Art + Technology + Participation in Development Discussions

[RFP] African Innovation Challenge

NEW Second RIU Call for Proposals - Innovation Challenge Fund: Phase 2 Africa

The purpose of the African Innovation Challenge Fund (African ICF) is to provide financial support to teams so they can take promising research, funded by DFID, to the next stage of use. The selected initiatives will contribute to RIU’s purpose by delivering significant use of RNRRS and other natural resources research outputs for the benefit (direct or indirect) of poor men and women in different contexts.

The first RIU call issued in 2007 focused on target countries in S and S.E. Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam) and the response demonstrated that there were many entry points for scaling up RNRRS research knowledge. However the subsequent lesson learning study on the Asian challenge fund process indicated that, the scope of the call may have been too broad, creating wide expectations which the challenge fund was unable to fulfill. The RIU management team have therefore decided to focus the Africa call on two key elements which we feel are critical in getting research into use and from which lessons can be drawn for decision makers. These two elements are 1) novel communication methods and 2) public-private partnerships which can stimulate the use of natural resource technologies and processes produced by DFID research activities for the benefit of large numbers of people.

More information on these focal areas and the context of the African ICF can be found in the guidance notes (available in English and in French)

The RIU Innovation Challenge Fund Africa will focus on the following countries in sub Saharan Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, S.Africa, Senegal, Mali and Niger (Total 10 countries).

Other countries in Africa e.g. Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Nigeria are involved in RIU country programmes under another RIU component –component 1.2- Enhancing Demand. To avoid duplication of effort these six countries are not the primary focus of the African ICF. They may be considered for funding where regional initiatives exist but we stress that in this call we wish to focus on the ten countries which have been highlighted above.

The guidance notes and application forms are available in English and French, although we kindly request that applications are submitted in English to assist selection procedures.

Any questions or queries should be directed to the RIU Grants and Policy co-ordinator Lucy Nickoll L.nickoll@nrint.co.uk

Closing date for submission of Concept Notes: Monday, 1st September, 12 noon (GMT+1)

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[Competion] The MIT IDEAS Competition

An invitation to nedsters with ideas. questions or ideas you'd like to work through? Let's talk about how IDEAS09 can benefit ned members on the ground. Learn more about the IDEAS Competition at http://web.ned.com/ideas

Last comment added: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:05:13 PDT

[RFP] Abundance Fund Seeks Innovative Proposals - Namibia

The Abundance Fund, a charity out of the San Francisco area, seeks to improve the quality of life for the world’s poor by helping people realize their own power through economic and social progress.

Here's what they say about themselves, "We represent a new approach to increasing prosperity in the Third World. We believe that people are, by nature, creative beings. It is our nature to form something out of nothing. It is our nature to craft. We believe it is the birthright of every human to live in abundance, to create her own universe, to shape his own destiny. We believe that the answers to lifting up the poor lie with enabling the poor to take charge of their lives. We believe that they know better than their governments, or our governments, or in many cases, development practitioners, what is needed to better their lives--forever. They know what their goals are. They know what they want. They know what will work."

Anyway, they have an RFP out to support economic development in Namibia. Here are their criteria:

Proposals will be accepted only for community development projects in NAMIBIA.
Proposals must be submitted in English and on time.
Proposals must focus on economic and/or social progress.
Proposals must focus on sustainable community benefits and the genesis of prosperity.
Proposals must demonstrate creativity and passion.
Proposals must have a clear plan for implementation and measurable results.
Proposals must show how the benefits will be sustainable over time.

Download the RFP at The Abundance Fund.

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[Ned] Contribute to and Help Win Seven's VINE Competition

Seven Fund has a really interesting challenge that I think the ned.com community should tackle: there's alot of interest and experience here - and during our time at O.net for those of us there - that can be pulled together into a great package.

Here's the challenge:

The SEVEN Fund is putting out a challenge, a question to be answered by anyone and everyone. Recognizing that traditional financial ratios and assessment metrics are not sufficient for identifying promising emerging market firms, we therefore pose the following question:

What indicators can outside investors measure to help them predict the potential success of emerging market SMEs?

