From public transport apps such as Hailo to archival ones such as Evernote, the benefits of mobile technology for people in the developed world have been well documented. But mobile is arguably having a much bigger impact on people's lives in the developing world, particularly Africa. There, the transformative effect of a technology that is largely taken for granted in the UK, such as an e-reader application, can be immense. That transformation was the subject of a recent presentation by mobile strategist Rudy De Waele at the O2 Campus Party at London's O2 Arena, a week long technology festival.
"People in Sub-Saharan countries have to deal with very basic kinds of infrastructural problems in transport, electricity generation or water supply, things that most of us in the West don't have to deal with" says De Waele.
De Waele is the co-founder of Nyota Media, an agency dedicated to assisting African entrepreneurs and startups using technology to improve the lives of Africans. Based in London, Nyota works with a range of companies, including Microsoft, IBM and Millicom. De Waele has over 18 years experience in internet technology, and has specialised in mobile innovation since 1999. He says there are huge opportunities in Africa right now when it comes to mobile solutions generally.
"Over the next five years, seven of the world's ten fastest growing economies will come out of Africa. As a result, there is a growing middle class in Sub-Saharan parts of the continent, mainly in places like Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania. There's also faster growing access to mobile connectivity. The market is still largely feature phone based, but smartphone penetration is growing rapidly. These are beginning to be offered at a cost of between $50 and $70."
Internet connectivity is only part of the explanation for the growth in social entrepreneurship however. A crucial factor, says De Waele, is that many African countries have a very young population.
"In some countries over 50% of the population is below the age of 20. As a result, there is a young, dynamic generation - I call them the 'wow generation' - that have their own ideas on how to change things for themselves, and that are no longer waiting for the West to come and save them. Through the internet they have access to any type of knowledge, as well as things like crowdfunding platforms and technology hubs. This allows them to avoid the bureaucracy of corrupted government or big industry players, and come up with low cost solutions to a range of problems."
One such example here is Kenya's M-Pesa, a mobile money solution that allows Kenyans to transfer money via their mobile phone. M-Pesa has surged in popularity since 2007, with almost 20 million accounts having been opened in country with a population of some 44 million people. A more recent example of how falling costs have combined with increased device mobility is the Happy Feet project. The brainchild of University of Nairobi student Roy Ombatti, this uses 3D printing to create custom shaped shoes for victims of the Chigoea flea. Commonly referred to as 'Jigger disease', the flea can leave those it infects with severe, painful deformations of the feet.
The innovative use of technology in this way and the capacity for self sufficiency it creates, is a key feature of social entrepreneurship in Africa says De Waele. He also thinks it marks the death knell for the "old" not for profit model of fundraising and distribution.
"In a global context, and especially in Europe, I think the old not for profit model of raising funds to distribute to other people is dead, or is dying. Big NGOs need huge marketing campaigns and that is a huge overhead. It doesn't really work anymore. With access to the internet and crowdfunding, people can choose what they want to fund. Of course it's a good thing that big NGO's do things like distribute food, but in the end they aren't helping efforts to make people self-sufficient, by growing their own food for example."
De Waele says that communications companies like O2 have an important role to play in all of this, certainly by continuing to provide internet access, but also by helping to develop a supportive ecosystem by "connecting entrepreneurs, investors, business and mentors through programmes or hubs."
"Whether Latin America or Africa, the problems and solutions are the same. When I talk to local developers, they all tell me they can learn to do things like code online, but what they really want is advice on how to set up a sustainable businesses. There's not a lot of experience in that regard, particularly when it comes to things like energy and development of natural resources. Programmes such as Wayra, that combine all of these elements and connect them with investment, are crucial to future success."
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