information and communication technologies for development · 2015-07-24 · 2 information and...
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Chapter title iProject:New Business Models for Sustainable Trading Relationships
Series:Topic Brief Series
Author:Shaun Ferris
Information and communication technologies for development
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This paper is part of a publication series generated by the New Business Models for Sustainable Trading Relationships project. The partners in the four-year project – the Sustainable Food Laboratory, Rainforest Alliance, the International Institute for Environment and Development, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, and Catholic Relief Services – are working together to develop, pilot, and learn from new business models of trading relationships between small-scale producers and formal markets. By working in partnership with business and looking across a diversity of crop types and market requirements – fresh horticulture, processed vegetables, pulses, certified coffee and cocoa – the collaboration aims to synthesize learning about how to increase access, benefits, and stability for small-scale producers while generating consistent and reliable supplies for buyers.
For further information see: www.sustainablefoodlab.org/projects/ag-and-development and http://www.linkingworlds.org/
Please contact Shaun Ferris at [email protected] at if you have any questions or comments.
ISBN 978-1-84369-847-0
Available to download at www.iied.org/pubs
©International Institute for Environment and Development/Sustainable Food Lab 2012
All rights reserved
Shaun Ferris works for the agriculture team within the program quality department of the Catholic Relief Services. His main areas of work for on linking poor farmers to markets. This work includes developing training materials and integrating ICT opportunities into program work.
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Chapter title 1Information and communication technologies for development
Table of contents
Executive summary ��������������������������2
1. The ICT transformation in emergency and development programs ���������������������4How is ICT innovation working in the
developing world? ����������������������� 5
2. How is ICT being used in agricultural development? ����������������������������� 7Does market information lead to increased
income? ������������������������������� 12
3. How affordable and appropriate are ICT services in the development of agriculture? ������������������������������ 14
Conclusion ���������������������������������� 18
References ��������������������������������� 34
2 Information and communication technologies for development
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New ways of using IT technologies and communication systems are transforming lives across the world. There had been concerns that the digital divide was accelerating the global class structure, creating wider gaps between the haves and have-nots. If this was the case 10 years ago, the recent changes in mobile subscriptions alone have significantly closed that gap. Mobile services are a reality in virtually all corners of the world. For many millions of smallholder farmers and traders, mobiles phones have become an essential “tool of the trade”, strengthening existing business ties and opening up new opportunities with huge reductions in transaction times and cost.
This paper asks “How is information and communication technology (ICT) being used in agricultural development?” It outlines, using case study examples, how ICT applications for the agriculture sector range from the highly-sophisticated, fully-integrated chain-wide agri-business service packages used by the most commercial farmers, down to basic voice and text messaging that is being used very effectively by less resourced smallholder farmers and traders for all stages of the food production process: harvesting, processing, logistics to sales and marketing. To take advantage of this marketplace, the private sector, NGOs and governments are investing in a range of new tools to link farmers with assets, services and markets.
Five years ago, most ICT services for agriculture were confined to the top segment of farmers. The rapid rise in ICT technologies is now spreading into the smallholder agriculture sector and being used by a growing number of agricultural companies, development organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and farmers.
Despite the massive uptake of mobile phones by agricultural producers, there are few quantitative studies that provide hard evidence of a link between technology and poverty reduction. Those studies that have explored this, however, found that farmer access to market information through radio, mobile phones and internet resulted in higher farm-gate prices and a better bargaining position with local traders.
To make good on the promise of ICT transformation, however, the paper suggests that organizations from the public and private sectors will need to create new types of partnerships and business networks with the millions of smallholder farmers in the developing world. Some general recommendations for ensuring these technologies contribute to sustainable and equitable development include:
• Promote investment policies that give communications companies incentives to cross subsidize investments from higher profit areas to expand infrastructure into less commercial rural areas.
• Support income levies within the commercial communications markets so that a percentage of profit is made available for public goods services.
• In more remote areas combine wireless technologies with electrical power sources that can be used by communities to support other vital sectors, such as health and education.
• Promote and support the development of content in local languages to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of ICT applications.
Executive summary
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• Support adult literacy and numeracy programs in rural areas to expand access and use of ICT-based services to low income, more marginal areas.
• Promote and facilitate the establishment of broad public–private partnerships in the implementation of projects that support both public services and less commercial areas.
• Promote use of, and investment in, open source technology, so that developers and users are not constrained by licensing issues.
Mobile services are a reality in virtually all corners of the world. For many millions of smallholder farmers and traders, mobiles phones have become an essential “tool of the trade”
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1The ICT transformation in emergency and development programs
Over the past 30 years, the rapid development and integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) has transformed the way we live and do business. From humble beginnings in the 1960s, basic computer and telecommunication systems have revolutionized business operating systems. In the past 20 years the use of computerized systems has infiltrated virtually every sector of modern living across the globe and this revolution is now making its way into the development sector.
Many of the key events that have led to the IT revolution are based upon the maintenance of “Moore’s Law”, which predicts the doubling of computer processing power every 18 months. This has enabled the miniaturization of computing hardware from mainframes to personalized computers (PCs) in the 1970s, the shift from desktop to mobile technologies at the turn of the
century, and most recently the rise of a dazzling array of mobile devices linked to cloud computing1 (Figure 1).
The continued roll out of high-speed connectivity is rapidly creating a wired and wireless society, which is fuelling innovation and supporting our ability to share information and access new services and applications that add value to our lives and business ventures, at ever more affordable rates.
The driving force behind this huge innovation stream for faster, smarter, cheaper and more customized ways of connecting people to information services is the desire we have as individuals, families, groups, networks, firms, corporations and governments to understand our world more clearly, function more efficiently, and boost our skills and creativity.
Figure 1. Changes in technology over the past 50 years
Source: Thomas 2009
1. Cloud computing provides computation, software applications, data access, data management and storage resources online, without requiring cloud users to know the location and other details of the computing infrastructure.
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The ICT transformation in emergency and development program 5
How is ICT innovation working in the developing world? During the 1980s and 1990s, major corporate, consumer and telecom markets focused on the lucrative markets of industrial nations. However, as growth in these markets flattened off, a combination of leading and new ICT companies turned their attention to the “emerging markets”. Many companies have maintained growth by reselling older technologies into these new markets, often referred to as the bottom of the pyramid (Prahalad 2004). As industrialized nations upgraded and deepened their markets, first generation technologies were repackaged for the rapidly emerging economies of Asia, Latin America and Africa. New companies from the emerging markets further energized the sector with business models that significantly reduced cost and increased access for the lower-income market segments. Frugal innovation has also allowed for mass market opportunities.
The roll out of “leapfrog technologies” in developing countries − whereby low-cost mobile phones are adopted instead of fixed-line telecoms − has led to massive uptake of new technology, which has transformed these societies. According to a recent Accenture and Vodafone report (Vodaphone and Accenture 2011) there are over 3.5 billion mobile connections in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region (Figure 2). The current drive for additional connectivity through satellite and fiber optic cables is further accelerating the deployment and integration of mobile and web-based technologies.
How is the technology being used?
In emerging markets, mobile phones are the computing and communication product of choice. Market projections suggest that smart phones or some form of mobile device, such as the tablet,
Figure 2. Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2011*
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0 CIS** Europe The Arab World Asia & Pacific Africa Americas States
143.0
119.5
103.3 96.786.7
73.9
53.0
* Estimate**Commonwealth of Independent States
Regions are based on the ITU BDT Regions, see: http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/definitions/regions/index.html
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6 Information and communication technologies for development
will become the global “point of access” choice (see Figure 3). The convenience and affordability of mobile technology has enabled millions of people in lower-income countries to become connected. The new-found ability to communicate has been particularly important in providing links between rural and urban communities, for family and business counterparts.
For many millions of smallholder farmers and traders, mobile phones have become an essential “tool of the trade”, strengthening existing business ties and opening up new opportunities with huge reductions in transaction time and cost.
For the most part, smallholder farmers and local traders are using their phones within informal networks, and at this time there are few systematic services for rural communities.
As with the industrialized nations, however, the uses, applications and service options based on ICT solutions are rapidly changing as the private sector, NGOs, communities and governments gain more experience with the technology and start to build more effective and affordable services that link urban and rural communities within new types of social and business networks.
This process of social and technology change is both disruptive and innovative, causing many to rethink how people, systems and services can be configured to be faster, cheaper, better, and more equitable.
Figure 3. Global trends in preferred internet gateway device
Source: Giles 2011
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In many emerging economies agriculture remains a major source of employment and income. An expanding and urbanizing global population means there will be continued and growing demand for agricultural products and services. To support an additional two billion people in the next 20–30 years will require raising the productivity of existing land and also bringing more marginal or distant lands into the mainstream agricultural system. This will create significant new opportunities for what are now poor rural communities, but how and when such communities connect into mainstream markets on a regular basis will depend on many factors. However, communications will be an important catalytic factor.
In terms of growth opportunities for agriculture with support from ICT solutions, a recent report from Accenture identified 12 ways in which mobile technologies could increase agricultural income by an estimated US$138 billion across 26 target countries, including developing countries, by 2020 (Vodaphone and Accenture 2011).
Given such incentives, it is not surprising that use of ICT in agriculture is proliferating to capture new market opportunities. Many applications that were built for other areas, such as health or land research, are now being adapted to support other sectors such as agriculture. The result is that thousands of service providers and technology teams are racing to find new applications and new solutions for the farming community. In addition to the technology, these companies also need to figure out successful business models that meet the needs of this emerging customer base and provide profits to the service providers. A critical feature of the ICT marketplace is the pace of
change, its ability to scale up and the prospect of considerable dividends for investors who support the most successful products.
In the agricultural sector, ICT applications range from the highly-sophisticated, fully-integrated chain-wide agri-business service packages used by most commercial farmers, down to basic voice and text messaging that is being used very effectively by less resourced smallholder farmers and traders. To take advantage of this marketplace, the private sector, NGOs and governments are investing in a range of new tools to link farmers with assets, services and markets. Figure 4 shows how different types of information products are being used within various market chains, from the pre-production phase through harvesting, processing, logistics to sales and marketing.
ICT applications being used within agriculture include the following, and the sections which follow give specific examples of some of these uses:
• Voice and text communication
• Research using GPS for locating, targeting, mapping, and tracing of people, assets, products and resources
• Distance learning
• Analytical tools and calculators
• Monitoring and impact analysis
• Financial support via mobile transfers, mobile savings, mobile-investing
• Agricultural market platforms for trading, transfer and barter
2How is ICT being used in agricultural development?
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• Chain-wide production, trade and financially-integrated systems
• Appendix A lists many more ICT applications that are being used and adapted by both vendors and users in developing countries to support agricultural production and marketing.
Text communication networks
In 2005, Ken Banks set up a system in South Africa for the authorities to communicate with the public about wildlife conservation issues without relying on the Internet. This system could send, receive, and organize text messages through a
mobile device using only a phone and a laptop. This system transformed into Frontline SMS, which was released as a public open source application in 2008. Since that time, Frontline has been downloaded more than 20,000 times and is being used in 70 countries to help groups of people to organize around a specific theme and share small amounts of information on a regular basis. Frontline SMS is now being used for positive social change in all major sectors with specialized teams supporting the use of Frontline SMS in disaster response, human rights monitoring, community radio, health, education, agriculture and credit.
Figure 4. How ICT applications can be used throughout the food system
Source: World Bank 2011
MODULE 9 — STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURAL MARKETING WITH ICT214
ICT IN AGRICULTURE
Broader and deeper networks. Farmers commu-nicate by phone with traders and farmers outside of their immediate geography as opposed to making a physical trip. The ability to communicate more easily and to triangulate information creates deeper trust in key trading relationships.
Innovative partnerships. For example, partnerships are facilitated and built among groups of producers, or by virtue of direct communication with corporations and traders, or through the ability to supply product based on just-in-time and/or quality needs.
Informed use of inputs. Farmers improve their capacity to raise yields through better use of inputs and/or use of better inputs. They can identify sources of inputs, obtain them more cheaply, and are better able to buy and apply them at the optimal times.
Improved farm business management. Farmers can become better managers through better informa-tion about which inputs to use, new knowledge about grades and standards for produce, and increased interaction with corporations, traders, and other farmers.
Production
Harvesting, primary
processing, andstorage
Transport andlogistics
Sales andmarketing
Pre-productiondecisions based on
accumulatedmarket
knowledge andintelligence Access to inputs
Harvesting datesaffected by
market prices, grades adjusted
on basis of marketinformation
Storage decisions basedon market knowledge and
access and costs ofstorage
Arranging the aggregation of
product &consolidation of
loads
Seeking lower-costtransport and improved
arrangements
Real-time marketresearch and
negotiation
Establish supply,demand, and
prices
Motivated bymarket visits,
phone conversations,
sometimessupported byweb-based
marketintelligence
Mainly phonecontact,
increasing SMS-based inputadvice and
promotion, pluse-vouchers for
subsidies
Mainly real-time
market research on cell phones
Real-timemarket
research oncell phoneswith some
supportthrough
web-basedmarket
intelligence
Mainlyfacilitated bycell phones,some cell
phone appsbeing
developed tosupport theprocesses
Organizedby cell
phone, withsome
assistancefrom web-
based market
intelligence
Real-timemarket
researchby phone,supported
by SMS andweb-based
marketprice
services
Mainlycell-phone
basedconver-sations
FIGURE 9.5: ICT Inputs to Marketing Along the Agricultural Value Chain
Source: Authors.
8285-Module9.indd 214 11/10/11 2:04 PM
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How is ICT being used in agricultural development? 9
Mapping products and resources
Although GPS has been around for more than 20 years, the release of Google Earth in 2004 brought the ideas of global positioning systems (GPS) into everyday life. The world suddenly had a relatively simple map that could be used by millions to link data about people, project activities and assets to a dynamic visual presentation. Many companies are engaged in developing a package of GPS-mapping, mobile phone survey instruments that are linked to cloud computing analytics. This is a powerful combination of technologies, which enables data aggregators to administer surveys or gather information in remote areas, use the cellphone system to record the location of the data source and then synchronize this information into an online database.
A more sophisticated use of spatial data use and analysis is provided by the HarvestChoice team from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). This team has built a series of spatial datasets that study agricultural production for staple food crops and linked this with poverty mapping and food security. The datasets and
associated analytical tools are used to generate strategic, policy-oriented information about the potential payoffs from interventions designed to enhance the productivity of smallholder farming systems. In one study they evaluated production levels of poor smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The simulation shown in Figure 5 maps the area of land allocated to maize, the production levels in low input conditions and the crop response under intensified conditions (where fertilizer and hybrid seed are used).
Results for maize farmers in SSA, shown below, indicate that, without further intensification, only 15 per cent of current maize growing areas have the potential to reliably produce more than 3 tonnes per hectare (t/ha), a yield level required to sustain the cereal needs of a typical smallholder household (Figure 5, Map 1). However, with well-managed intensification, up to 82 per cent of the current maize area shows the potential to reliably support the 3 t/ha household needs. This type of analysis is being used by researchers, donors and increasingly by governments and NGOs to make investment and project design decisions in agriculture and set monitoring targets
Figure 5. Mapping maize yield potentials
Map 1. Maize area with > 3 t/ha in majority of Map 2. Maize area with > 3 t/ha in majority ofyears under low-input (green areas) years under high-input (green areas)
Source: Harvest Choice Labs. Available at http://labs.harvestchoice.org/2011/08/yield-reliability-room-for-improvement/
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10 Information and communication technologies for development
for the likely gains that could be achieved through implementation of such policies and investments. At present these meta level of analyses provide more strategic and policy level information, but in the near future, this type of information will be integrated with local ICT based technologies, so that more customized recommendations will be available to farmers.
