financial sustainability in ict4d initiatives
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Financial Sustainability in ICT4D Initiatives. Linda Raftree Plan International USA March 12, 2012 ICTD 2012, Atlanta, GA. Identification of a real need. identified by the community owned by the community co-created with end users - not designed and parachuted in from the outside - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Financial Sustainabilityin ICT4D Initiatives
Linda RaftreePlan International USA
March 12, 2012ICTD 2012, Atlanta, GA
Identification of a real need
• identified by the community• owned by the community• co-created with end users - not designed and
parachuted in from the outside• if benefits not tangible, need buy-in and
awareness, “proof” over long term• if you have to pay people to participate,
you’ve got issues
Where the market doesn’t work
• the market by nature is excluding• giving away free stuff hurts development efforts,
isn’t sustainable• people do have some resources• responsibility is where? livelihood vs education or
healthcare• need to find the balance
Other aspects of sustainability:
• social sustainability -- community ownership and interest, buy-in?
• political – election cycles…• legal – local legal frameworks?• managerial – do you have the right people
managing if it grows/scales?• cost – localization• transparency, accountability, governance
In design, consider:
• client (end user)• context• capacity• culture• connectivity• cost
Remember:
• ICT solutions that save people money and time can be sustainable from within
• don’t suggest ICTs if the problem can be resolved in a cheaper, simpler way without them
• start small with scale and sustainability in mind from the very start
Tension in public/private/non-profit
• telecom and IT companies -bottom line• NGOs - protective of most marginalized • NGO resistance to privatized education and
health• government bureaucracy and self- interest• vastly different approaches, paces,
deliverables, timelines, methodologies
Aid and government ICT4D projects
• “sustainability” “the government will assume responsibility”
• does government even know?• is there enough budget to cover it all?• need for greater aid coordination• consider all aspects of sustainability
Some models
• Pesinet – micro-insurance plan• Young Africa Live – zero-rated service,
reduces telecom churn, but exclusivity…• Mama – freemium with some paid content• Universal Access Fund – Uganda, Peru,
Nepal experiences• Njorku – job search for Africa, seed funded
In summary
• based on a real local need?• challenge: working where market doesn’t work• remember other aspects of sustainability• client, context, capacity, culture, connectivity, cost • private sector vs development sector end goals • public and aid funded projects • consider replication, scale, sustainability from the
very start