In building our index, we could have taken several approaches. We could engage top academics – economists and business strategists – working in developing markets, or we could ask investment bankers and venture capitalists already investing in these markets; we could go straight to entrepreneurs themselves. We believe, however, that stimulating a dialogue among all these groups – and anyone else who is inspired to participate - will generate the most powerful insights. We especially welcome contributions from non-traditional participants in these discussions.

So let's discuss here how we might approach this, and who will be responsible for shepherding us through the process?

Learn more about the challenge here. Deadline for first round, "Initial Submission," is November 15.

Last comment added: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:18:14 PDT

Picture Piecing

I thought of Peace Tiles the moment I saw this -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales /north_west/7521914.stm

I like it! I'm going to see it next week :)

Last comment added: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:31:17 PDT

[Artist Funding] New Awards for Artists

The philanthropic group ArtVenture is establishing an annual award, the Freedom to Create Prize, for three categories of artists whose work promotes human rights. The winner of the main prize, open to artists in the visual, performing or literary arts, will receive $50,000, half to be donated to a group that furthers the artist’s cause. A $25,000 prize will be given to an artist younger than 18, with $10,000 for a scholarship and $15,000 to be donated to a cause. A final $25,000 will be awarded to an artist who is imprisoned for his or her work. The deadline for entries is Oct. 31, and the winners are to be announced on Dec. 1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/0 1/arts/01arts-NEWAWARDSFOR_BRF.h tml?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=s login&adxnnlx=1214929492-bUo WAqEGBignQciKLs/pmA

http://www.artventure.com/

Last comment added: Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:11:15 PDT

Innovation and International Development

I am on a quest, and it is this: a search to uncover ways to keep my ear to the ground on issues related to technology, innovation, and international development. Specifically, how to identify entrepreneurs in the global south who have an idea related to business process improvement, community development, or any other area of social and economic improvement but lack the capacity to a) design, b) develop, and /or c) test that idea.

Any ideas on how and where to find such folks around the world?

Last comment added: Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:45:32 PDT

[Tech] Kickstart: Providing Technology for Small Businesses in Africa

Recently came across this interesting resource. I wonder what other technology development and transfer models nedsters are tracking?

KickStart's mission is to help millions of people out of poverty. We promote sustainable economic growth and employment creation in Kenya and other countries. We develop and promote technologies that can be used by dynamic entrepreneurs to establish and run profitable small scale enterprises.

KickStart believes that self-motivated private entrepreneurs managing small-scale enterprises can play a dynamic role in the economies of developing countries.

These entrepreneurs can raise small amounts of capital ($100-$1,000 US) to start a new enterprise. KickStart then helps them to identify viable business opportunities and access the technologies required to launch the new enterprises.

In addition to promoting small enterprise development, KickStart's technologies, expertise, and methods are widely applied throughout Africa to support programs in agriculture, shelter, water, sanitation, health, and relief.

The Organization

Establish in July 1991 by Nick Moon and Martin Fisher, KickStart was founded in Kenya as an international social enterprise.

KickStart has offices in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mali. We have engineers and technicians that design and develop our award winning products. We also employ trainers and promoters to explain the benefits of our products to our customers.

KickStart's unique model developed in Kenya is now being replicated in other African countries. We established an ambitious goal to expand our program in East Africa and open new programs in Southern and West Africa to help millions more people out of poverty. More on our approach.

KickStart's market and private-sector oriented approach ensures that the impacts of its program become fully self-sustaining in local economies. Technologies are installed in the private sector and continue to be produced, marketed, and used by entrepreneurs to create thousands of vibrant new businesses and jobs, long after KickStart's interventions have ceased.

Last comment added: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:38:43 PDT

[Participation] Big Claims, High Stakes, and Teeny, Tiny Risks

Its funny how sometimes its appropriate to make claims about technology in the context of international development work that one wouldn't necessarily make at home. For example, a "tool to end poverty." Here at home we'd talk about financial instruments to promote savings, supply credit, etc. We'd talk about technologies to improve the availability of electricity, mitigate drought, etc.