Distance learning
A critical barrier to change in any system is having access to information that allows people to learn about new technologies, and also learn new skills so that they can use these technologies. The education gap is a major challenge for many poor countries that are seeking growth opportunities. In the past 20 years there has been a massive global push to support the rights to education. However, the scale of the education gap is
daunting and with continually growing populations there is a persistent resource battle to reach this unlettered, innumerate population. In the countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, less than 30 per cent of the population is literate.
One of the options for reaching millions of students at affordable rates is to use ICT. There are many options from basic literacy methods available on a cellphone (Aker 2011) to sophisticated “learning management systems” (LMS) which support a teacher to set up a virtual classroom, load course materials and enroll students. The students read or “interact” with the course materials, many of which now use multi-media formats. The students take quizzes to test their levels of comprehension of the lessons and take exercises to test their ability to use the knowledge.
Figure 6 shows a screen from a Catholic Relief Service (CRS) course on agricultural marketing
Figure 6. Screen from a CRS distance learning marketing course
Source: Screensaver from Catholic Relief Services.
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How is ICT being used in agricultural development? 11
basics used as part of the training materials to support field agents in learning about buying and selling agricultural goods.
Teachers can talk with students using phone or email on a regular basis in one-on-one sessions to support the virtual classes.
Virtual learning tools are now widely used in higher education classes and there are an increasing number of courses offered through Virtual schools and universities. The virtual learning environment is attractive, in that courses can be standardized to meet specific learning goals, the courses can be initiated by students at any time, which reduces costs and enables students to work to their own timetable.
Within the development realm, there is a considerable effort to provide distance learning tools for basic education, but also to provide training to project and partner staff. Companies such as Agilix (www.agilix.com) are working with NGOs to build distance learning capability, which will allow course participants in projects overseas to work on courses. This can be done in remote offline situations, with students only having to go online to exchange questions and test scores with supervisors. Similarly, Google has created the Moodle online open source LMS, and the occasionally connected Poodle LMS to support distance learning in remote locations.
Analytical tools and calculators
To support the needs of individual farmers and farmer groups, there is also an emerging trend in “applications” that can be used to analyze specific farm options. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is building an application to provide farmers with fertilizer recommendations. This application will be deployed on a tablet or phone and used by an extension agent or loan agent to provide specific farm fertilizer recommendations for rice. The system works through a short questionnaire, and a powerful online, cloud-based analytical system uses the farm data to generate a custom recommendation.
IRRI plans to extend the service by building a Rice Doctor application that assists extension agents to diagnose problems with farmers in their fields and provide customized recommendations. This approach is being adopted by a number of the international agricultural research centers (www.cgiar.org) as a means of disseminating agricultural knowledge more widely to the farming community.
CRS is field testing a basic business planning tool and profitability calculator: Farmbook. This enables field agents to register farmers, and build business plans and evaluate the profitability of specific products in their business plans. This tool also provides customized business information to an individual farmer or a farmer group, and helps farmers to make more informed decisions on which crops to grow and where to sell their products. There is likely to be a major proliferation of such farmer-focused calculators in the future, especially when farmers start to buy more sophisticated phones with dataplans and are prepared to pay small amounts of money for specific, localized responses. These applications will enable farmers seeking certain types of information to download a related application and fill in a data form. This will set in motion a process of online data analysis online, which will then send a tailor-made recommendation to the farmer.
Agricultural market platforms for trading, transfer and barter
To support farmer decision making, many countries have developed market information services. However, the success of these systems has been mixed and in many cases, services that were government funded have ceased to operate due to poor performance. To fill this vacuum, private sector companies are developing online and mobile based market information services.
Esoko is one of the pioneer mobile based market information services (MIS), and this company is developing a suite of marketing tools that enable farmers to access commodity market prices in all the major markets in a country, make offers and bids and also ask questions to a helpline. Esoko is developing services to support farmers through
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12 Information and communication technologies for development
weather alerts and transport links, and by enabling farmers to set up personalized alerts.
Studies of the Esoko market information platform found that traders of agricultural goods in countries such as Ghana now spend up to 30 per cent of their disposable income on phone calls seeking new trade information and new linkages with partners, suppliers and buyers (Asihene and Jouanard 2009). Market surveys and econometric studies have shown that improved access to commodity price information is improving market integration within countries, and reducing price volatility as better price discovery is making buying and selling more efficient.
Does market information lead to increased income? There are many qualitative studies which have found that farmers who use mobile phones to access market prices are able to negotiate with traders more effectively for better prices. These farmers make more informed marketing decisions about what to grow and in which market to sell, and focus group studies reveal that farmers are using their newly found access to market information on their phones, to record trends in market prices and make speculative decisions on storage and sales.
Despite the massive uptake of mobile phones by agricultural producers, there are few quantitative studies that provide hard evidence of a link between technology and poverty reduction. One study (Jensen 2007) describes how fishermen in Kerala, India, were using mobile phones to increase their incomes. Prior to mobile phones, these fishermen caught and sold their fish in home markets, on a first-come-first-sell basis. This system suffered from high price volatility and considerable waste, as fuel costs meant that fishermen who could not sell their fish at the first market were forced to dump their goods. Phones enabled fishermen to call into the markets whilst at sea and arrange sales before committing to a market. Jensen found that after the introduction of mobile phones, 35 per cent of fishermen sold in new markets, which dramatically reduced price volatility and minimized waste (Figure 7).
As a result of more efficient markets, fishermen’s profits rose by 8 per cent on average and consumer prices fell by 4 per cent on average. These higher profits paid for the phones within two months, while the benefits are long-lasting, rather than one-off. As Jensen concluded, “Information makes markets work, and markets improve welfare,” and clearly technology played a key role enabling the right types of communication.
Figure 7. Changes in fish price volatility with the use of mobile phones in Kerala.
Source: Jensen 2007
MODULE 3 — ANYTIME, ANYWHERE: MOBILE DEVICES AND SERVICES AND THEIR IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT54
ICT IN AGRICULTURE
Lowering the Costs of Information
The most obvious and cross-cutting way that mobile phones can improve agriculture is by improving access to informa-tion and making it less costly to obtain. In many rural areas, the arrival of mobile coverage is a radical change in the nature of the information ecosystem. Although simply hav-ing more information is not sufficient to make advantageous decisions (other resources may be needed to implement them), it is a necessary step toward access to knowledge.
Transaction costs are present throughout agricultural value chains, from initial decisions about whether and what to plant, to all of the operations during the growing cycle, harvesting, postharvest and processing operations, and sell-ing (to intermediaries, consumers, processors, exporters).
These costs can account for a large share of the cost of a farm enterprise.
In a study that compared transaction costs throughout an extended period, 15.2 percent of the total cost of farming was transactional, and of that, 70 percent was informational (as opposed to, say, the cost of transporting crops to market). Undertaken in Sri Lanka, where an inconsistent subsidy on fer-tilizer introduces considerable uncertainty, the study found that 53 percent of the informational transaction costs were incurred during the growing season, when farmers were attempting to ascertain fertilizer costs. As shown in figure 3.2, another 24 percent were incurred during the initial decision to plant or not, while only 9 percent of the costs related to information were incurred during the selling stage, where studies typically
Cell Phone Impact on Fish Marketing (SW India)
0.2
.4.6
.81
2 pc
t_ph
one
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250
Survey Week
Survey week
Survey Week
% w
ith p
hone
02
46
810
12
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250
Pric
e (R
s./k
g)
0.0
5.1
.15
.2.2
5
2 pc
t_ha
s_w
aste
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250
% fi
sher
men
with
was
te
Cell phones purchased
Reduced volatility and increased average price
Fish wastage 5–8%
Fish wastage reduced to zero
REGION IIPhones Added
REGION IIPhones Added
Source: Jensen 2007.
BOX 3.2: continued
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How is ICT being used in agricultural development? 13
Another study from India (Goyal 2010) compared prices that farmers in Madhya Pradesh obtained when selling soybeans through regulated traditional markets with a network of 1,600 Internet kiosks (e-Choupals) set up by the International Trading Company (ITC).
Goyal showed that farmers’ prices increased from 1–5 per cent when they had access to a wider range of market information at the e-choupal locations. The additional farm income from soybeans in Madhya Pradesh was estimated at about US$ 10–20 million per year. This income gain was a transfer from traders to producers as a result of producers’ greater market knowledge and improved strength in negotiation.
More detailed studies also found that farmer access to market information through radio, mobile phones and Internet resulted in higher farm-gate prices, a result that supports the hypothesis that market information improves farmers’ relative bargaining position with local traders (Svensson and Yanagizawa 2009). The result was consistent with qualitative evidence based on interviews with farmers in who received market information, which found that farmers who regularly used market information were able to gain a 12–15 per cent increase in sales prices compared with farmers who were not using this information technology. Their findings were also confirmed in another study (Subervie 2011) which found that farmers using an Esoko mobile market information system increased their income by 10 per cent when using data received from Esoko to support their business process and sales negotiation.
Integrated chain-wide systems
Within every developing country there are a number of developed country commercial agricultural operators who sell their goods into local, regional and international markets. Although the number of these fully commercial farmers is currently low, in places like sub-Saharan Africa they are using highly sophisticated ICT packages to support their planning, production, logistics and financial dealings. To support their needs a handful of companies has built data management systems that help these firms to optimize their operations along the value chain.
Muddy Boots has developed a number of products, including “QuickFire” and “Greenlight” (see Appendix A), that are used by these large commercial farming operators and exporters, such as Unilever, to manage produce sourcing from thousands of smallholder farmers. These sophisticated products allow users to track information on finance, logistics and food safety compliance along the entire value chain. This helps businesses address fundamental business, food safety and sustainability issues.
Another example that is focused on supporting smallholder integration within value chains is Cropster (see Appendix A), which is mainly working in the specialty coffee sector. Cropster seeks to support stakeholders in the whole supply chain by providing specialized information resources for coffee producers, roasters and distributors. The company provides high level analytics for each of the players in the chain, enabling them to upgrade their existing practices, but also to share their knowledge with their value chain partners in ways that helps optimize the entire chain-wide business model.
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Five years ago, most ICT services for agriculture were confined to the top segment of farmers (Figure 8). These highly sophisticated farmers are found in virtually all “developing countries” and they have access to the same ICT tools as their counterparts in industrialized countries. These farmers benefit from chain-wide ICT systems that integrate production forecasting, financing, logistics and food safety / traceability systems.
NGOs use ICT technologies to support their internal financial and management systems, but up until recently had few field-based systems to support their local partners and the community-based clients. Similarly, governments have invested in a number of in pilot projects with ICT, but at this point in time few have scaled up practical applications in agriculture.
However, based on the previous information, it can be seen that the rapid rise in ICT technologies is now spreading into the smallholder agriculture sector and is being used by a growing number of agricultural companies, development organizations, NGOs and farmers. Within the last two to three years agricultural service providers, facilitators and investors have entered a period of multiple technology development and testing programs. Few agencies doubt the value of ICTs — the challenge is finding what works, where, what is reliable and how services can be integrated within sustainable business models.
During this testing and roll-out period, many are asking how relevant the ICT technologies are to the poorer farmers shown in Figure 8.
3How affordable and appropriate are ICT services in the development of agriculture?
Figure 8. Maize farmer segmentation in East and Southern Africa
Source: Sitko et al 2011
Top 1–2% of commercial farmers who produced up to 50% of the traded grain
20–30% of farmers who are market neutral (weather dependent)
30–50% of farmers who are net buyers
Vulnerable but viable
Commercial smallholders
15–18% of smallholders who sell the bulk of the other 50% of traded grain
Vulnerable farmers
Highly vulnerable poor (ultra poor)
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How affordable and appropriate are ICT services in the development of agriculture? 15
The few surveys that have evaluated ICT use show that second tier farmers, i.e. smallholders who regularly sell a part of their produce into the market, now commonly use mobile phones to link with service providers and build relationships with their buyers. This farmer segment includes the better endowed smallholder farmers who are likely to lead in the use of new ICT applications and pay for such services.
The third and fourth-order farmers, who make up the bulk of smallholder farmers in developing countries, have increasing access to mobile phone technology, but many are yet to use the technology for their commercial activities. These
farming families, however, make up the bulk of the unbanked rural community and they are increasingly using mobile money to receive funds from family members (Box 1). The literate farmers will be starting to use text messages for things like market information and as their phones become more sophisticated, they will start to receive more service offers, to support their farming needs.
The very poorest farmers will also benefit from linking into the ICT world; mobile money and e-voucher offers are available from government or development agencies to help them intensify their production or gain access food resources in difficult times (Box 1).
Box 1. Mobile money: a high-tech solution for cash-strapped communities
The M-Pesa (M for mobile, pesa is Swahili for money) financial service was first introduced in Kenya in 2007, where the service has become the main way of sending millions of small cash transfers from urban centers to rural communities. The service allows users to deposit money into an account stored on their cell phones and send balances using SMS technology to other users, who could redeem these deposits for regular money. In its first two years of operation M-Pesa reached nearly 40 percent of the adult Kenyan population. The M-Pesa service now operates in several countries, has more than 15,000 agents and supports over 9 million users. By facilitating the safe storage and transfer of money, it supports mass remittance flows and helps local trade, by making it easier to pay people with security, and to receive secure and rapid payment for goods and services.
For many millions of Kenyans, the ability to safely and almost instantly transfer funds to family members, friends and business partners, is a massive social change. This method is not only being used to support the financial and food security of social networks, it is also being used as a public network method to support people’s food security needs, by transferring funds to buy food.
A similar system is being used in Zambia to disseminate “e-vouchers” to farmers (Sibanda 2010). Farmers who register receive prepaid mobile phone vouchers worth about US$ 50 to purchase inputs from agro-dealers. Farmer organizations may be able to develop similar arrangements with input suppliers. The World Food Programme has also used a similar system with scratch cards that enable food aid recipients to access their food rations from warehouses or local vendors in the scheme.
Source: World Bank 2011
16
16 Information and communication technologies for development
Standardizing ICT products
At this point, there are few standardized off-the-shelf ICT products to support poor, smallholder farmers. However, there are many development groups and companies creating new applications to offer the development community. It is difficult to identify winners or standard applications at this time as the dust from creating and using new products is yet to settle. The development community is currently navigating through a somewhat chaotic period of ICT proliferation as would-be providers attempt to build and configure the right technology mix, at the right price, to meet the diverse needs of the agricultural sector. However, as services start to mature, NGOs and governments will invest in successful applications and rural communities in emerging economies will benefit from access to a more consolidated list of technology options; and those with a proven track record. It will be these technologies that will be scaled up to provide widespread improvements in natural resource use and market efficiency.
The result of this process will be to give farmers a better understanding of their production and market opportunities, and there will be a growth of community networks which will use information technology to link themselves into more robust and lucrative business relationships. NGO agencies will support this process by facilitating the development of effective rural social networks. In the future this will materialize into providing millions of clients with distance learning materials and services to build the capacity of local service providers and clients. Improved information tools will also provide service providers and investors with the ability to survey, analyze, characterize and map project areas and client options more quickly and effectively.
Democratizing development?
An important outcome from this new ICT-enabled ability to communicate, share and analyze information will be a general democratization of the development process in agriculture and other sectors, as client communities use the technologies to gain more voice in the development process. The ability to locate and interact with people in need may have profound effects on the way we invest in the relief and development domain. It is also likely that new types of investors will emerge as a result of being able to access remote rural communities more readily.
For the non-profit and for-profit investors who are seeking more direct channeling of funds, the right set of ICT systems will allow investors to:
• communicate directly with beneficiaries, clients and their local support service providers;
• invest in one-to-one, one-to-many, or joint investment opportunities to support a specific relief need or development goal;
• share information quickly with clients and service providers,
• transmit vouchers and or cash to people, communities and potential business partners with very low transaction costs;
• monitor progress of their investments in near real time; and
• earn interest against development loans.
