2008 USAID Development 2.0 Challenge
Thursday October 16, 2008 , 1 min Read
USAID and Global Development Commons have announced the 2008 USAID Development 2.0 Challenge. The competition beckons participants to come up with an idea to use mobile technology for social good. In their own words:
Mobile technology, including everything from inventive applications for smart phones to simple text messaging, is increasingly ubiquitous in the developing world. USAID challenges you to explore its potential through an innovation for maximum development impact in areas such as health, banking, education, agricultural trade, or other pressing development issues.
Find more information on this challenge here, including the key dates.
TC-I has regularly reported on developments in the usage of mobile technology to help tackle social issues – be it spreading health message through ringtones or lowering the cost of banking. Innovations in mobile technology coupled with the intense competiton in the mobile market space have lowered the entry level for cell phones and also helped increase its reach manifold. Now we need to ensure that innovative ideas levarage this ecology.
PS: The site http://www.netsquared.org/ is itself a very interesting portal. Their motto clear states their objective of “remixing the web for social change”. You can find a few other very interesting and cutting edge web based solutions.