Taking on the grassroots challenge

by kiwanja

Over the past four years FrontlineSMS has taught us a lot, and I write about it frequently (see my recent misconceptions and observations posts). One of the biggest – and most underestimated – challenges is outreach. If you’re building a tool for grassroots NGOs, particularly those working on the margins, promoting social mobile tools to them is inherently tricky.

Over the past year, and over the past few months in particular, increasing numbers of local, national and international NGOs have begun promoting FrontlineSMS themselves, to their own field offices, partners and NGO friends. This is hugely significant for us, amplifying our own efforts considerably. This short video, courtesy of United Methodist Communications (UMC), shows a handful of delegates at a recent crisis management conference talk briefly about their thoughts on the software.

They may only be a few words, but for us they speak volumes. We took on the grassroots challenge, and it’s great to see others joining in to help us.

After all, it doesn’t matter how good your mobile solutions are if no-one knows they exist.

48 comments

1 Manmeet Mehta { 07.27.09 at 1:07 pm }: RT@kiwanja The challenges of promoting social mobile tools and "Taking on the grassroots challenge". http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video]

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
2 manmeetmehta { 07.27.09 at 1:07 pm }: RT@kiwanja The challenges of promoting social mobile tools and "Taking on the grassroots challenge". http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video]
3 Manmeet Mehta { 07.27.09 at 1:08 pm }: RT @kiwanja The challenges of promoting social mobile tools and "Taking on the grassroots challenge". http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video]

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
4 manmeetmehta { 07.27.09 at 1:08 pm }: RT @kiwanja The challenges of promoting social mobile tools and "Taking on the grassroots challenge". http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video]
5 Clement Nyirenda { 07.27.09 at 1:09 pm }: RT @kiwanja The challenges of promoting social mobile tools and "Taking on the grassroots challenge". http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video]

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
6 nyirendac { 07.27.09 at 1:09 pm }: RT @kiwanja The challenges of promoting social mobile tools and "Taking on the grassroots challenge". http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video]
7 changefeed { 07.27.09 at 1:24 pm }: ->@kiwanja: Taking on the grassroots challenge http://bit.ly/amYjF

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
8 Development Gateway { 07.27.09 at 1:50 pm }: "After all, it doesn’t matter how good your mobile solutions are if no-one knows they exist." @kiwanja http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
9 dgateway { 07.27.09 at 1:50 pm }: "After all, it doesn’t matter how good your mobile solutions are if no-one knows they exist." @kiwanja http://is.gd/1OQ7i
10 @mikegechter's RSS { 07.27.09 at 2:11 pm }: Taking on the grassroots challenge: Over the past four years FrontlineSMS has taught us a lot, and I write about.. http://bit.ly/amYjF

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
11 mikegechter rss { 07.27.09 at 2:11 pm }: Taking on the grassroots challenge: Over the past four years FrontlineSMS has taught us a lot, and I write about.. http://bit.ly/amYjF
12 Africa Strategist { 07.27.09 at 2:23 pm }: RT @kiwanja: The challenges of promoting social mobile tools & "Taking on grassroots challenge". http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video] <<Well done \o/

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
13 africastrategy { 07.27.09 at 2:23 pm }: RT @kiwanja: The challenges of promoting social mobile tools & "Taking on grassroots challenge". http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video] <<Well done \o/
14 paconmiller { 07.28.09 at 1:18 am }: RT @kiwanja The challenges of promoting social mobile tools and “Taking on the grassroots challenge”. http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video]

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
15 Anonymous { 07.28.09 at 1:18 am }: RT @kiwanja The challenges of promoting social mobile tools and “Taking on the grassroots challenge”. http://is.gd/1OQ7i [video]
16 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
17 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
18 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
19 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
20 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
21 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
22 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
23 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
24 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
25 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
26 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
27 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
28 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
29 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
30 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
31 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
32 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
33 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
34 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
35 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
36 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
37 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
38 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
39 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
40 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
41 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
42 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
43 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
44 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
45 FrontlineSMS o/ { 07.28.09 at 12:10 pm }: Great video of African delegates talking about @FrontlineSMS and crisis communications. http://is.gd/1OQ7i
46 Pablarribas Radar { 07.28.09 at 2:42 pm }: dlcsubs Taking on the grassroots challenge | Build it Kenny, and they will come… http://bit.ly/amYjF

[Original tweet, Topsy page]
47 pablarradar { 07.28.09 at 2:42 pm }: dlcsubs Taking on the grassroots challenge | Build it Kenny, and they will come… http://bit.ly/amYjF
48 Nancy Neelley { 08.12.09 at 9:29 pm }: Frontline SMS holds so much potential for church communicators who are wanting to share important news about health, distance learning and messages of hope. Thanks for developing a software with this audience in mind. It’s an audience too often ignored.