We wouldn't really lay claim to tools that can "end poverty."

And yet in the development context, this is seen as acceptable. Kiva says its making loans that "save lives." MicroPlace says it provides "wise" investment opportunities that "end poverty." World of Good, another eBay company (as is MicroPlace) suggests that "...a good choice can change the world." And of course there are others.

The smarm is thick as molasses.

Ultimately, its disingenuous to those whose lives depend on concrete change, not small change.

Now I know there is a whole lot of hype about how the concerted small actions of a very great many people can produce "sea changes." But the reality is that its not happening.

But you can have another dolop of smarm with that. "Supersmarm me."

I think the smarmfest is coming from the marketing imperatives of the profit motives that underlay most of these emerging business models. In other words, "If you don't feel good about doing it (really, really good - in fact so good you want to tell a lot of other people about doing it) we're not gonna make a buck. Oh, and yeah the world is gonna suck."

Well, even if the world still sucks, at least the company remains financially healthy.

And this seems to be a big problem today: the health of the larger share of the world's population is being put on smarm island, that gooey refuge created when Big Institutions (like government) have been drowned in the bathtubs of the Grover Norquists, replaced by private intermediaries offering The Big Quid Pro Quo: let us help you help others by helping us (in other words, give us your money, kid).

The world has never changed without some serious heavy lifting. And the world is hard to lift if it seeps through your fingers.

The sums here are tiny, focused at the micro level, and uncoordinated. One has to wonder how Big Infrastructure will happen fast enough. There's this funny little riddle: as trust and confidence in government decline at the same time the outsourcing of government services rises in developing nations, people place more and more faith in the private and "independent" sectors to get things done. This in turn draws much needed monies away from government coffers.

Yet the reality is that private enterprise flourishes on government spending.

How are the schools going to be built (educate the future workforce), the hospitals established (keep the workforce healthy), and the roads paved (keep goods and services flowing) before governments collapse into chaos?

Do microlending companies take an active interest in the taxation policies of the nations where they lend? How about in the ones where they're based?

Of course they do: how to avoid them.

And yet peer to peer relationships are vital. Technology transfer, microlending, "conscientious consumption" -- all of these are helpful tools of strengthened interdependence.

I'd just like to ask for a little less sugar-coating of the outcomes, a greater recognition of the complementariness of these efforts with traditional development, and a willingness to acknowledge that the risk of getting a $150 loan paid back is far less than the risk to an entire generation's future by not supporting the formal instruments of large-scale assistance and economic development, for example overseas direct assistance (ODA).

So the companies are making big claims. There's a lot on the line for the people behind the big smiles. And consumers are putting very little on the line. And while the conventional tools of economy building don't promise as much, and they are certainly not as sexy (or smarmy), perhaps complemented by the civil stability wide-spread microfinance tools could bring, they just might be a good combintation.

Last comment added: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:23:47 PDT

[Tech] MicroPlace: An eBay Microloan Marketplace

I recently came across MicroPlace and got interested for several reasons. First, unlike Kiva its a dotcom. In other words, their business model is profit-based. Second, its tied to a smart, diversified global company - which means that it can leverage the parent's market penetration. Third, it marries the transactional power of the internet with existing MFI's and securities issuers. In other words, its less a financial institution that it is an intermediary occupying a sweetspot in the marketplace: connecting people with cash to invest with opportunities, and externalizing risk. Finally, I also like that the web2.0 aspects of the site enable users to track their influence of lenders - perhaps not on mitigating a "problem" (yet) but on creating a "multiplier effect" around that problem in the form of "influencing" and tracking the investments of others.

Anyone here tried MicroPlace? I'd be interested in your thoughts. I do like the overall design of the site, include its map-based investment interface. (I will readily confess some fatigue with lofty pronouncements in taglines like, "Invest wisely. End poverty." Classic bait and switch advertising tactics imho).

Last comment added: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:52:37 PDT