Crowdsourcing International Development

First off, I want to say thank you to everyone that read and commented on my “Making Charity Transparent” blog post. Also, I’d like to send a quick thanks to the good people at WordPress, for putting my post on the “Freshly Pressed” section. Without your help, the great work that Charity Water is doing and the promotion of utilizing technology to improve the non-profit sector wouldn’t have received the readership that it would’ve otherwise.

That said, I wanted to take the time to write about an idea I had in regards to how technology can be utilized to improve international development. It’s always been my thinking, that although bureaucracy and having a strong internal infrastructure in the non-profit sector can be effective, other times it can be counterproductive by limiting streamlined action and the ability to react quickly to the current task at hand.

The reality, ladies and gentleman, is that our world has serious issues that need serious attention focused on them. From global humanitarian crises in the Sahel region of Africa, to promoting economic growth and entrepreneurship in Nicaragua, there is no shortcoming of opportunities for development and progress.

But what if we could utilize technology and the global village theory to give people a voice to promote ideas and projects that can improve the quality of life where they live? What if we gave the world’s unheard entrepreneurs and thought leaders a chance to lend their voices on issues they see on a local level? Once these projects were fully thought out from a logistical and methodological perspective, the idea of crowd-donating (much like what Kickstarter does) could give people a legitimate platform to promote their creativity for some of the world’s most pressing issues.

I want to know who’s interested in working together with me on this. If we could even dedicate 30 minutes of each day to thinking of creative ways to promote international development, the opportunities for progress would be infinite. Then, implementing the principles that Charity Water and other accountability-based organizations use, we can track funding to the dollar and ensure that wasteful spending and illegitimate practices are eliminated from the entire process.

This may be overly-idealistic and naive, but history shows that creativity and a desire to enact change can sometimes be enough to spark the innovation that can improve our world. Let’s not kick the can down the road anymore.

Making Charity Transparent

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to read up on the non-profit Charity Water, I highly recommend you give it a shot. Charity Water is an organization that builds clean water projects in developing nations, giving people access to water pumps and  helping prevent tragic diseases such as E. coli and Hepatitis A. Not only that, but developing these clean water projects has significantly reduced arduous journeys, where women and children are often harassed and subjected to significant back pains.

Thus far, Charity Water has funded over 6,000 clean water projects, raising more than $40 million for communities worldwide.

Despite these inspiring accomplishments that shouldn’t go overlooked (see descriptive intro above), the real genius of Charity Water lies in its use of technology to promote transparency surrounding donations. Often times, many of us (including myself) feel turned-off to donating to non-profits, mainly because it seems like we can never fully understand where the money we gave is being used. Charity Water has over-compensated for the lack of accountability in other NPOs, by utilizing Google maps and geo-targeting to give people a clear (pun intended) understanding of where the money they donate is heading.

Take the above photo for example. When you donate money to Charity Water, you can physically see on the map which project you money has funded, and how many projects are currently being developed based on location. This simple, yet powerful method has taken the concept of donations to the next level, and given people a greater incentive to donate in the future. Not only that, but it has given Charity Water an esprit de corps that is unparalleled in the current field.

If that demonstration hadn’t dissolved any skepticism, Charity Water takes it one step further. By publishing the progress of specific “Water Projects”, people can literally see from the comfort of their smart phone or tablet exactly how much money was raised per project, and read field notes from Charity Water staff documenting the day-in and day-out operations. This practice has opened a flood gate (pun certainly intended) of donations for Charity Water, and given people strong sentiment to donate again.

Where is the Non-Profit Sector Heading?

As technology continues to infuse accountability and immediacy into our lives, so will the non-profit sector become revolutionized by the technological advances granted to us. Organizations will be expected to track funds virtually, and many more will evolve to become branded as lifestyle missions. I envision people being able to utilize websites to see precisely how their money is being put to use, while Facebook will continue to grow as the premier fundraising tool in the world — making donations easier, faster, and more efficient.

There’s a reason we’re seeing some of the world’s top global thinkers, such as Scott Harrison, bringing innovation to the non-profit sector: the challenges of tackling global issues have taken precedence over simply making money. Social entrepreneurship will continue to thrive with technologically-savvy thought leaders, pushing the limits of progress into the 21st Century. I encourage anyone interested in the non-profit world to consider working for one, or even creating your own. Study what Charity Water has accomplished, and see how you too, can make a difference in this ever-developing world of ours. I know I will.

How Creating a Digital Society will Change our World

Internet Cafe will develop into Internet society)

Sha Zukang, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, recently spoke at a conference at Stanford University about the importance of connection technologies (i.e Internet, mobile phones, and text messages) in promoting development in today’s modern world. While it seems universally agreed upon that giving people access to technology is the right thing to do, little attention is focused exactly as to why this is so important. The truth is, creating digital initiatives will not only provide immediate access to information, but it will also give people access to government and elected officials, which will provide greater transparency in political discourse. Here are some statistics that may open your eyes to how far technology has progressed.

• In 2011, seven trillion text messages were sent around the globe
• There are currently six billion mobile devices worldwide
• There are currently 1.2 billion mobile web users
• By the year 2015, 183 billion smart phone apps are expected to be downloaded

Giving people access to technology will not only stimulate development, but increase the likelihood of education as well. With the recent announcement of Apple’s iBooks 2, societies around the world will have instant access to courses and textbooks spanning multiple concentrations and academic disciplines. This will not only provide people without the same educational opportunities the ability to access leading academic institutions, but it will also result in greater standards of living for people that invest in their personal development. I can imagine a day when a tablet becomes the norm for students in schools and universities around the world, providing access to hundreds of textbooks and lectures on-the-go.

Furthermore, giving people access to mobile technology and Internet access will not only integrate societies, but create new markets for developing entrepreneurs to have access to innovative streams they never had. It’s important for institutions such as the UN and countries like the US to take the lead on bridging the “digital divide” and provide access to necessary tools for development. People like Alec Ross, senior adviser on innovation for Hillary Clinton at the State Department have created programs like Statecraft 3.0, in an effort to bridge the technology gap and establish Internet societies in countries abroad. There will be a day when access to public records, political debates, and town halls will be conducted via social media platforms. It’s up to our elected officials and government institutions to adapt to these changes or risk falling behind in the global environment.

While the UN has taken strides to improve digital life in developing countries, the increase of public-private partnerships will have the potential to catalyze stronger growth and increased connectivity. For example, the Eastern African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) sets out to provide a multi-country, multi-partner, fiber-optic cable project that will connect 21 African countries to each other and the rest of the world. This collaborative effort will result in lower broadband costs and spur investments from other companies moving forward.

The importance of providing digital opportunities around the world will remain an important issue for global development in 2012 and beyond. Having access to the Internet should no longer be a luxury, reserved for the developed countries, but a necessity for all nations worldwide. The open Internet will contribute to free societies, public discourse on central issues facing communities, and knowledge and education for those that seek it.