Donors are already testing new ways of providing food and input support to community members via phone based e-vouchers and mobile money. In emergencies people can send funds via their mobile phones to local charities. There is a growing number of internet portals, such as Kiva and MyC4, who offer micro-investors the ability to invest in small business ventures.
17
How affordable and appropriate are ICT services in the development of agriculture? 17
Kiva and MyC4 allow charitable investors and philanthropic micro-venture capitalists to give or lend small amounts of capital, for example from US $20 to $500, to support entrepreneurs. The donations or loans are based on a portfolio of online business plans. The Kiva model works on the principle of providing loan options through micro-finance institutes (MFIs). An MFI will bundle a number of local business plans and then access Kiva funds to support the loans – there is no interest given to the investor. MyC4 has taken this one step further by providing a return on the investment and provides a clearer one-to-one relationship between investors and entrepreneurs. The rapid increase in mobile money transactions will lead to an expansion of these types of models.
Through this process, local civil society groups will receive more funding, and as their capacity matures they will take on more facilitation work, with less intervention from external agencies. We can also expect an increase in direct funding to communities and individuals who can express their needs. This will accelerate funding options, but it will also bring greater responsibilities to the recipients and will require that they learn how to manage these resources effectively and show investment progress.
Supporting the development sector
The ICT revolution is also changing how the existing relief and development sector works. To support the development sector, a new initiative has been formed called Nethope (www.nethope.org/). Nethope is a consortium of NGOs working with the ICT industry to promote web-based and mobile applications that support both relief and development programs. A recent Nethope initiative is the humanitarian marketplace, which is a portal designed to help NGOs access a range of new applications for testing. The site will allow for ratings and expert analysis on the usefulness of a select number of services. Nethope is also seeking to help the NGO community aggregate demand for certain applications and products to support bulk purchase and reduced costs for NetHope members.
Other initiatives that are helping to raise the profile of new ICT applications include the microLINKS portal (www.microlinks.org/ev_en.php) and Global Broadband portal (agriculture.gbiportal.net). Both of these initiatives are supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with the aim of providing development agencies with a constant flow of information about new ICT opportunities and about how projects are adapting technologies and processes to accelerate development impact.
18
The agricultural development sector is on the edge of an exciting but disruptive period that is being brought about through the application of new ICT processes and applications. From our early vantage point we have already seen a dazzling rate of change. There are a number of reports being released which show the potential of mobile and other digital products, and there is increasing evidence outlined in reports such as the World Bank annual InfoDev Report on ICT4AG.
To make good on the promise of ICT transformation, however, many organizations from both the public and private sectors will need to create new types of partnerships and business networks with the millions of smallholder farmers in the developing world. The following section lists some recommendations that may help to support greater use if ICT by development agencies and poor farming communities.
Given the rapid changing context and organic growth in the ITC4D sector, policy recommendations often have short-term relevance, but we list some policy recommendations to support better and more equitable access and rural development as follows:
• Promote investment policies that give communications companies incentives to cross-subsidize investments from higher profit areas to expand infrastructure into less commercial rural areas. Telecommunication companies have experienced extraordinary levels of profits with the deployment of wireless technologies in developing countries. As part of the contractual agreements, regulators should work with
telecom providers to establish measures and incentives whereby, profits from the more lucrative urban areas are re-invested to provide basic coverage in the more remote rural areas; such that business success is combined with social equity, to provide the less endowed with access to modern services.
• In more remote areas combine wireless technologies with electrical power sources that can be used by communities to support other vital sectors, such as health and education. Many remote wireless stations and masts are located off the national electrical grid and are powered by generators. However, a large part of the energy generated is not used by the communications systems and could be used to support local power needs for vital services such as maintaining vaccine viability for people and animals, battery charging for local communications devices etc. Companies should work with local communities to manage such resources in ways that engage and support local community needs.
• Support income levies within the commercial communications markets so that a percentage of profit is made available for public goods services. To support greater access of ICT and targeting of services to the poorer communities, governments should identify telecommunications levies of 1 per cent of annual profit which should be set aside to finance public goods services, such as health messaging, market information and emergency alerts for marginal communities.
Conclusion
19
Conclusion 19
• Promote and support the development of content in local languages to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of ICT applications. Cultural diversity of language is highest in more remote areas and greater efforts should be made to support communities in their local languages and dialects.
• Support adult literacy and numeracy programs in rural areas to expand access and usage of ICT based services to low-income, more marginal areas. Local language content will improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of ICT applications. It can also serve as an opportunity to capture and record local practices and knowledge.
• Promote and facilitate the establishment of broad public-private partnerships (PPP) in the implementation of projects that support both public services and less commercial areas. Both public and private actors are integrating a range of ICTs in agricultural value chains and collaboration between these partners can reduce costs and help extend the benefits to a greater number of individuals. The value of public-private partnerships for development-based ICT cannot be overemphasized. Developing new technologies is expensive and any service needs to be continually upgraded to stay relevant to the customer and functionally viable within the network options.
Working in this highly dynamic area offers new opportunity for greater public-private collaboration and, for many, services, scale and affordable systems will only be possible through such joint efforts. This process of PPP not only applies to government and private sector initiatives, but also to NGO and private sector initiatives. Blue skies research is required, and it is encouraging that some of the major technology companies such as Intel, Google and Microsoft are investing in pilot projects and technology teams, such as Open Data Kit, to provide the ground work needed to build more sustainable and innovative development based applications and services.
• Promote use of, and investment in, open source technology, which offers development communities and users the ability to work with and use applications that are not as constrained by licensing issues as the products released through more formal commercial channels.
20Ap
pen
dix
A. E
xam
ple
s o
f IC
T “4
D”
(fo
r dev
elo
pm
ent)
ap
plic
atio
ns
sho
win
g p
rom
ise
wit
hin
the
agri
cult
ure
and
mar
keti
ng s
ecto
r Th
ese
exam
ples
pro
vide
a li
mite
d sn
apsh
ot o
f sol
utio
ns b
eing
use
d, a
nd il
lust
rate
thei
r mai
n pu
rpos
e; le
vel o
f tec
hnol
ogy
requ
ired
and
targ
et c
lient
s fo
r eac
h.*
Bas
ic c
omm
unic
atio
ns to
ols
ICT
Sol
utio
nTe
chno
logy
re
quire
men
tsTa
rget
use
rP
urpo
seA
dvan
tage
Impa
ct
Com
mun
icat
ion
via
mob
ile p
hone
voi
ceB
asic
($20
) m
obile
pho
nes
for v
oice
.
Mas
s au
dien
ce:
incl
udin
g fa
rmer
s,
trad
ers
and
all
mar
ket c
hain
ac
tors
and
se
rvic
e pr
ovid
ers.
Firs
t gen
erat
ion
phon
e te
chno
logy
ena
bles
buy
ers
and
selle
rs to
mak
e co
ntac
t and
di
scus
s ne
gotia
te o
n te
rms
of
offe
rs, b
ids
and
sale
s di
rect
ly.
The
mas
s pe
netr
atio
n of
the
mob
ile p
hone
net
wor
k is
a
lead
ing
sour
ce o
f com
mun
icat
ion
acro
ss d
evel
opin
g na
tions
, whi
ch
is ra
pidl
y tr
ansf
orm
ing
serv
ice
optio
ns.
Low
-cos
t rap
id m
eans
of
conn
ectin
g to
rem
ote
peop
le in
targ
et n
etw
orks
.
Farm
ers
rece
ive
info
rmat
ion
on
mar
ket p
rices
, inp
ut s
uppl
y,
tran
spor
t, lo
an o
ptio
ns, h
avin
g ac
cess
to m
obile
pho
ne fo
r bu
sine
ss is
hav
ing
a tr
ansf
orm
ativ
e ef
fect
on
how
pe
ople
app
roac
h th
e pr
oduc
tion
and
sale
s of
thei
r go
ods.
SM
S /
Tex
t m
essa
ging
Bas
ic ($
20)
mob
ile p
hone
s fo
r voi
ce a
nd te
xt
mes
sage
se
rvic
es.
Mas
s au
dien
ce o
f fa
rmer
s, tr
ader
s,
mas
s cl
ient
bas
e.
The
use
of te
xt m
essa
ges
is a
lo
wer
-cos
t mea
ns o
f co
mm
unic
atio
n, c
ostin
g fro
m 4
ce
nts
to 2
0 ce
nts
per m
essa
ge.
This
met
hod
has
the
adva
ntag
e of
do
cum
entin
g an
d re
cord
ing
retr
ieva
ble
info
rmat
ion.
Low
-cos
t inf
orm
atio
n se
rvic
e th
at e
nabl
es
reco
rded
info
rmat
ion
flow
.
For l
itera
te a
nd n
umer
ate
farm
ers,
who
can
read
sho
rt
text
mes
sage
s an
d se
nd te
xt
mes
sage
s.
* T
his
thin
king
is fu
rthe
r bac
ked
up b
y a
sim
ilar s
et o
f ser
vice
s an
d so
lutio
ns id
entifi
ed b
y an
exp
ert p
anel
con
vene
d in
the
Voda
fone
Acc
entu
re re
port
.
21
21Exa
mpl
e ap
plic
atio
ns to
sup
port
bas
ic c
omm
unic
atio
n an
d ne
twor
king
ICT
Sol
utio
nTe
chno
logy
re
quire
men
tsTa
rget
use
rP
urpo
seA
dvan
tage
Impa
ct
FRO
NTL
INE
SM
S
ww
w.fr
ontli
nesm
s.co
m/
Free
com
pute
r ap
plic
atio
n th
at
requ
ires
a m
anag
er w
ith a
co
mpu
ter,
linke
d to
the
inte
rnet
an
d a
mob
ile
phon
e ne
twor
k.
Net
wor
k fa
cilit
ator
link
ed
to u
ser g
roup
s.
Sup
port
s m
anag
emen
t of t
ext
mes
sage
s to
mul
tiple
clie
nts
and
user
s. T
he s
yste
m c
an b
e us
ed to
m
aint
ain
com
mun
icat
ion
with
in a
ne
twor
k, o
r a b
uyer
–sel
ler
netw
ork.
Mor
e ad
vanc
ed u
se o
f th
e se
rvic
e ca
n de
velo
p a
sim
ple
mul
tiple
que
stio
n su
rvey
usi
ng
the
base
pro
gram
. Fro
ntlin
e is
be
ing
used
in a
gric
ultu
re a
nd
othe
r sec
tors
suc
h as
hea
lth, a
nd
mic
ro fi
nanc
e to
sha
re d
ata.
Low
-cos
t rap
id m
eans
of
conn
ectin
g to
rem
ote
peop
le in
targ
et n
etw
orks
. Li
ttle
trai
ning
requ
ired.
This
ser
vice
has
spl
it in
to
seve
ral s
ub c
ateg
orie
s, s
uch
as
Fron
tline
med
ic w
hich
is
focu
sed
on m
edic
al a
ctiv
ities
, Fr
ontli
ne c
redi
t, fo
cuse
d on
cr
edit
activ
ities
. Thi
s se
rvic
e is
co
mm
only
use
d to
link
var
ious
ne
twor
k s
of a
ctor
s, s
uch
as
farm
er g
roup
s, p
roje
ct g
roup
s,
exte
nsio
n gr
oups
and
sal
es
team
s.
Dim
agi
ww
w.c
omm
care
hq.
org
/
Com
pute
r, lin
ked
to th
e in
tern
et,
and
mob
ile
phon
es.
Age
ncie
s se
ekin
g to
link
re
mot
e fie
ld
agen
ts w
ith
cent
ral
info
rmat
ion
cent
re in
real
tim
e.
To p
rovi
de u
sers
with
a s
impl
e fo
rm g
ener
ator
, tha
t can
be
expo
rted
to m
obile
pho
nes
for
real
tim
e da
ta c
olle
ctio
n.
Pro
ven
tech
nolo
gy w
ithin
he
alth
fiel
d, th
at is
now
ex
pand
ing
into
oth
er
sect
ors.
Offe
rs c
ase
hist
ory
prod
uct t
hat
enab
les
field
age
nts
to
build
dat
a pr
ofile
for c
lient
s on
thei
r pho
nes.
Mor
e th
an 3
0 pa
rtne
rs
wor
ldw
ide
with
pro
ject
hi
stor
ies
avai
labl
e at
htt
p://
ww
w.c
omm
care
hq.o
rg/u
sers
/
Agr
icul
tura
l inf
orm
atio
n se
rvic
es li
nked
to b
asic
com
mun
icat
ions
tool
s
Exa
mpl
e in
form
atio
n sy
stem
S
olut
ions
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Pur
pose
Adv
anta
geIm
pact
Dig
ital h
elp
desk
s,
call
cent
ers
and
info
rmat
ion
poin
ts
Dat
a an
d ca
ll ce
nter
, sta
ffed
by e
xper
ts w
ho
prov
ide
serv
ices
to
clie
nts
with
m
obile
pho
nes.
Sm
allh
olde
r fa
rmer
s re
quiri
ng
prod
uctio
n an
d m
arke
ting
supp
ort.
Pro
vide
s cl
ient
s w
ith a
cces
s to
sp
ecifi
c ty
pes
of in
form
atio
n th
at
they
can
acc
ess
thro
ugh
mob
ile
phon
es, r
athe
r tha
n re
lyin
g on
ph
ysic
al s
ervi
ces
that
are
be
com
ing
rare
.
Pro
vide
s ra
pid
resp
onse
op
tions
, effe
ctiv
e fo
r ro
utin
e pr
oble
m s
olvi
ng to
la
rge
scal
e of
farm
ers.
22
22Agr
icul
tura
l inf
orm
atio
n se
rvic
es li
nked
to b
asic
com
mun
icat
ions
tool
s
Exa
mpl
e in
form
atio
n sy
stem
S
olut
ions
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Pur
pose
Adv
anta
geIm
pact
Ken
cell
Hel
p de
sk w
ith
subj
ect m
atte
r sp
ecia
list l
inke
d to
farm
er
netw
ork
thro
ugh
mob
ile p
hone
he
lplin
e.
Ken
yan
farm
ers
who
hav
e ag
ricul
tura
l pr
oble
ms
and
wan
t sol
utio
ns v
ia
thei
r han
dset
s.
Cal
l cen
ter w
ith s
yste
ms
in p
lace
to
rece
ive
calls
and
resp
ond
with
ne
twor
k of
agr
icul
tura
l exp
erts
. Th
e ca
ll ce
nter
pro
vide
s ba
sic
exte
nsio
n su
ppor
t to
farm
ers
who
ar
e un
able
to a
cces
s in
form
atio
n th
roug
h tr
aditi
onal
face
to fa
ce
exte
nsio
n se
rvic
es.
Rap
id s
ervi
ce th
at c
an b
e ac
cess
ed b
y fa
rmer
s at
low
co
st, l
inki
ng th
em to
exp
ert
know
ledg
e.
Lim
ited
evid
ence
to d
ate
of th
e su
cces
s of
this
tech
nolo
gy, t
oo
early
to te
ll. S
usta
inab
ility
of
help
line
s no
t ful
ly te
sted
.
Mar
ket i
nfor
mat
ion
Clo
ud b
ased
se
rvic
e, w
hich
pr
ovid
er c
an
acce
ss v
ia b
asic
co
mpu
ter l
inke
d to
inte
rnet
for
load
ing
data
. U
ser a
cces
ses
data
via
mob
ile
phon
e.
Rur
al fa
rmer
s an
d tr
ader
s, w
ho h
ave
limite
d ac
cess
to
mar
ket
info
rmat
ion.
