IDG News Service —
For NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) and developers alike, the ICT4D space can be a tough nut to crack. While NGOs generally struggle to find the tools to meet their particular needs, developers face the opposite problem -- getting their tools into the hands of those who need them the most. Attempts to connect the NGO and developer communities -- physically and virtually -- continue to this day with varying degrees of success. There is no magic bullet.
Of course, bringing together the two parties in one place -- conference room or chat room -- is only a small part of it. Getting them to understand each others needs can be another. While one side may approach things from a "technology looking for a problem" angle, NGOs often have it completely the other way round. One of the boldest attempts in recent times to join the nonprofit/developer dots took place in February 2007 at the boldly titled UN Meets Silicon Valley conference, where the United Nations met with a bunch of Silicon Valley companies to explore how technology and industry could bolster international development. Lower-profile events take place far more regularly, often in the form of 'user generated conferences.' One such gathering -- the upcoming BarCamp Africa -- aims to bring "people, institutions and enterprises interested in Africa together in one location to exchange ideas, build connections, re-frame perceptions and catalyze action that leads to positive involvement and mutual benefit between Silicon Valley and the continent of Africa."
Having worked for many years in the nonprofit sector, particularly in developing countries, I've seen at first-hand the kind of challenges many face and their frustration at the lack of appropriate ICT solutions available to them. I've also been on the developer side of the fence, spending the last three years building and promoting the use of my FrontlineSMS messaging platform among the grassroots nonprofit community. Unfortunately, despite what you might think, seeing the challenge from both perspectives doesn't necessarily make finding a solution any easier. Getting FrontlineSMS, for example, into the hands of NGOs has become slightly easier over time as more people get to hear about it, but it's been a very reactionary process at a time when I'd much rather be proactive. No magic bullet for me.
Sadly, for every ICT solution that gains traction, many more don't even see the light of day. While some may argue that those who failed probably weren't good enough, this isn't always the case. Take Kiva as a case in point. In the early days Matt and Jessica Flannery were regularly told by 'experts' that their idea wouldn't work, that it wouldn't scale. They didn't give up, and today Kiva is a huge success story, connecting lenders -- you and me -- to small businesses in developing countries the world over. Since forming in late 2005, they have facilitated the lending of over US$14 million to tens of thousands of entrepreneurs in some of the poorest countries in the world.
