FrontlineSMS wins prestigious Tech Award
Yesterday the Tech Museum at Santa Clara University announced the 2009 Tech Awards Laureates. The Tech Awards is a prestigious international awards program that honours innovators from around the world who are applying technology to benefit humanity. FrontlineSMS / kiwanja.net was one of three Laureates honoured in the “Equality” category, and one of only fifteen in total.
Established in 2001, The Tech Awards recognises Laureates in a total of five categories – environment, economic development, education, equality and health. Laureates are recognised as having developed new technological solutions or innovative ways to use existing technologies to significantly improve the lives of people around the world. The Awards are sponsored by a wide range of partners which include Nokia, Intel, Microsoft, Accenture, eBay and Google.
The fact we knew about our Award a couple of weeks ago didn’t make Tuesday’s announcement any less exciting. It’s always a great feeling to have your efforts acknowledged, and if anything this shows, at the very least, that we’re heading in the right direction. A lot of work has gone into FrontlineSMS, and this Award is very much down to the efforts of a fantastic user base of NGOs big and small, incredible donors – the MacArthur Foundation, Open Society Institute and the Hewlett Foundation – an amazing team of developers at Masabi, the inspiring work of spin-off organisations such as FrontlineSMS:Medic, the faith and belief of the many bloggers who regularly write about and promote our work, the efforts of talented designers, and unlimited encouragement from friends and supporters in the social mobile space.
This Award is for all of you.
Thanks also to the person who nominated FrontlineSMS, whoever and wherever you are, and to the judges and organisers of the Tech Awards for putting their faith in our work.
Empowerment
I’ve always maintained that it’s not technology that excites me, but what happens when you put technology in the hands of people. If it wasn’t for the tireless work of increasing numbers of NGOs – each of whom has adapted and applied FrontlineSMS in their own unique way – we’d simply be sitting on thousands of lines of benign code.
FrontlineSMS has always been about empowerment, about lowering barriers to entry and giving people the tools they need to carry out their own social change work. This 2007 quote from the Africa Journal still spells out the ethos of FrontlineSMS better than anything:
FrontlineSMS provides the tools necessary for people to create their own projects that make a difference. It empowers innovators and organizers in the developing world to achieve their full potential through their own ingenuity
Of course, it’s also helped that we’ve been patient – the software has been over four years in the making, and remains very much a work in progress. We know more than anyone that there’s still a very long way to go. What’s also key is that we’ve remained totally focused in an industry which innovates at such a rate it’s easy to be distracted. Back in 2005 we picked a specific problem and set out determined to solve it. It’s fair to say that we never quite expected things to take off as they have, and today’s announcement is yet another highlight in what is becoming an incredible journey.
But the work goes on, and it’s all eyes back on the next big release, due out later this month. In the ICT4D world, complacency is a killer.
Finally, it goes without saying that congratulations also go out to the other fourteen Laureates. I’m looking forward to meeting them in November, and seeing what we can all learn from each others work. It promises to be an inspiring week. \o/





















176 comments
Congrats!
Well deserved
Awesome to see this amazing tool get the credit it deserves!! Very well done to everyone involved
Well done Sir Ken and the whole Frontline SMS family!
[...] This post was Twitted by ictlogist [...]
bravo – well deserved I’m sure
Congrats !!!!
[...] this page was mentioned by Ismael Peña-López (@ictlogist), IsaacHoleman (@isaacholeman) and others. [...]
Big congrats!!! \o/
Congrats!
Congrats Ken
Big up to you Ken and your team
great stuff ken
Terrific news! Congrats!
Great news! Congrats!
Congrats Ken!
[...] This post was Twitted by Tech4Dev [...]
Well done!!!
Big fan as always – well deserved! \o/\o/\o/
\o/ !!! excellent news ken!
\o/ good show, ol’ chap, good show!
Thanks for all the kind comments and support! All hugely appreciated.
Well done Ken, although I’m not sure this sounds like the Ken I used to know….! V impressed.
[...] This post was Twitted by ecoblips [...]
RT @poptech Congrats to @kiwanja, a 2008 @poptech Fellow, on the @frontlinesms prestigious Tech Award win: http://bit.ly/d7qup
[...] http://www.kiwanja.net/blog/2009/09/frontlinesms-wins-prestigious-tech-award/ a few seconds ago from Twhirl [...]
Congrats to you and the team!
Good stuff. Well deserved. Why didn’t they give it sooner?
Woo hoo! Congrats, and thank you for the inspiration to stay the course…”I’ve always maintained that it’s not technology that excites me, but what happens when you put technology in the hands of people” –so well-put. Kudos!
RT @rbcsoriano: FrontlineSMS wins prestigious Tech Award http://bit.ly/d7qup
RT @rbcsoriano: FrontlineSMS wins prestigious Tech Award http://bit.ly/d7qup
Brilliant!!
Congrats!! What are the USP’s?
congrats..Frontlinesms is a great tool for us non-profits
Bit of an understatement to say I’m overwhelmed by all the emails, tweets and DM’s re: @frontlinesms award (http://bit.ly/d7qup). Thank you!
Bit of an understatement to say I’m overwhelmed by all the emails, tweets and DM’s re: @frontlinesms award (http://bit.ly/d7qup). Thank you!
Another short comment (like the others!!). Brilliant work, well done.
congrats, great job you are doing out there
Very proud of your extremely worthwhile achievements Ken and of those who have joined you along the way.
EXCELLENT Ken – congrats!
Latest news! FrontlineSMS wins prestigious Tech Award –> http://bit.ly/d7qup Congrats!!! (RT @kiwanja @frontlinesms)
Latest news! FrontlineSMS wins prestigious Tech Award –> http://bit.ly/d7qup Congrats!!! (RT @kiwanja @frontlinesms)
Congratulations Ken from all of us at Open Mind – Question Box! This is awesome =)
It’s great to see a project like this getting the recognition it deserves!
[...] I saw at last year’s event : one which is really proving itself is FrontlineSMS – which recently was awarded a laureate at the 2009 Tech [...]
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of everyone at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
@tmsruge I believe some congratulations are instore though http://bit.ly/iOkRU
@tmsruge I believe some congratulations are instore though http://bit.ly/iOkRU
@tmsruge I believe some congratulations are instore though http://bit.ly/iOkRU
RT @belfastangel: @tmsruge I believe some congratulations are instore though http://bit.ly/iOkRU // Indeed! Fantastic!
RT @belfastangel: @tmsruge I believe some congratulations are instore though http://bit.ly/iOkRU // Indeed! Fantastic!
RT @belfastangel: @tmsruge I believe some congratulations are instore though http://bit.ly/iOkRU // Indeed! Fantastic! (via @tmsruge)
RT @belfastangel: @tmsruge I believe some congratulations are instore though http://bit.ly/iOkRU // Indeed! Fantastic! (via @tmsruge)
[Love this] RT@frontlinesms Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of those at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
[Love this] RT@frontlinesms Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month on behalf of those at FrontlineSMS. http://is.gd/4klvE
RT @bjelkeman: [Love this] RT@frontlinesms Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month http://is.gd/4klvE
RT @bjelkeman: [Love this] RT@frontlinesms Looking forward to picking up our Tech Award next month http://is.gd/4klvE
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