Pro
visi
on o
f mar
ket i
nfor
mat
ion
to
mill
ions
of s
mal
lhol
der f
arm
ers
and
rura
l tra
ders
. Typ
es o
f in
form
atio
n in
clud
e co
mm
odity
pr
ices
, wea
ther
ale
rts,
inpu
t se
rvic
e re
port
s, a
nd c
rop
mon
itorin
g al
erts
.
Red
uces
info
rmat
ion
asym
met
ry a
nd s
uppo
rts
farm
er a
bilit
y to
neg
otia
te
for i
mpr
oved
mar
ket s
ales
pr
ices
.
Sev
eral
stu
dies
in th
e re
cent
W
orld
Ban
k IC
T fo
r A
gric
ultu
re, s
how
ing
regu
lar
gain
s be
ing
mad
e by
farm
ers
and
farm
er g
roup
s w
ho c
an
acce
ss, u
nder
stan
d an
d us
e m
arke
t inf
orm
atio
n, s
ee
ICT4
Ag
year
boo
k.
Reu
ters
Lite
w
ww
.re
uter
smar
ketli
ght.
com
Clo
ud b
ased
in
form
atio
n se
rvic
e.Fa
rmer
s ac
cess
se
rvic
e vi
a m
obile
pho
ne,
basi
c an
d lo
w
cost
sm
art
phon
e.
Sm
allh
olde
r fa
rmer
s an
d tr
ader
s, c
urre
ntly
be
ing
used
in
Mah
aras
htra
, P
unja
b an
d R
ajas
than
Sta
tes
in In
dia.
Reu
ters
Mar
ket L
ight
is m
obile
ph
one-
base
d pe
rson
aliz
ed
prof
essi
onal
info
rmat
ion
serv
ice
spec
ially
des
igne
d to
sup
port
the
farm
er c
omm
unity
. Far
mer
s re
ceiv
e cr
op p
rodu
ctio
n ad
vice
, w
eath
er fo
reca
sts,
loca
l mar
ket
pric
e in
form
atio
n, lo
cal a
nd
inte
rnat
iona
l com
mod
ity
info
rmat
ion
in th
eir o
wn
lang
uage
.
The
deci
sion
-ena
blin
g na
ture
of t
he in
form
atio
n ha
s a
dire
ct im
pact
on
the
livel
ihoo
d of
farm
ers.
Reu
ters
Mar
ket L
ight
is
estim
ated
to h
ave
been
use
d by
ove
r 2 m
illio
n fa
rmer
s th
roug
h us
ing
and
shar
ing
in
over
15,
000
villa
ges.
Indi
vidu
al
farm
ers
have
reap
ed s
igni
fican
t re
turn
on
thei
r inv
estm
ent
achi
evin
g up
to IN
R 2
00,0
00
($ 4
000
) of a
dditi
onal
pro
fits,
an
d sa
ving
s of
nea
rly IN
R
400,
000
($80
00) b
y us
ing
RM
L.
23Agr
icul
tura
l ser
vice
s lin
ked
to b
asic
com
mun
icat
ions
tool
s
ICT
Sol
utio
nTe
chno
logy
re
quire
men
tsTa
rget
use
rP
urpo
seA
dvan
tage
Impa
ct
Exa
mpl
e M
IS
serv
ice
Eso
ko
ww
w.e
soko
.com
Eso
ko is
a
mar
ket
info
rmat
ion
serv
ice
base
d in
G
hana
that
pr
ovid
es in
tern
et
base
d M
IS
plat
form
s to
m
obile
pho
ne
user
s.
Pla
tform
op
erat
ors
incl
ude
Priv
ate
com
pani
es,
Gov
ernm
ents
, N
GO
’s, i
n B
urki
na F
aso,
Iv
ory
Coa
st,
Gha
na,
Mad
agas
car,
Mal
awi,
Mal
i, N
iger
ia a
nd
Sud
an.
Ena
bles
org
aniz
atio
ns to
pro
vide
m
arke
t inf
orm
atio
n se
rvic
es, s
uch
as s
pot p
rices
, inp
ut p
rices
, bid
s an
d of
fers
, wea
ther
and
pr
oduc
tion
info
rmat
ion
to
prod
ucer
net
wor
ks v
ia th
eir
mob
ile p
hone
. Pro
duce
rs th
at a
re
asso
ciat
ed in
to n
etw
orks
whi
ch
can
pers
onal
ize
info
rmat
ion
upda
tes
such
as
inpu
t opt
ions
an
d pr
ices
, wea
ther
upd
ates
, pe
st a
nd d
isea
se fo
reca
sts,
pr
oduc
tion
upda
tes.
Ser
vice
can
targ
et
info
rmat
ion
to s
elec
ted
user
s, (f
arm
ers
and
trad
ers)
and
bui
ld a
bu
sine
ss m
odel
aro
und
a 2
way
com
mun
icat
ion
syst
em.
Farm
ers
rece
ivin
g re
gula
r m
arke
t inf
orm
atio
n im
prov
e th
eir n
etw
orki
ng a
nd p
rice
nego
tiatin
g sk
ills.
Th
is in
crea
ses
thei
r sal
es
pric
es, i
mpr
oved
dec
isio
n m
akin
g, s
uch
as w
hat t
o gr
ow,
whe
re to
sel
l, ho
w to
tran
spor
t, ho
w m
uch
to a
ggre
gate
. All
of
thes
e fa
ctor
s re
duce
tr
ansa
ctio
n co
sts
and
incr
ease
sa
les
reve
nues
.
Man
obi
ww
w.m
anob
i.net
/M
anob
i, is
ph
one
base
d m
arke
t in
form
atio
n se
rvic
e de
sign
to
sup
port
+$
2 a
day
farm
ers,
in
natio
nal e
xpor
t m
arke
ts.
Are
as o
f op
erat
ion
Sen
egal
, Mal
i, Iv
ory
Coa
st,
Nig
er.
Man
obi h
as d
evel
oped
a ra
nge
of
mob
ile a
nd w
eb-b
ased
ap
plic
atio
ns fo
cuse
d on
im
prov
ing
valu
e ch
ains
. T2M
en
able
s fa
rmer
s to
che
ck m
arke
t pr
ices
on
thei
r mob
ile p
hone
s vi
a S
MS
, WA
P, M
MS
, or m
obile
in
tern
et.
Info
rmat
ion
is d
esig
ned
for
low
lite
racy
. The
in
form
atio
n is
upd
ated
by
a te
am o
f mar
ket r
esea
rche
rs
who
map
and
ent
er it
into
th
eir m
obile
pho
nes.
Man
obi c
laim
s th
at th
e in
com
e of
gum
gro
wer
s us
ing
the
_GIS
+
T2M
pla
tform
hav
e in
crea
sed
by 4
0-5
0%
and
that
farm
ers
usin
g T2
M h
ave
doub
led
thei
r in
com
e.
AM
ISTS
AR
egio
nal
Agr
icul
tura
l inp
ut
mar
ket i
nfor
mat
ion
syst
emw
ww
.am
itsa.
org
/
Com
pute
r with
in
tern
et to
load
in
form
atio
n on
in
put s
uppl
y in
form
atio
n pl
atfo
rm, l
inke
d w
ith c
lient
s vi
a ba
sic
mob
ile
phon
es a
nd o
r co
mpu
ter.
Pro
duce
rs w
ho
wan
t to
acce
ss /
buy
agric
ultu
ral
inpu
ts.
Sys
tem
atiz
ed in
form
atio
n re
sour
ce th
at p
rovi
des
farm
ers
with
info
rmat
ion
rega
rdin
g in
put
type
s, p
rices
, and
nea
rest
sou
rce
of a
vaila
bilit
y. S
ervi
ce p
rovi
des
farm
ers
with
info
rmat
ion
that
al
low
s th
em to
iden
tify
and
call
vend
ors
and
proc
ure
requ
ired
inpu
ts.
Dat
abas
e th
at e
nabl
es
vend
ors
to a
dver
tize
thei
r in
puts
and
pro
duce
rs to
lo
cate
and
buy
inpu
ts.
Hel
ping
to li
nk fa
rmer
s w
ith
basi
c in
puts
and
inpu
t ne
twor
ks, t
hrou
gh p
rovi
sion
of
info
rmat
ion
on p
rices
and
pr
oduc
ts.
23
23Agr
icul
tura
l ser
vice
s lin
ked
to b
asic
com
mun
icat
ions
tool
s
ICT
Sol
utio
nTe
chno
logy
re
quire
men
tsTa
rget
use
rP
urpo
seA
dvan
tage
Impa
ct
Exa
mpl
e M
IS
serv
ice
Eso
ko
ww
w.e
soko
.com
Eso
ko is
a
mar
ket
info
rmat
ion
serv
ice
base
d in
G
hana
that
pr
ovid
es in
tern
et
base
d M
IS
plat
form
s to
m
obile
pho
ne
user
s.
Pla
tform
op
erat
ors
incl
ude
Priv
ate
com
pani
es,
Gov
ernm
ents
, N
GO
’s, i
n B
urki
na F
aso,
Iv
ory
Coa
st,
Gha
na,
Mad
agas
car,
Mal
awi,
Mal
i, N
iger
ia a
nd
Sud
an.
Ena
bles
org
aniz
atio
ns to
pro
vide
m
arke
t inf
orm
atio
n se
rvic
es, s
uch
as s
pot p
rices
, inp
ut p
rices
, bid
s an
d of
fers
, wea
ther
and
pr
oduc
tion
info
rmat
ion
to
prod
ucer
net
wor
ks v
ia th
eir
mob
ile p
hone
. Pro
duce
rs th
at a
re
asso
ciat
ed in
to n
etw
orks
whi
ch
can
pers
onal
ize
info
rmat
ion
upda
tes
such
as
inpu
t opt
ions
an
d pr
ices
, wea
ther
upd
ates
, pe
st a
nd d
isea
se fo
reca
sts,
pr
oduc
tion
upda
tes.
Ser
vice
can
targ
et
info
rmat
ion
to s
elec
ted
user
s, (f
arm
ers
and
trad
ers)
and
bui
ld a
bu
sine
ss m
odel
aro
und
a 2
way
com
mun
icat
ion
syst
em.
Farm
ers
rece
ivin
g re
gula
r m
arke
t inf
orm
atio
n im
prov
e th
eir n
etw
orki
ng a
nd p
rice
nego
tiatin
g sk
ills.
Th
is in
crea
ses
thei
r sal
es
pric
es, i
mpr
oved
dec
isio
n m
akin
g, s
uch
as w
hat t
o gr
ow,
whe
re to
sel
l, ho
w to
tran
spor
t, ho
w m
uch
to a
ggre
gate
. All
of
thes
e fa
ctor
s re
duce
tr
ansa
ctio
n co
sts
and
incr
ease
sa
les
reve
nues
.
Man
obi
ww
w.m
anob
i.net
/M
anob
i, is
ph
one
base
d m
arke
t in
form
atio
n se
rvic
e de
sign
to
sup
port
+$
2 a
day
farm
ers,
in
natio
nal e
xpor
t m
arke
ts.
Are
as o
f op
erat
ion
Sen
egal
, Mal
i, Iv
ory
Coa
st,
Nig
er.
Man
obi h
as d
evel
oped
a ra
nge
of
mob
ile a
nd w
eb-b
ased
ap
plic
atio
ns fo
cuse
d on
im
prov
ing
valu
e ch
ains
. T2M
en
able
s fa
rmer
s to
che
ck m
arke
t pr
ices
on
thei
r mob
ile p
hone
s vi
a S
MS
, WA
P, M
MS
, or m
obile
in
tern
et.
Info
rmat
ion
is d
esig
ned
for
low
lite
racy
. The
in
form
atio
n is
upd
ated
by
a te
am o
f mar
ket r
esea
rche
rs
who
map
and
ent
er it
into
th
eir m
obile
pho
nes.
Man
obi c
laim
s th
at th
e in
com
e of
gum
gro
wer
s us
ing
the
_GIS
+
T2M
pla
tform
hav
e in
crea
sed
by 4
0-5
0%
and
that
farm
ers
usin
g T2
M h
ave
doub
led
thei
r in
com
e.
AM
ISTS
AR
egio
nal
Agr
icul
tura
l inp
ut
mar
ket i
nfor
mat
ion
syst
emw
ww
.am
itsa.
org
/
Com
pute
r with
in
tern
et to
load
in
form
atio
n on
in
put s
uppl
y in
form
atio
n pl
atfo
rm, l
inke
d w
ith c
lient
s vi
a ba
sic
mob
ile
phon
es a
nd o
r co
mpu
ter.
Pro
duce
rs w
ho
wan
t to
acce
ss /
buy
agric
ultu
ral
inpu
ts.
Sys
tem
atiz
ed in
form
atio
n re
sour
ce th
at p
rovi
des
farm
ers
with
info
rmat
ion
rega
rdin
g in
put
type
s, p
rices
, and
nea
rest
sou
rce
of a
vaila
bilit
y. S
ervi
ce p
rovi
des
farm
ers
with
info
rmat
ion
that
al
low
s th
em to
iden
tify
and
call
vend
ors
and
proc
ure
requ
ired
inpu
ts.
Dat
abas
e th
at e
nabl
es
vend
ors
to a
dver
tize
thei
r in
puts
and
pro
duce
rs to
lo
cate
and
buy
inpu
ts.
Hel
ping
to li
nk fa
rmer
s w
ith
basi
c in
puts
and
inpu
t ne
twor
ks, t
hrou
gh p
rovi
sion
of
info
rmat
ion
on p
rices
and
pr
oduc
ts.
24
24Dat
a co
llect
ion,
ana
lytic
al s
ervi
ces,
impa
ct e
valu
atio
n
ICT
solu
tion
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Pur
pose
Adv
anta
geIm
pact
Dig
ital d
ata
form
s an
d da
taba
se
man
agem
ent
Bas
ic c
ompu
ter
to s
et u
p di
gita
l fo
rms
and
prov
ide
acce
ss
poin
t to
clou
d ba
sed
data
base
. Fi
eld
info
rmat
ion
inpu
t thr
ough
co
mpu
ter o
r ot
her m
obile
de
vice
.
Net
wor
ks th
at
wan
t to
colle
ct
and
shar
e in
form
atio
n.
Shi
ft fro
m p
aper
bas
ed fo
rms,
to
offli
ne o
r onl
ine
data
form
s th
at
subm
it da
ta in
to d
atab
ases
. Th
ese
form
s ar
e m
ainl
y fo
r clo
sed
ques
tion
surv
ey m
etho
ds. E
rror
s re
duce
d th
roug
h em
bedd
ed d
ata
filte
rs.
Acc
eler
ates
dat
a co
llect
ion
and
avoi
ds tr
ansc
riptio
n er
rors
. Use
ful f
or d
ata
gath
erin
g an
d M
&E
op
tions
.
Mob
ile d
atab
ase
man
agem
ent
is o
utco
mpe
ting
pape
r bas
ed
appr
oach
es. P
rovi
ding
tim
ely
tran
sfer
of d
ata
to d
atab
ase
from
rem
ote
loca
tions
, sav
ing
cost
s, ti
me
and
lives
.
Sur
veyM
onke
y C
ompu
ter l
inke
d to
ser
vice
ac
coun
t. R
equi
re
com
pute
r to
prep
are
surv
ey
inst
rum
ent.
Fille
d in
onl
ine,
th
roug
h ot
her
com
pute
rs a
nd
mob
ile d
evic
es.
Sur
vey
team
s fo
r pr
oduc
tion
of th
e m
arke
t res
pons
e su
rvey
s. T
arge
t on
line
clie
nts
who
fill
in th
e su
rvey
form
s.
