by fighting corruption, it’s embedded
- We should address issues of scalability and sustainability with ICT and Development- its implementation without good governance (cooperation with MLO’s) won’t work
Issues we will address in group discussion:
- How corruption and ICT are connected
- How thru collective action we can work against corruption
- How could ICT help
- How can World Bank Institute help
- Learn how to deal with the private sector
World Bank Intro continued…
- We always talk about globalization and how the world is changing, but when we design we don’t take it into consideration, Bill Gates and Microsoft are changing the way philanthropy is fundamentally approached, Bill Clinton’s initiative
- Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition: model of how the WBI gets involved, try to engage with private sector who are familiar with the region, WBI engages companies to provide forum for discussion to make them feel comfortable
- 3 billion dollars in loans provided to member countries (80 countries)
- Infrastructure in place, and then what? WBI works to develop maximum utilization
Discussion
- What role do multi-lateral organizations play? The focus may not be so much on funding and loans but more on the grass roots level. Programs like the GSBI that help the small grass roots organization with scalability may be closer to working towards development
- Could the answer be through processes of going from the bottom up representatives within the MLO’s? The process may be broken and unhelpful to small organizations. Options: answer calls for proposals from USAID or CITA, small non-profits can communicate to other countries/organizations who may be interested, seek grants, it’s a long term process and about finding open doors and persistence,
- Would like to see less effort having to be made for scalability of organizations and expansion across countries, wants to centralize process to streamline and eliminate wasted efforts for poorer non-profits
- Silicon Valley is opposite, as far as start-ups
- If World Bank didn’t exist, would it be created? What is the payoff other than money? Is there something else that the WBI can offer to help scalability? How can the focus be on achieving mission/goal of the social entrepreneur when so much focus is going to applying for the funding. Knowledge databases, clearinghouses, contact country reps from chamber of commerce, world bank, etc
- Efforts are not wasted in getting funds because part of receiving funding is to please two clients, the donors that provide the funds and the mission and persons from your actual organization. Without working towards your mission, you won’t get funding. So funding and achievement of mission should go hand in hand.
- Observation: those who get the grants are the organizations that are recommended by the best already in the field, so to get the best work to be the best
- How does one organization find a partner in another country that are not funded? Persistence in contacts and country representatives
- It should not be easy to build an organization, if someone is successful in one country it does not have to be easy to spread to another country
- WBI is a knowledge bank and is able to share that with others around the country
- Investment climate ranks countries- how friendly countries are in working with others, WBI puts pressure on those countries to minimize obstacles to make it easier for organizations to work with businesses
- Development gateway- knowledge database AIDA tells us who’s doing what where, who to contact to get involved, project report summaries, could sign up for listservs, sections on trainings, events, USAID and UN, clearinghouse, informatics matchmaking could be solution, could create a valuable resource if organizations get together.
Workshop 3 Highlights
Addressing the Bottom of the Pyramid Market
Allen L. Hammond
· The economic pyramid is split into three parts: the poorest sector consists of 4 billion people with less than $3000 PPP
· These are 4 billion potential new customers, these are 4 billion people with low/nonexistent connectivity to the internet
· This leads to the requirement of new technology and ideas to connect these people to the global economy
· Main access device is the telephone
· Needs can be met by applications that can run on phones
· Private sector needs to work with the public sector
· USAID funds companies to do the work
· Lots of levels are needed to bring internet to under-developed countries: various companies, local and international
· Its possible to it to the bottom of the pyramid but public sector support is needed
· Build community centered system that can connect multiple communities
· Partnering with local government to build infrastructures
· More phones equals more lives saved as increased communication can help with natural disasters
Workshop 6 Highlights
Human-Centered Research and Design
Anke Schwittay
Paul Braund
· Workshop leaders discusses the purpose of human driven design research and the importance of community involvement in local design
· Participants were broken into six groups, imagining they were members of different factions of a rural village or outsiders interested in bring them technological advancement in the form of a Telecenter
· The groups combined to discuss their theoretical goals, questions, concerns, and strategies, including social, political, economic, and cultural implications
· There was emphasis placed on finding common understanding between groups and expressing the fact that such a project could be a “two-way learning situation” benefiting all involved
· The groups representing the village community demonstrated a combination of skepticism and interest in bringing a Telecenter to the village, particularly concerned with respect for their cultural traditions, the project’s long-term value and commitment, as well as legal repercussions
· Overall, the workshop activity provided a sense of the conflicting interests that exist within a community, and emphasized the complexity of implementing human-centered design projects so that they are satisfying for all parties involved
