Technology, applied appropriately, can provide huge benefits for the conservation and development communities. However, all-too-often there are barriers to entry - cost, lack of guidance or awareness, or simply the lack of a suitable product. After all, few commercial software houses have conservation and development in mind when building their products
As part of its 'low cost, high impact' ethic, kiwanja.net is developing a range of off-the-shelf solutions
and services for the NGO sector. These solutions aim to provide access to leading edge, emerging technologies
Products available include:
nGOmobile
www.ngomobile.org

nGOmobile is a competition aimed at grassroots, non-profit
organisations in the developing world and is designed to encourage them to think
about how text messaging could benefit them and their work. Launched in the
autumn of 2007, nGOmobile will award prizes of laptop computers, mobile phones,
GSM modems, software and cash to four NGOs who come up with the most innovative
application ideas
Further details on the competition, its partners, the prizes, the expert
judging panel and the rationale behind it are available on the competition
website
FrontlineSMS
www.frontlinesms.kiwanja.net
Over the past couple of years, SMS has emerged as a leading tool for communicating a wide range of messages to communities and individuals in developing countries. Most of these text-based services have been developed independently, and at varying cost. Many organisations which could benefit immensely from SMS usage are unable to use the technology due to issues of cost, access and knowledge, and the lack of a suitable product.
Since 2005 FrontlineSMS has successfully bridged
this gap, and in the process
has been nominated for a mobile industry award, featured as WSIS "ICT Success
Story of the Month" for its use in the Nigerian Presidential elections, and
attracted funding from the MacArthur Foundation
Further details on the software available on the FrontlineSMS website
Charity Central
www.charitycentral.net (launching Q2 2008)
Many grassroots non-profit organisations work tirelessly for their cause. In
the fields of human rights, conservation, education and health many work under
difficult or extreme conditions, rarely heard of beyond their immediate
geographical areas of focus. Working out how best to get their message across
over the internet can be one challenge too far
At the same time spreading that message, mobilising
support and raising funds are often key strategies
Charity Central provides FREE internet hosting
services to global grassroots non-profit organisations. For pre-launch
information please use the
Contact page
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