Clo
ud b
ased
sur
vey
tool
with
us
er fe
es b
ased
on
leve
l of u
sage
. U
sed
to c
reat
e fo
rms
that
are
lin
ked
to a
clo
ud d
atab
ase.
S
urve
y m
onke
y pr
ovid
es a
rapi
d m
eans
of c
reat
ing
a su
rvey
, for
ci
rcul
atio
n, fi
lling
and
bas
ic
anal
ysis
.
Free
- Lo
w c
ost,
pay
as y
ou
go ty
pe o
f ser
vice
, or b
asic
S
aaS
sys
tem
pro
vidi
ng
licen
se u
se to
diff
eren
t le
vels
of c
usto
mer
s. R
apid
su
rvey
met
hod,
with
qui
ck
resu
lts re
port
ing.
Mill
ions
of p
eopl
e us
e S
urve
yMon
key,
incl
udin
g 10
0%
of t
he F
ortu
ne 1
00
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pani
es.
IFor
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uild
er
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s://
iform
build
er.c
omC
loud
-bas
ed s
urve
y pr
oduc
t for
app
le
mob
ile d
evic
es
Any
Com
pute
r w
ith if
orm
s ac
coun
t and
ap
plic
atio
n,
syst
em re
quire
s in
tern
et li
nk to
pr
epar
e di
gita
l fo
rms.
Use
rs
requ
ire m
obile
de
vice
s sm
art
phon
es, t
able
ts
and
ipod
s to
fill
form
s.
Dat
a co
llect
ors,
su
ch a
s Fi
eld
wor
kers
, who
co
llect
ing
data
in
rang
e of
rem
ote
area
s.
Pro
vide
s us
ers
with
a m
eans
of
crea
ting
a di
gita
l for
m th
at is
au
tom
atic
ally
link
ed to
an
onlin
e da
taba
se. U
sers
can
col
lect
dat
a of
fline
and
sen
d to
dat
abas
e w
hen
they
retu
rn to
a w
ifi z
one.
Pro
vide
s to
ols
to b
uild
st
anda
rdiz
ed fo
rms,
au
tom
atic
ally
link
ed to
a
data
base
. For
ms
can
be
fille
d in
offl
ine
and
sync
hed
with
dat
abas
e on
retu
rn to
co
nnec
tivity
. S
uppo
rts
rapi
d da
ta e
ntry
, tr
ansf
er a
nd a
naly
sis.
R
educ
es re
-ent
ry e
rror
and
ac
cele
rate
s in
form
atio
n us
e.
Bei
ng u
sed
in o
ver 8
0 co
untr
ies
for P
M W
ork
Ord
ers,
In
spec
tions
, Sur
veys
, Site
A
udits
, Mob
ile D
ispa
tch,
Hot
el
Insp
ectio
ns, C
linic
al S
tudi
es,
Lead
Cap
ture
.
25Dat
a co
llect
ion,
ana
lytic
al s
ervi
ces,
impa
ct e
valu
atio
n
ICT
solu
tion
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Wha
t it d
oes
Adv
anta
geIm
pact
Epi
sur
veyo
r w
ww
.epi
surv
eyor
.or
g/u
ser/
ww
w.d
atad
yne.
org
Mob
ile p
hone
for
surv
ey in
puts
an
d co
mpu
ters
fo
r dat
a do
wnl
oads
and
an
alys
is.
Focu
s on
hea
lth
serv
ices
, sin
ce
2003
, G
over
nmen
ts,
NG
Os,
re
sear
cher
s,
busi
ness
es, a
nd
othe
rs h
ave
used
D
ataD
yne
for
mob
ile d
ata
colle
ctio
n,
anal
ysis
, re
port
ing,
and
co
mm
unic
atio
ns.
Dat
aDyn
e is
a s
ocia
l bus
ines
s ba
sed
in K
enya
, Chi
le, a
nd th
e U
SA
that
cre
ates
web
and
mob
ile
soft
war
e to
ben
efit N
GO
s,
gove
rnm
ents
, res
earc
hers
, and
bu
sine
sses
wor
ldw
ide.
Epi
Sur
veyo
r let
s an
yone
cr
eate
an
acco
unt,
desi
gn
form
s, d
ownl
oad
them
to
phon
es, a
nd s
tart
co
llect
ing
data
in m
inut
es,
for f
ree.
Bei
ng u
sed
by U
SA
ID, C
DC
, W
HO
, Wor
ld B
ank,
Red
C
ross
, Uni
cef,
John
Sno
w,
Inte
rnat
iona
l Res
cue,
U
NE
SC
O. A
war
d w
inne
r 20
12
Com
pute
r Wor
ld H
onor
s La
urea
te.
CO
SA
Com
mitt
ee
on s
usta
inab
ility
as
sess
men
tht
tp:/
/sus
tain
able
co
mm
oditi
es.o
rg/
cosa
Onl
ine
M&
E /
impa
ct d
ata
man
agem
ent
and
anal
ytic
s se
rvic
e, th
at
user
s ca
n ac
cess
thro
ugh
an o
nlin
e ac
coun
t.
Pro
duce
rs a
nd
com
pani
es
seek
ing
capa
city
fo
r lar
ge s
cale
m
onito
ring
and
eval
uatio
n sy
stem
s. T
his
met
hod
was
in
itial
ly d
esig
ned
to p
rovi
de M
&E
su
ppor
t for
ce
rtifi
catio
n sc
hem
es, w
ith
faci
litat
ors
and
farm
er g
roup
s.
CO
SA
is a
non
-pro
fit c
onso
rtiu
m
of in
stitu
tions
dev
elop
ing
inde
pend
ent m
easu
rem
ent t
ools
to
ana
lyze
soc
ial,
envi
ronm
enta
l an
d ec
onom
ic im
pact
s of
ag
ricul
tura
l pra
ctic
es, p
artic
ular
ly
thos
e w
ith s
usta
inab
ility
pr
ogra
ms.
CO
SA
has
4
com
pone
nts:
1. S
urve
y B
uild
er c
apac
ity2.
Dat
a ga
ther
ing
proc
esse
s us
ing
on/o
ff-lin
e ga
ther
ing
soft
war
e)3.
Dat
abas
e w
ith o
ptio
ns fo
r br
oad
acce
ss fo
r sta
tistic
al
prog
ram
s4.
Por
tal f
or d
isse
min
atio
n of
dat
a w
ith th
e In
tern
atio
nal T
rade
C
ente
r.
CO
SA
offe
rs a
n im
pact
an
alys
is to
ol k
it, w
ith
cust
omiz
ed s
uppo
rt
serv
ices
to b
uild
and
refin
e su
rvey
inst
rum
ents
, ass
ist
with
indi
cato
r sel
ectio
n an
d as
sist
with
the
desi
gn o
f ba
sic
data
base
de
velo
pmen
t. Th
e C
OS
A
team
is a
imin
g to
offe
r loc
al
com
pany
sup
port
in
deve
lopi
ng c
ount
ries
and
cons
ulta
ncy
supp
ort f
or
data
ana
lysi
s an
d st
orag
e.
The
tool
s de
velo
ped
by th
e C
OS
A p
roje
ct a
re a
pplic
able
to
a d
iver
se ra
nge
of
com
mod
ity s
uppl
y ch
ains
and
re
gion
s gl
obal
ly.
• Cof
fee
wor
k co
nduc
ted
in:
Col
ombi
a, G
uate
mal
a,
Tanz
ania
, Hon
dura
s, K
enya
, P
eru,
Cos
ta R
ica,
and
Vie
tnam
.• C
ocoa
: Gha
na a
nd C
ôte
d’Iv
oire
.• T
ea, C
otto
n, P
alm
Oil,
and
S
oy a
re fo
rthc
omin
g.
25
25Dat
a co
llect
ion,
ana
lytic
al s
ervi
ces,
impa
ct e
valu
atio
n
ICT
solu
tion
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Wha
t it d
oes
Adv
anta
geIm
pact
Epi
sur
veyo
r w
ww
.epi
surv
eyor
.or
g/u
ser/
ww
w.d
atad
yne.
org
Mob
ile p
hone
for
surv
ey in
puts
an
d co
mpu
ters
fo
r dat
a do
wnl
oads
and
an
alys
is.
Focu
s on
hea
lth
serv
ices
, sin
ce
2003
, G
over
nmen
ts,
NG
Os,
re
sear
cher
s,
busi
ness
es, a
nd
othe
rs h
ave
used
D
ataD
yne
for
mob
ile d
ata
colle
ctio
n,
anal
ysis
, re
port
ing,
and
co
mm
unic
atio
ns.
Dat
aDyn
e is
a s
ocia
l bus
ines
s ba
sed
in K
enya
, Chi
le, a
nd th
e U
SA
that
cre
ates
web
and
mob
ile
soft
war
e to
ben
efit N
GO
s,
gove
rnm
ents
, res
earc
hers
, and
bu
sine
sses
wor
ldw
ide.
Epi
Sur
veyo
r let
s an
yone
cr
eate
an
acco
unt,
desi
gn
form
s, d
ownl
oad
them
to
phon
es, a
nd s
tart
co
llect
ing
data
in m
inut
es,
for f
ree.
Bei
ng u
sed
by U
SA
ID, C
DC
, W
HO
, Wor
ld B
ank,
Red
C
ross
, Uni
cef,
John
Sno
w,
Inte
rnat
iona
l Res
cue,
U
NE
SC
O. A
war
d w
inne
r 20
12
Com
pute
r Wor
ld H
onor
s La
urea
te.
CO
SA
Com
mitt
ee
on s
usta
inab
ility
as
sess
men
tht
tp:/
/sus
tain
able
co
mm
oditi
es.o
rg/
cosa
Onl
ine
M&
E /
impa
ct d
ata
man
agem
ent
and
anal
ytic
s se
rvic
e, th
at
user
s ca
n ac
cess
thro
ugh
an o
nlin
e ac
coun
t.
Pro
duce
rs a
nd
com
pani
es
seek
ing
capa
city
fo
r lar
ge s
cale
m
onito
ring
and
eval
uatio
n sy
stem
s. T
his
met
hod
was
in
itial
ly d
esig
ned
to p
rovi
de M
&E
su
ppor
t for
ce
rtifi
catio
n sc
hem
es, w
ith
faci
litat
ors
and
farm
er g
roup
s.
CO
SA
is a
non
-pro
fit c
onso
rtiu
m
of in
stitu
tions
dev
elop
ing
inde
pend
ent m
easu
rem
ent t
ools
to
ana
lyze
soc
ial,
envi
ronm
enta
l an
d ec
onom
ic im
pact
s of
ag
ricul
tura
l pra
ctic
es, p
artic
ular
ly
thos
e w
ith s
usta
inab
ility
pr
ogra
ms.
CO
SA
has
4
com
pone
nts:
1. S
urve
y B
uild
er c
apac
ity2.
Dat
a ga
ther
ing
proc
esse
s us
ing
on/o
ff-lin
e ga
ther
ing
soft
war
e)3.
Dat
abas
e w
ith o
ptio
ns fo
r br
oad
acce
ss fo
r sta
tistic
al
prog
ram
s4.
Por
tal f
or d
isse
min
atio
n of
dat
a w
ith th
e In
tern
atio
nal T
rade
C
ente
r.
CO
SA
offe
rs a
n im
pact
an
alys
is to
ol k
it, w
ith
cust
omiz
ed s
uppo
rt
serv
ices
to b
uild
and
refin
e su
rvey
inst
rum
ents
, ass
ist
with
indi
cato
r sel
ectio
n an
d as
sist
with
the
desi
gn o
f ba
sic
data
base
de
velo
pmen
t. Th
e C
OS
A
team
is a
imin
g to
offe
r loc
al
com
pany
sup
port
in
deve
lopi
ng c
ount
ries
and
cons
ulta
ncy
supp
ort f
or
data
ana
lysi
s an
d st
orag
e.
The
tool
s de
velo
ped
by th
e C
OS
A p
roje
ct a
re a
pplic
able
to
a d
iver
se ra
nge
of
com
mod
ity s
uppl
y ch
ains
and
re
gion
s gl
obal
ly.
• Cof
fee
wor
k co
nduc
ted
in:
Col
ombi
a, G
uate
mal
a,
Tanz
ania
, Hon
dura
s, K
enya
, P
eru,
Cos
ta R
ica,
and
Vie
tnam
.• C
ocoa
: Gha
na a
nd C
ôte
d’Iv
oire
.• T
ea, C
otto
n, P
alm
Oil,
and
S
oy a
re fo
rthc
omin
g.
26
26Dat
a co
llect
ion,
ana
lytic
al s
ervi
ces,
impa
ct e
valu
atio
n
ICT
solu
tion
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Wha
t it d
oes
Adv
anta
geIm
pact
Kim
etric
aO
nlin
e M
onito
ring
and
eval
uatio
n sy
stem
.
Bro
ad ra
nge
of
NG
O’s
and
de
velo
pmen
t ag
enci
es.
The
soft
war
e in
clud
es e
asy-
to-
use
tool
s fo
r all
the
key
aspe
cts
of
non-
profi
t pro
ject
des
ign,
in
clud
ing
log-
fram
e de
velo
pmen
t, bu
dget
ing,
wor
k-pl
anni
ng, a
nd it
he
lps
to p
rodu
ce p
roje
ct
prop
osal
s an
d ot
her s
tand
ard
proj
ect d
ocum
ents
. You
can
pu
blis
h al
l pro
ject
s on
the
web
.
Buy
ers
can
sign
up
for a
ra
nge
of s
ervi
ces,
bro
nze,
si
lver
and
gol
d w
hich
offe
r di
ffere
nt c
osts
and
leve
ls o
f se
rvic
e so
phis
ticat
ion.
Kim
etric
a al
so o
ffer t
rain
ing
and
cons
ulta
ncy
serv
ices
to
use
the
tech
nolo
gy
effe
ctiv
ely.
Kim
etric
a is
bei
ng u
sed
by a
ra
nge
of N
GO
’s a
nd
deve
lopm
ent p
rogr
ams.
For
a
full
list o
f par
tner
s se
e:ht
tp:/
/ww
w.k
imet
rica.
com
/cl
ient
s-pa
rtne
rs.p
hp
On-
boar
d ca
lcul
ator
s C
ompu
ters
/ m
obile
dev
ices
w
ith c
alcu
lato
r ap
plic
atio
ns th
at
supp
ort s
peci
fic
farm
er a
naly
tical
ne
eds.
Fiel
d ag
ent
wor
king
with
fa
rmer
gro
ups.
Info
rmat
ion
tool
s th
at a
llow
s fie
ld
agen
ts to
targ
et c
lient
to p
rovi
de
info
rmat
ion
that
can
be
used
to
gene
rate
mor
e co
mpl
ex
info
rmat
ion,
suc
h as
med
ical
di
agno
ses,
agr
o-ch
emic
al
appl
icat
ion
rate
s, w
ater
flow
, pr
ofita
bilit
y.
The
use
of o
n-bo
ard
calc
ulat
ors
mea
ns th
at d
ata
anal
ysis
can
be
done
in th
e fie
ld p
rovi
ding
dire
ct v
alue
to
clie
nts
at th
e si
te o
f the
ir en
terp
rise
oper
atio
ns.
Farm
book
(CR
S)
Net
book
co
mpu
ter w
ith
loca
l app
licat
ion,
w
hich
sy
nchr
oniz
es
with
clo
ud
base
d da
taba
se
and
repo
rtin
g fa
cilit
ies.
Fiel
d ag
ents
w
orki
ng fo
r NG
O
or G
over
nmen
ts
linke
d to
pro
ject
m
anag
ers.
Pro
vide
s fie
ld a
gent
s w
ith a
st
anda
rdiz
ed c
ompu
ter p
rogr
am
that
ena
bles
fiel
d ag
ents
to
colle
ct a
nd a
naly
ze in
form
atio
n of
fline
and
load
dat
a in
to a
n on
line
data
base
. App
licat
ion
prov
ides
(i) f
arm
er re
gist
ratio
n,
(ii) B
usin
ess
plan
ner,
profi
tabi
lity
calc
ulat
or, c
rop
fore
cast
er, f
arm
vi
sit l
og a
nd im
pact
ana
lysi
s.
Allo
ws
field
age
nts
to
unde
rtak
e da
ta c
olle
ctio
n,
anal
ysis
and
resu
lts to
fa
rmer
s in
the
field
. The
da
ta c
olle
cted
incl
udes
ba
sic
mon
itorin
g an
d ev
alua
tion
data
, thu
s im
prov
ing
effic
ienc
y of
pe
rfor
man
ce m
onito
ring.
Bet
a ve
rsio
ns b
eing
test
ed in
th
e fie
ld w
ith p
artn
ers.
SS
CM
(IR
RI)
Dat
a en
try
devi
ce,
com
pute
r or
smar
t pho
ne
linke
d to
onl
ine
serv
ice
and
data
base
.
Fiel
d ag
ent
wor
king
with
fa
rmer
gro
ups.
Lo
an a
gent
s su
ppor
ting
farm
er c
lient
s.
App
licat
ion
has
been
cal
ibra
ted
in s
peci
fic a
reas
to p
rovi
de
fert
ilize
r rec
omm
enda
tions
to ri
ce
farm
ers,
bas
ed o
n a
limite
d se
t of
ques
tions
and
bas
ic fi
eld
anal
ysis
.
Pro
vide
s fa
rmer
s w
ith ra
pid
prod
uctio
n re
com
men
datio
ns, w
ith
limite
d nu
mbe
r of o
nsite
te
sts.
Bet
a ve
rsio
ns b
eing
test
ed in
th
e fie
ld w
ith p
artn
ers.
27GP
S (g
loba
l pos
ition
ing
syst
em) u
sing
sat
ellit
e po
sitio
ning
ser
vice
s
ICT
solu
tion
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Pur
pose
Adv
anta
ge
GIS
Map
ping
Lo
catio
ns a
re
reco
rded
usi
ng
stan
d al
one
GP
S
met
ers,
or
thro
ugh
mob
ile
phon
e tr
iang
ulat
ion.
P
oint
dat
a is
m
appe
d on
to a
co
mpu
ter o
r m
obile
dev
ice.
Fiel
d ag
ents
and
pr
ojec
t sta
ff,
seek
ing
to lo
cate
ac
tiviti
es a
nd
spat
ially
trac
k th
is o
n di
gita
l.
Map
ping
now
of
ten
can
be
done
in re
al ti
me.
GIS
sys
tem
s al
low
pos
ition
s of
ope
ratio
n, a
nd
land
scap
e in
form
atio
n to
be
reco
rded
on
a di
gita
l map
with
ass
ocia
ted
data
, thi
s in
form
atio
n ca
n be
laye
red
to p
rovi
de lo
catio
n sp
ecifi
c an
alys
is o
ver t
ime
and
prov
ide
the
basi
s fo
r ana
lysi
s an
d sc
enar
io b
uild
ing
of
laye
red
data
.
Ena
bles
inte
rven
tion
team
s to
reco
rd, d
ispl
ay a
nd
anal
yze
spat
ial i
nfor
mat
ion
rela
ted
to
inte
rven
tions
, suc
h as
poi
nts,
trac
ks a
nd a
rea
base
d in
form
atio
n.
GP
S h
and
held
un
itsS
tand
ard
com
mer
cial
pr
oduc
ts s
uch
as
Gar
min
or
Mag
ella
n ar
e us
ed to
cap
ture
G
PS
loca
tions
.
Fiel
d ag
ent,
inve
stor
, spa
tial
anal
yst.
GP
S u
nit e
nabl
es fi
eld
agen
ts to
acc
urat
ely
loca
te a
pos
ition
whi
ch c
an th
en b
e tr
ansf
erre
d in
to d
igita
l map
ping
sof
twar
e.
Acc
urat
e di
gita
l pos
ition
can
be
used
to id
entif
y a
loca
tion,
are
a, ta
g ac
tiviti
es, a
sset
s an
d in
vest
men
ts to
a s
peci
fic lo
catio
n.
Sm
art p
hone
s as
lo
catin
g de
vice
sS
mar
t pho
ne
with
glo
bal
posi
tioni
ng
capa
bilit
y.
Any
pho
ne u
ser
with
net
wor
k ac
cess
.
Sm
art p
hone
s pr
ovid
e si
mila
r loc
atio
n co
ordi
nate
s, b
ut a
re le
ss a
ccur
ate
than
GP
S
as th
ey w
ork
on tr
iang
ulat
ion
of m
obile
cel
l to
wer
s ra
ther
than
sat
ellit
e po
sitio
ning
.
Che
aper
mea
ns o
f loc
atin
g po
ints
usi
ng m
ore
read
ily a
cces
sibl
e te
chno
logy
.
Tagg
ing
and
trac
ing
with
bar
code
s G
PS
or s
mar
t ph
one
and
barc
ode
gene
rato
r, pr
inte
r an
d ba
rcod
e re
ader
.
Fiel
d ag
ent a
nd
spat
ial a
naly
st.
The
com
bina
tion
of G
PS
tagg
ing
and
a ba
rcod
e re
ader
, pro
vide
s ab
ility
to p
lace
a
uniq
ue d
igita
l ide
ntifi
catio
n nu
mbe
r or b
ar
code
with
peo
ple
or p
rodu
cts
and
then
use
th
is id
entifi
catio
n to
reco
rd s
ervi
ce d
eliv
ery
to
an ID
or t
race
the
flow
of g
oods
thro
ugh
a su
pply
cha
in o
r net
wor
k. T
his
syst
em is
use
d to
trac
e pr
oduc
e to
reco
rd q
ualit
y an
d fo
od
safe
ty is
sues
.
Ser
vice
del
iver
y to
tagg
ed c
lient
s pr
ovid
es
grea
ter o
ppor
tuni
ty fo
r acc
ount
abili
ty a
nd
effic
ienc
y in
ser
vice
pro
visi
on, p
rodu
ct ta
ggin
g su
ppor
ts fo
od s
afet
y tr
acin
g in
sup
ply
chai
n.
27
27GP
S (g
loba
l pos
ition
ing
syst
em) u
sing
sat
ellit
e po
sitio
ning
ser
vice
s
ICT
solu
tion
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Pur
pose
Adv
anta
ge
GIS
Map
ping
Lo
catio
ns a
re
reco
rded
usi
ng
stan
d al
one
GP
S
met
ers,
or
thro
ugh
mob
ile
phon
e tr
iang
ulat
ion.
P
oint
dat
a is
m
appe
d on
to a
co
mpu
ter o
r m
obile
dev
ice.
Fiel
d ag
ents
and
pr
ojec
t sta
ff,
seek
ing
to lo
cate
ac
tiviti
es a
nd
spat
ially
trac
k th
is o
n di
gita
l.
Map
ping
now
of
ten
can
be
done
in re
al ti
me.
GIS
sys
tem
s al
low
pos
ition
s of
ope
ratio
n, a
nd
land
scap
e in
form
atio
n to
be
reco
rded
on
a di
gita
l map
with
ass
ocia
ted
data
, thi
s in
form
atio
n ca
n be
laye
red
to p
rovi
de lo
catio
n sp
ecifi
c an
alys
is o
ver t
ime
and
prov
ide
the
basi
s fo
r ana
lysi
s an
d sc
enar
io b
uild
ing
of
laye
red
data
.
Ena
bles
inte
rven
tion
team
s to
reco
rd, d
ispl
ay a
nd
anal
yze
spat
ial i
nfor
mat
ion
rela
ted
to
inte
rven
tions
, suc
h as
poi
nts,
trac
ks a
nd a
rea
base
d in
form
atio
n.
GP
S h
and
held
un
itsS
tand
ard
com
mer
cial
pr
oduc
ts s
uch
as
Gar
min
or
Mag
ella
n ar
e us
ed to
cap
ture
G
PS
loca
tions
.
Fiel
d ag
ent,
inve
stor
, spa
tial
anal
yst.
GP
S u
nit e
nabl
es fi
eld
agen
ts to
acc
urat
ely
loca
te a
pos
ition
whi
ch c
an th
en b
e tr
ansf
erre
d in
to d
igita
l map
ping
sof
twar
e.
Acc
urat
e di
gita
l pos
ition
can
be
used
to id
entif
y a
loca
tion,
are
a, ta
g ac
tiviti
es, a
sset
s an
d in
vest
men
ts to
a s
peci
fic lo
catio
n.
Sm
art p
hone
s as
lo
catin
g de
vice
sS
mar
t pho
ne
with
glo
bal
posi
tioni
ng
capa
bilit
y.
Any
pho
ne u
ser
with
net
wor
k ac
cess
.
Sm
art p
hone
s pr
ovid
e si
mila
r loc
atio
n co
ordi
nate
s, b
ut a
re le
ss a
ccur
ate
than
GP
S
as th
ey w
ork
on tr
iang
ulat
ion
of m
obile
cel
l to
wer
s ra
ther
than
sat
ellit
e po
sitio
ning
.
Che
aper
mea
ns o
f loc
atin
g po
ints
usi
ng m
ore
read
ily a
cces
sibl
e te
chno
logy
.
Tagg
ing
and
trac
ing
with
bar
code
s G
PS
or s
mar
t ph
one
and
barc
ode
gene
rato
r, pr
inte
r an
d ba
rcod
e re
ader
.
Fiel
d ag
ent a
nd
spat
ial a
naly
st.
The
com
bina
tion
of G
PS
tagg
ing
and
a ba
rcod
e re
ader
, pro
vide
s ab
ility
to p
lace
a
uniq
ue d
igita
l ide
ntifi
catio
n nu
mbe
r or b
ar
code
with
peo
ple
or p
rodu
cts
and
then
use
th
is id
entifi
catio
n to
reco
rd s
ervi
ce d
eliv
ery
to
an ID
or t
race
the
flow
of g
oods
thro
ugh
a su
pply
cha
in o
r net
wor
k. T
his
syst
em is
use
d to
trac
e pr
oduc
e to
reco
rd q
ualit
y an
d fo
od
safe
ty is
sues
.
Ser
vice
del
iver
y to
tagg
ed c
lient
s pr
ovid
es
grea
ter o
ppor
tuni
ty fo
r acc
ount
abili
ty a
nd
effic
ienc
y in
ser
vice
pro
visi
on, p
rodu
ct ta
ggin
g su
ppor
ts fo
od s
afet
y tr
acin
g in
sup
ply
chai
n.
28
28GP
S (g
loba
l pos
ition
ing
syst
em) u
sing
sat
ellit
e po
sitio
ning
ser
vice
s
ICT
solu
tion
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Pur
pose
Adv
anta
ge
Rem
ote
sens
ing
Met
hodo
logy
th
at a
llow
s an
alys
t to
colla
te
and
anal
yze
info
rmat
ion
thro
ugh
sate
llite
tr
acki
ng.
Fiel
d ag
ent w
ho
links
spe
cific
se
rvic
e to
spa
tial
loca
tion.
Sat
ellit
e sy
stem
s pr
ovid
e op
port
uniti
es to
ga
ther
and
map
info
rmat
ion
at a
glo
bal l
evel
. P
reci
sion
of s
atel
lite
imag
ery,
is a
lso
supp
orte
d by
spe
ctra
l ana
lysi
s th
at p
rovi
des
for d
etai
led
anal
ysis
of w
eath
er s
yste
ms,
la
ndsc
ape
cove
r and
cro
p pe
rfor
man
ce.
Pro
vide
s an
alys
ts w
ith a
bilit
y to
sur
vey
and
map
la
rge
area
s, w
ith li
mite
d ne
ed fo
r gro
und
trut
hing
of
info
rmat
ion.
Exa
mpl
es o
f GP
S (g
loba
l pos
ition
ing
syst
em) u
sing
sat
ellit
e po
sitio
ning
ser
vice
s
Goo
gle
Ear
thw
ww
.goo
gle.
com
/ea
rth
/
Com
pute
r, or
m
obile
dev
ice
with
link
to th
e in
tern
et.
Bas
ic a
nd
adva
nced
GIS
m
appi
ng u
sers
.
Goo
gle
Ear
th, p
rovi
des
an e
asy
to u
se
map
ping
sol
utio
n th
at a
llow
s us
ers
to e
xplo
re,
crea
te, a
nd c
onne
ct o
n th
e G
oogl
e E
arth
O
utre
ach
web
site
. Use
rs c
an u
se th
e G
oogl
e ga
llery
of p
ublic
-ben
efit m
aps,
cre
ate
map
s w
ith th
e he
lp o
f onl
ine
tuto
rials
and
tool
s.
Con
nect
with
oth
ers
in th
e co
mm
unity
and
ap
ply
for s
oftw
are
gran
ts in
the
Goo
gle
Ear
th
for N
on-p
rofit
s G
rant
Pro
gram
.
Goo
gle
Ear
th s
ava
ilabl
e fo
r the
des
ktop
in th
ree
diffe
rent
ver
sion
s: G
oogl
e E
arth
, Goo
gle
Ear
th
Pro
, and
Goo
gle
Ear
th E
nter
pris
e. T
he s
oftw
are
prov
ides
use
rs w
ith b
asic
map
s, s
atel
lite
imag
ery,
3D
bui
ldin
gs, 3
D tr
ees,
terr
ain,
str
eet V
iew
, pl
anet
s an
d m
uch
mor
e.
ES
RI
(Env
ironm
enta
l S
ervi
ces
Res
earc
h In
stitu
te)
ww
w.e
sri.c
om/
Com
pute
r or
mob
ile d
evic
e to
lin
k to
ES
RI,
soft
war
e or
cl
oud
base
d so
lutio
ns, a
nd
GP
S d
evic
e to
re
cord
loca
tions
.
Pro
ject
m
anag
ers
and
anal
ysts
, who
de
velo
p sp
atia
l m
aps
with
GIS
ta
gged
act
iviti
es.
ES
RI A
rcV
iew
Sof
twar
e pr
ovid
es s
patia
l an
alys
ts w
ith a
sop
hist
icat
ed p
rogr
am to
bui
ld
digi
tal m
aps
with
mul
tiple
dat
a la
yers
that
can
be
use
d to
ana
lyze
and
mod
el th
e ef
fect
s of
in
terv
entio
ns o
n fu
ture
out
com
es.
Pro
vide
s a
digi
tal c
anva
ss to
plo
t loc
atio
ns o
f ac
tiviti
es, a
naly
ze s
patia
l tre
nds
and
shar
e sp
atia
l in
form
atio
n w
ith p
artn
ers
and
inve
stor
s.
Sop
hist
icat
ed a
naly
tical
pro
pert
ies
that
ena
ble
user
s to
inte
grat
e sp
atia
l dat
a an
d an
alyt
ical
pr
ogra
ms
to m
odel
tren
d an
d fo
reca
stin
g sy
stem
s.
CIA
T C
limat
e ch
ange
map
ping
Sof
twar
e ap
plic
atio
n th
at
enab
les
user
s to
an
alyz
e ef
fect
s of
cl
imat
e ch
ange
fo
r spe
cific
cro
ps
in d
esig
nate
d lo
catio
ns.
Age
ncie
s in
volv
ed in
long
te
rm p
rodu
ctio
n an
d cl
imat
e ch
ange
exp
erts
.
To d
evel
op s
cena
rios
show
ing
the
chan
ges
in
suita
bilit
y of
spe
cific
cro
ps in
targ
et a
reas
ov
er d
esig
nate
d tim
efra
mes
. Thi
s ap
plic
atio
n is
bei
ng u
sed
to d
eter
min
e th
e su
itabi
lity
of
cert
ain
coun
trie
s to
cof
fee
prod
uctio
n in
20
-30
and
50 y
ear t
ime
horiz
ons.
Pro
vide
s pr
oduc
ers
and
polic
y m
aker
s w
ith
info
rmat
ion
on p
oten
tial p
rodu
ctio
n su
itabi
lity
scen
ario
s as
a re
sult
of c
limat
e ch
ange
.
29
29Dis
tanc
e le
arni
ng p
rodu
cts
and
plat
form
s
Exa
mpl
e IC
T in
terv
entio
nsTe
chno
logy
re
quire
men
tsTa
rget
use
rP
urpo
seA
dvan
tage
Impa
ct
Dis
tanc
e le
arni
ng
Com
pute
r tha
t lin
ks to
ope
rate
s di
stan
ce le
arni
ng
soft
war
e or
link
s to
onl
ine
dist
ance
lear
ning
sy
stem
.
Stu
dent
s of
all
type
s, in
clud
ing
agen
cy p
rogr
am
man
ager
s an
d fie
ld w
orke
rs,
seek
ing
skill
s up
grad
ing.
Dis
tanc
e le
arni
ng p
latfo
rms
allo
w
user
s to
take
a tr
aini
ng c
ours
e on
th
eir c
ompu
ter a
t any
tim
e. T
his
type
cou
rse
faci
litat
or.
Red
uces
trai
ning
cos
ts,
enab
les
stud
ents
hav
e fle
xibi
lity
wor
k tim
es a
nd
prog
ress
is m
onito
red
thro
ugh
supe
rvis
ors
rem
otel
y.
Mill
ions
of s
tude
nts
are
now
ta
king
onl
ine
and
offli
ne
e-co
urse
s.
Agi
lixw
ww
.agi
lix.c
om/
Bra
inho
ney
ToG
o
Com
pute
r, w
ith
capa
city
to li
nk
with
inte
rnet
.
The
plat
form
is
used
by
trai
ning
ag
enci
es to
su
ppor
t rem
ote
stud
ents
and
st
aff.
Con
tent
ne
eds
to b
e ge
nera
ted
to
supp
ort p
roce
ss.
Agi
lix is
an
inno
vativ
e, e
ffect
ive,
an
d sc
alab
le s
et o
f edu
catio
nal
prod
ucts
and
sol
utio
ns. A
gilix
pr
ovid
es a
flex
ible
cou
rse
cont
ent
man
ager
that
can
be
used
by
stud
ents
and
sta
ff se
ekin
g sk
ills
upgr
adin
g.
Sim
ple
to u
se c
onte
nt
man
ager
that
allo
ws
non
tech
nica
l use
r to
build
ba
sic
cour
ses,
that
has
on
/offl
ine
capa
bilit
ies.
A
gilix
is (i
) Stu
dent
-C
ente
red
(ii) S
tand
ards
A
ligne
d Fo
rmat
ive
Ass
essm
ent (
iii) E
ffici
ent,
Effe
ctiv
e V
irtua
l Pro
gram
s (iv
) Bui
ld Y
our O
wn
Lear
ning
Sys
tem
(v)
Onl
ine/
Offl
ine
Lear
ning
.
Agi
lix h
as a
n ex
pand
ing
rang
e of
trai
ning
pro
duct
s, w
hich
are
pr
ovid
ing
tens
of t
hous
ands
of
cour
ses
to m
illio
ns o
f stu
dent
s.
LIN
GO
Sht
tp:/
/lin
gos.
org
/C
ompu
ter,
with
ca
paci
ty to
link
w
ith in
tern
et.
The
plat
form
is
used
by
trai
ning
ag
enci
es to
su
ppor
t rem
ote
stud
ents
and
st
aff.
As
with
all
such
pla
tform
s, it
re
quire
s co
nten
t.
Com
mun
ity o
f NG
O m
embe
r ag
enci
es, e
-Lea
rnin
g co
urse
s fro
m L
ING
Os
mem
bers
, LIN
GO
s an
d its
con
tent
par
tner
s P
erso
naliz
ed L
earn
ing
Man
agem
ent S
yste
m (L
MS
) and
ot
her l
earn
ing
tech
nolo
gy to
ols.
LIN
GO
S, i
s a
cons
ortiu
m
of o
ver 6
5 in
tern
atio
nal
hum
anita
rian
relie
f, de
velo
pmen
t, co
nser
vatio
n an
d he
alth
org
aniz
atio
ns.
LIN
GO
s pr
ovid
es th
e la
test
lear
ning
te
chno
logi
es a
nd c
ours
es
from
our
par
tner
s so
thes
e no
n pr
ofits
can
incr
ease
th
e sk
ill le
vels
of t
heir
empl
oyee
s, a
nd th
eref
ore
incr
ease
the
impa
ct o
f the
ir pr
ogra
ms.
Wid
ely
used
by
the
NG
O
com
mun
ity.
30
30Dis
tanc
e le
arni
ng p
rodu
cts
and
plat
form
s
Exa
mpl
e IC
T in
terv
entio
nsTe
chno
logy
re
quire
men
tsTa
rget
use
rP
urpo
seA
dvan
tage
Impa
ct
Moo
dle
and
Poo
dle
Moo
dle
need
s to
be
inst
alle
d on
a
web
ser
ver
som
ewhe
re,
eith
er o
n on
e of
yo
ur o
wn
com
pute
rs o
r on
e at
a w
eb
host
ing
com
pany
.
Trai
ners
and
st
uden
ts.
Moo
dle
is a
n O
pen
Sou
rce
Cou
rse
Man
agem
ent S
yste
m
(CM
S),
also
kno
wn
as a
Lea
rnin
g M
anag
emen
t Sys
tem
(LM
S) o
r a
Virt
ual L
earn
ing
Env
ironm
ent
(VLE
). It
has
beco
me
very
pop
ular
am
ong
educ
ator
s ar
ound
the
wor
ld a
s a
tool
for c
reat
ing
onlin
e dy
nam
ic w
eb s
ites
for t
heir
stud
ents
.
Ope
n so
urce
, sup
port
ed
by G
oogl
e. E
asy
to u
se,
stro
ng s
uppo
rt te
am.
Reg
iste
red
site
s, 6
5,99
6C
ount
ries,
218
Cou
rses
, 5,8
61,6
03U
sers
, 56,
923,
364
Teac
hers
, 1,2
84,6
40E
nrol
men
ts, 2
7,52
1,75
1Q
uiz
ques
tions
, 112
,608
,513
FAO
lear
ning
pl
atfo
rmC
ompu
ter w
ith
capa
city
to li
nk to
in
tern
et.
Ext
ensi
on s
taff
and
man
ager
s.FA
O h
as d
evel
oped
a s
erie
s of
tr
aini
ng c
ours
es fo
cusi
ng o
n fo
od
secu
rity
and
basi
c pr
oduc
tion
syst
ems.
Bas
ic c
ours
es to
sup
port
fo
od p
rodu
ctio
n,
post
harv
est s
tora
ge a
nd
food
sec
urity
issu
es.
Mob
ile e
-com
mer
ce p
rodu
cts
and
serv
ices
Mob
ile
e- m
oney
Sop
hist
icat
ed
bank
ing
soft
war
e sy
stem
. Clie
nts
link
to s
yste
m v
ia
mob
ile p
hone
s an
d ac
coun
ts.
Rur
al o
r urb
an
clie
nts
that
wan
t to
tran
sfer
mon
ey
to d
ista
nt
reci
pien
ts a
t low
co
st.
Fina
ncia
l ser
vice
that
allo
ws
tran
sfer
of d
igita
l fina
ncia
l cre
dits
be
twee
n us
ers,
via
pho
nes
acco
unts
. Cre
dits
can
be
rede
emed
at s
peci
fic k
iosk
s or
ba
nks
into
cas
h by
reci
pien
ts.
Rap
id, s
afe
tran
sfer
of
fund
s in
to a
reas
with
eith
er
no o
r lim
ited
bank
ing
faci
litie
s.
Hug
e, o
ne o
f the
fast
est
grow
ing
indu
strie
s in
de
velo
ping
cou
ntrie
s,
espe
cial
ly A
frica
.
Exa
mpl
e m
obile
mon
ey a
pplic
atio
n
M-P
esa
ww
w.s
afar
icom
.co
.ke/
M-P
esa
offe
r a
dire
ct m
obile
m
oney
tran
sfer
se
rvic
e w
ithin
K
enya
. Use
rs
only
requ
ire
fund
s an
d a
mob
ile a
ccou
nt
to lo
ad a
nd
tran
sfer
fund
s to
ot
her m
obile
ph
one
user
s.
Targ
et c
lient
s ar
e ru
ral r
ecip
ient
s,
who
are
re
ceiv
ing
fund
s fro
m b
usin
ess
part
ners
or
fam
ily.
The
tran
sfer
of p
hysi
cal c
ash
for
busi
ness
or c
onsu
mpt
ion
reas
ons,
is ti
me
cons
umin
g,
cost
ly a
nd ri
sky.
Mob
ile m
oney
of
fers
a w
ay o
f sen
ding
fund
s to
sp
ecifi
c cl
ient
s, q
uick
ly a
nd
secu
rely
at l
ow c
ost.
Rap
id, l
ow c
ost fi
nanc
ial
tran
sfer
s, p
rovi
de tr
ade
finan
ces
to p
enet
rate
to
area
s be
yond
trad
ition
al
bank
ing
area
s.
M-P
esa
was
firs
t lau
nche
d by
th
e K
enya
n M
NO
Saf
aric
om, i
n M
arch
200
7. M
-Pes
a ha
s gr
own
asto
undi
ngly
qui
ckly
, ca
ptur
ing
6.5
mill
ion
subs
crib
ers
by M
ay 2
009
with
2
mill
ion
daily
tran
sact
ions
in
Ken
ya a
lone
. Thi
s so
lutio
n is
no
w b
eing
use
d in
Tan
zani
a,
Sou
th A
frica
and
Afg
hani
stan
w
ith o
ptio
ns in
oth
er c
ount
ries.
31Exa
mpl
e m
obile
mon
ey a
pplic
atio
n
Exa
mpl
e IC
T in
terv
entio
nsTe
chno
logy
re
quire
men
tsTa
rget
use
rP
urpo
seA
dvan
tage
Impa
ct
Mob
ile tr
ansa
ctio
ns
ww
w.m
tzl.n
et/
Dep
endi
ng o
n th
e tr
ansf
er
syst
em, c
lient
s m
ay re
quire
a
phon
e, a
scr
atch
ca
rd o
r an
iden
tify
num
ber.
Farm
ers
linke
d to
fo
rmal
buy
ers.
Farm
ers
linke
d to
fo
rmal
buy
ers.
Wor
ld F
ood
Pro
gram
.
Mon
ey tr
ansf
er s
yste
ms
that
su
ppor
ts e
lect
roni
c pa
ymen
ts
and
vouc
hers
. Pro
vide
s fa
rmer
s w
ith a
cas
hles
s so
lutio
n fo
r ac
cess
ing
inpu
ts in
are
as n
ot w
ell
cove
red
by fi
nanc
ial s
ervi
ce
prov
ider
s.Th
e sc
ratc
h ca
rd h
as a
lso
been
us
ed b
y th
e W
orld
Foo
d P
rogr
amm
e to
ena
ble
user
s to
ac
cess
food
ratio
ns th
roug
h ap
prov
ed v
endo
rs.
Abi
lity
of fa
rmer
s to
link
to
inpu
t sup
plie
rs w
ithou
t ne
ed fo
r dire
ct c
ash
deliv
ery.
Im
prov
ed tr
acki
ng o
f be
nefic
iarie
s, lo
wer
tr
ansa
ctio
n co
sts
for
deliv
ery
team
and
30
%
redu
ctio
n in
gho
st
bene
ficia
ries,
com
pare
d w
ith p
aper
-bas
ed s
yste
ms.
Sev
eral
thou
sand
cot
ton
grow
ers
are
usin
g th
is s
yste
m
in Z
ambi
a. O
ver 2
00 a
gent
s in
ev
ery
regi
on in
Zam
bia
MTZ
L bu
sine
ss c
lient
s in
clud
e D
unav
ant,
Wor
ld F
ood
Pro
gram
me,
CA
RE
, FA
O, C
FU,
Kiv
a, S
DC
, Cel
tic F
reig
ht, I
RD
an
d M
othe
rs 2
Mot
hers
.
Dig
ital i
nves
tmen
t por
tfol
ios
Dig
ital i
nves
tmen
t po
rtfo
lios
Onl
ine
appl
icat
ion
that
of
fers
bus
ines
s pl
ans
for i
nves
tor
supp
ort.
Inve
stor
s fo
r fu
nds,
loca
l en
trep
rene
urs
and
farm
er
grou
ps fo
r B
usin
ess
plan
s.
Abi
lity
of a
don
or o
r inv
esto
r to
send
inve
stm
ents
to id
entifi
ed
and
vette
d cl
ient
s, to
sup
port
thei
r fo
od s
ecur
ity o
r bus
ines
s ne
eds.
Dire
ct m
eans
of i
nves
ting
in p
eopl
e w
ho h
ave
basi
c bu
sine
ss p
lans
onl
ine.
Exa
mpl
e in
vest
men
t por
tfol
io p
latf
orm
s
KIV
A
ww
w.k
iva.
org
/C
ompu
ter l
inke
d to
inte
rnet
for
inve
stor
.
Mic
ro in
vest
ors.
Onl
ine
char
ity th
at c
lust
ers
busi
ness
pla
ns a
nd o
ffers
them
to
inve
stor
s in
an
onlin
e in
vest
men
t pr
oces
s.
Link
s sm
all b
usin
ess
entr
epre
neur
s in
de
velo
ping
cou
ntrie
s w
ith
citiz
en s
uppo
rt fr
om
anyw
here
in th
e w
orld
.
Tota
l Kiv
a lo
ans:
$25
0,01
0,65
0N
umbe
r of K
iva
Use
rs:
1,00
1,83
8N
umbe
r of K
iva
Lend
ers:
63
1,56
4W
omen
ent
repr
eneu
rs:
80.8
4%
Cur
rent
repa
ymen
t rat
e:
98.8
9%
31
31Exa
mpl
e m
obile
mon
ey a
pplic
atio
n
Exa
mpl
e IC
T in
terv
entio
nsTe
chno
logy
re
quire
men
tsTa
rget
use
rP
urpo
seA
dvan
tage
Impa
ct
Mob
ile tr
ansa
ctio
ns
ww
w.m
tzl.n
et/
Dep
endi
ng o
n th
e tr
ansf
er
syst
em, c
lient
s m
ay re
quire
a
phon
e, a
scr
atch
ca
rd o
r an
iden
tify
num
ber.
Farm
ers
linke
d to
fo
rmal
buy
ers.
Farm
ers
linke
d to
fo
rmal
buy
ers.
Wor
ld F
ood
Pro
gram
.
Mon
ey tr
ansf
er s
yste
ms
that
su
ppor
ts e
lect
roni
c pa
ymen
ts
and
vouc
hers
. Pro
vide
s fa
rmer
s w
ith a
cas
hles
s so
lutio
n fo
r ac
cess
ing
inpu
ts in
are
as n
ot w
ell
cove
red
by fi
nanc
ial s
ervi
ce
prov
ider
s.Th
e sc
ratc
h ca
rd h
as a
lso
been
us
ed b
y th
e W
orld
Foo
d P
rogr
amm
e to
ena
ble
user
s to
ac
cess
food
ratio
ns th
roug
h ap
prov
ed v
endo
rs.
Abi
lity
of fa
rmer
s to
link
to
inpu
t sup
plie
rs w
ithou
t ne
ed fo
r dire
ct c
ash
deliv
ery.
Im
prov
ed tr
acki
ng o
f be
nefic
iarie
s, lo
wer
tr
ansa
ctio
n co
sts
for
deliv
ery
team
and
30
%
redu
ctio
n in
gho
st
bene
ficia
ries,
com
pare
d w
ith p
aper
-bas
ed s
yste
ms.
Sev
eral
thou
sand
cot
ton
grow
ers
are
usin
g th
is s
yste
m
in Z
ambi
a. O
ver 2
00 a
gent
s in
ev
ery
regi
on in
Zam
bia
MTZ
L bu
sine
ss c
lient
s in
clud
e D
unav
ant,
Wor
ld F
ood
Pro
gram
me,
CA
RE
, FA
O, C
FU,
Kiv
a, S
DC
, Cel
tic F
reig
ht, I
RD
an
d M
othe
rs 2
Mot
hers
.
Dig
ital i
nves
tmen
t por
tfol
ios
Dig
ital i
nves
tmen
t po
rtfo
lios
Onl
ine
appl
icat
ion
that
of
fers
bus
ines
s pl
ans
for i
nves
tor
supp
ort.
Inve
stor
s fo
r fu
nds,
loca
l en
trep
rene
urs
and
farm
er
grou
ps fo
r B
usin
ess
plan
s.
Abi
lity
of a
don
or o
r inv
esto
r to
send
inve
stm
ents
to id
entifi
ed
and
vette
d cl
ient
s, to
sup
port
thei
r fo
od s
ecur
ity o
r bus
ines
s ne
eds.
Dire
ct m
eans
of i
nves
ting
in p
eopl
e w
ho h
ave
basi
c bu
sine
ss p
lans
onl
ine.
Exa
mpl
e in
vest
men
t por
tfol
io p
latf
orm
s
KIV
A
ww
w.k
iva.
org
/C
ompu
ter l
inke
d to
inte
rnet
for
inve
stor
.
Mic
ro in
vest
ors.
Onl
ine
char
ity th
at c
lust
ers
busi
ness
pla
ns a
nd o
ffers
them
to
inve
stor
s in
an
onlin
e in
vest
men
t pr
oces
s.
Link
s sm
all b
usin
ess
entr
epre
neur
s in
de
velo
ping
cou
ntrie
s w
ith
citiz
en s
uppo
rt fr
om
anyw
here
in th
e w
orld
.
Tota
l Kiv
a lo
ans:
$25
0,01
0,65
0N
umbe
r of K
iva
Use
rs:
1,00
1,83
8N
umbe
r of K
iva
Lend
ers:
63
1,56
4W
omen
ent
repr
eneu
rs:
80.8
4%
Cur
rent
repa
ymen
t rat
e:
98.8
9%
32
32Exa
mpl
e in
vest
men
t por
tfol
io p
latf
orm
s
Exa
mpl
e IC
T in
terv
entio
nsTe
chno
logy
re
quire
men
tsTa
rget
use
rP
urpo
seA
dvan
tage
Impa
ct
My
C4
ww
w.m
yc4.
com
/C
ompu
ter l
inke
d to
inte
rnet
for
inve
stor
.
Mic
ro to
mes
o in
vest
ors.
Onl
ine
mic
ro-in
vest
men
t bu
sine
ss, t
hat o
ffers
bus
ines
s pl
ans
whi
ch m
icro
-inve
stor
s ca
n pl
ace
vent
ure
capi
tal a
t a
desi
gnat
ed ra
te o
f int
eres
t.
Link
s sm
all b
usin
ess
oper
ator
s to
inve
stor
s on
pr
ofit b
asis
.
18,7
36 in
vest
ors
from
112
co
untr
ies
have
lent
�1
4,04
3,24
8 to
7,1
75 s
mal
l bu
sine
sses
in s
even
Afri
can
coun
trie
s.
Cha
in w
ide
info
rmat
ion
plat
form
s
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Pur
pose
Adv
anta
geIm
pact
Cha
in w
ide
info
rmat
ion
serv
ices
Sop
hist
icat
ed
soft
war
e pl
atfo
rm th
at
links
mul
tiple
ch
ain
acto
rs in
to
a si
ngle
sof
twar
e pl
atfo
rm.
Bus
ines
s pa
rtne
rs w
ithin
a
valu
e ch
ain.
Sof
twar
e sy
stem
dev
elop
ed to
tr
ack
and
man
age
busi
ness
in
form
atio
n th
roug
h va
lue
chai
n pa
rtne
rs. I
nteg
rate
s, p
rodu
ctio
n,
proc
essi
ng, l
ogis
tics,
fina
ncia
l an
d sa
les
data
with
bus
ines
s pe
rfor
man
ce m
etric
s.
Com
mon
met
hods
of
mea
surin
g pr
oduc
tion
and
mar
ketin
g pe
rfor
man
ce
that
can
be
shar
ed to
st
reng
then
bus
ines
s re
latio
ns.
Exa
mpl
es o
f Cha
in w
ide
info
rmat
ion
plat
form
s
Mud
dy B
oots
http
://
en.m
uddy
boot
s.co
m/
Com
pute
rs
linke
d to
onl
ine
appl
icat
ion.
Typi
cally
pa
rtne
rs
enga
ged
in h
igh
valu
e ex
port
va
lue
chai
ns
invo
lvin
g se
vera
l fo
rmal
par
tner
s,
incl
udin
g re
tail.
To c
reat
e bu
sine
ss d
ata
solu
tions
th
roug
hout
the
supp
ly c
hain
that
un
derp
ins
the
futu
re o
f su
stai
nabl
e fo
od a
nd fa
rmin
g an
d fu
lfils
our
cus
tom
ers’
exp
ecta
tions
ev
ery
time.
Rea
l tim
e ab
ility
to m
onito
r pr
oduc
t and
fina
ncia
l flow
s w
ithin
the
valu
e ch
ain.
C
redi
ble
met
hod
for
prov
idin
g a
high
leve
l of
food
saf
ety
com
plia
nce.
Sol
utio
ns s
uch
as th
e Q
uick
fire
prog
ram
is u
sed
by la
rge
num
ber o
f pro
duce
rs, l
ogis
tics
and
reta
iler c
ompa
nies
to tr
ack
Clie
nts
incl
ude
Uni
leve
r, H
ome
Gro
wn
(Fin
lays
), w
ithin
m
ulti-
mill
ion
dolla
r sup
ply
chai
n ac
tiviti
es fr
om fa
rm to
reta
il sh
elf.
33Exa
mpl
es o
f Cha
in w
ide
info
rmat
ion
plat
form
s
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Pur
pose
Adv
anta
geIm
pact
Cro
pste
r ht
tp:/
/ww
w.
crop
ster
.org
/
Com
pute
rs
linke
d to
onl
ine
appl
icat
ion.
Cof
fee
and
Coc
oa fa
rmer
s lin
ked
to
spec
ializ
ed
proc
esso
rs a
nd
reta
ilers
with
in
spec
ific
busi
ness
al
ignm
ents
.
Pro
vide
s so
lutio
ns fo
r sm
all a
nd
med
ium
siz
ed b
usin
esse
s in
the
agric
ultu
ral s
uppl
y ch
ain.
Hel
ping
to
impr
ove
info
rmat
ion
acce
ss,
data
tran
spar
ency
and
to m
ake
wel
l-inf
orm
ed d
ecis
ions
in
prod
uctio
n, p
rodu
ct q
ualit
y,
logi
stic
s an
d pr
ice
info
rmat
ion
betw
een
alig
ned
valu
e ch
ain
part
ners
.
Link
ages
of p
rodu
ctio
n,
qual
ity, fi
nanc
e, a
nd
logi
stic
s da
ta u
sing
sp
atia
lly a
naly
zed
data
us
ing
an in
clus
ive
valu
e ch
ain
busi
ness
mod
el.
Sup
port
ing
a gr
owin
g nu
mbe
r of
cof
fee
and
coco
a co
mpa
nies
an
d co
oper
ativ
es in
Lat
in
Am
eric
a an
d N
GO
s w
orki
ng to
su
ppor
t val
ue c
hain
upg
radi
ng
for s
mal
lhol
ders
. Clie
nt
com
pani
es in
clud
e In
telli
gens
ia, T
CH
O, G
ut S
o!,
Gim
me
Cof
fee,
Squ
are
mile
. C
IAT
for r
esea
rch
and
NG
O’s
su
ch a
s C
RS
.
Car
etra
ce
http
://w
ww
.ca
retr
ace.
com
/
Com
pute
rs
linke
d to
onl
ine
appl
icat
ion.
Farm
ers,
reta
ilers
an
d cu
stom
ers.
Car
etra
ce is
a s
impl
e w
ebsi
te th
at
allo
ws
reta
il cu
stom
ers
to
disc
over
the
amaz
ing
stor
ies
behi
nd th
eir p
rodu
cts.
Wat
ch
vide
os, e
xplo
re m
aps
and
view
ph
otos
. Sel
ect a
pro
duct
on
the
right
to g
et s
tart
ed.
Allo
ws
user
to s
elec
t a
prod
uct t
o fin
d ou
t whe
re it
ca
me
from
, how
it w
as
mad
e an
d w
ho m
ade
it.
You
can
also
find
out
wha
t pr
ojec
ts y
our p
rodu
ct h
as
help
ed to
fund
.
Pro
duct
is b
eing
use
d by
the
reta
iler W
aitr
ose,
as
a m
eans
of
conn
ectin
g co
nsum
ers
to
prod
ucer
s.
33
33Exa
mpl
es o
f Cha
in w
ide
info
rmat
ion
plat
form
s
Tech
nolo
gy
requ
irem
ents
Targ
et u
ser
Pur
pose
Adv
anta
geIm
pact
Cro
pste
r ht
tp:/
/ww
w.
crop
ster
.org
/
Com
pute
rs
linke
d to
onl
ine
appl
icat
ion.
Cof
fee
and
Coc
oa fa
rmer
s lin
ked
to
spec
ializ
ed
proc
esso
rs a
nd
reta
ilers
with
in
spec
ific
busi
ness
al
ignm
ents
.
Pro
vide
s so
lutio
ns fo
r sm
all a
nd
med
ium
siz
ed b
usin
esse
s in
the
agric
ultu
ral s
uppl
y ch
ain.
Hel
ping
to
impr
ove
info
rmat
ion
acce
ss,
data
tran
spar
ency
and
to m
ake
wel
l-inf
orm
ed d
ecis
ions
in
prod
uctio
n, p
rodu
ct q
ualit
y,
logi
stic
s an
d pr
ice
info
rmat
ion
betw
een
alig
ned
valu
e ch
ain
part
ners
.
Link
ages
of p
rodu
ctio
n,
qual
ity, fi
nanc
e, a
nd
logi
stic
s da
ta u
sing
sp
atia
lly a
naly
zed
data
us
ing
an in
clus
ive
valu
e ch
ain
busi
ness
mod
el.
Sup
port
ing
a gr
owin
g nu
mbe
r of
cof
fee
and
coco
a co
mpa
nies
an
d co
oper
ativ
es in
Lat
in
Am
eric
a an
d N
GO
s w
orki
ng to
su
ppor
t val
ue c
hain
upg
radi
ng
for s
mal
lhol
ders
. Clie
nt
com
pani
es in
clud
e In
telli
gens
ia, T
CH
O, G
ut S
o!,
Gim
me
Cof
fee,
Squ
are
mile
. C
IAT
for r
esea
rch
and
NG
O’s
su
ch a
s C
RS
.
Car
etra
ce
http
://w
ww
.ca
retr
ace.
com
/
Com
pute
rs
linke
d to
onl
ine
appl
icat
ion.
Farm
ers,
reta
ilers
an
d cu
stom
ers.
Car
etra
ce is
a s
impl
e w
ebsi
te th
at
allo
ws
reta
il cu
stom
ers
to
disc
over
the
amaz
ing
stor
ies
behi
nd th
eir p
rodu
cts.
Wat
ch
vide
os, e
xplo
re m
aps
and
view
ph
otos
. Sel
ect a
pro
duct
on
the
right
to g
et s
tart
ed.
Allo
ws
user
to s
elec
t a
prod
uct t
o fin
d ou
t whe
re it
ca
me
from
, how
it w
as
mad
e an
d w
ho m
ade
it.
You
can
also
find
out
wha
t pr
ojec
ts y
our p
rodu
ct h
as
help
ed to
fund
.
Pro
duct
is b
eing
use
d by
the
reta
iler W
aitr
ose,
as
a m
eans
of
conn
ectin
g co
nsum
ers
to
prod
ucer
s.
34
34 Information and communication technologies for development
Aker, J.C. 2011. Agricultural Economics. Dial “A” for Agriculture: A Review of Information and Communication Technologies for Agricultural Extension in Developing Countries. Available at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DEC/Resources/84797-1288208580656/7508096- 1288208619603/Aker_Dial_A_for_Agriculture_P&S_PAPER.pdf
Asihene, P. and Jouanard, N. 2009. Tradenet User Survey. Send Foundation, internal report. Available at www.sendwestafrica.org/west/index.php
Giles, M. 2011. Beyond the PC: Economist special report. The Economist, Oct 8th, 2011.
Goyal, A. 2010. “Information, Direct Access to Farmers, and Rural Market Performance in Central India.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 2(3):22–45.
Jensen, R. 2007. “The Digital Provide: Information (Technology), Market Performance, and Welfare in the South Indian Fisheries Sector.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 122(3):879–924.
Prahalad, C.K. 2004. The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid. Wharton School Publishing, University of Pennsylvania.
Sibanda, N. 2010. Zambia Scales Up Agriculture E-Voucher Scheme. SciDevNet, November 30. Available at www.scidev.net/en/news/zambia-scales-up-agriculture-e-voucher-scheme.html
Sitko, N., A. Chapoto, S. Kabwe, S. Tembo, M. Hichaambwa, R. Lubinda, H. Chiwawa, M. Mataa, S. Heck, and D. Nthani. 2011. “Technical Compendium: Descriptive Agricultural Statistics and Analysis for Zambia in Support of the USAID Mission’s Feed the Future Strategic Review.” FSRP Working Paper No. 52. Lusaka, Zambia.
Subervie, J. 2011. Evaluation of the Impact of a Ghanaian Mobile-based MIS on the First Few Users Using a Quasi-experimental Design. French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Workshop on African Market Information Systems. Bamako, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2011.
Svensson, J. and D. Yanagizawa. 2009. “Getting Prices Right: The Impact of the Market Information Service in Uganda.” Journal of the European Economic Association 7(2–3):435–45.
Thomas, C. 2009. The occasionally Connected Cloud. Presentation given at the 9th International Nethope Conference, Nairobi (adaptation).
Vodafone and Accenture. 2011. Connected Agriculture: The Role of Mobile in Driving Efficiency and Sustainability in the Food and Agriculture Value Chain. Vodaphone Group PLC, Newbury and Accenture, London. Available at www.vodafone.com/content/dam/vodafone/about/sustainability/2011/pdf/connected_agriculture.pdf
World Bank. 2011. E-source book: ICT in Agriculture, Connecting Smallholders to Knowledge, Networks, and Institutions. Online Edition. Report number 64605. Available at www.ictinagriculture.org/ictinag/node/105 World Bank. 2011. ICT in Agriculture Sourcebook, Connecting Smallholders to Knowledge, Networks, and Institutions, online edition, report number 64605. Available at www.ictinagriculture.org/ictinag/node/105
References
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Chapter title 35
Contact:Shaun [email protected]
Cover image: © CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture @ Flickr