THE MATCHBOXWhere Transparency and Accountability

Advocates

Get Project Support

WHAT IS THE ENGINE ROOM?We investigate and support the effective use of data and technology in advocacy through:

● Applied research

● Direct support

WHAT IS THE MATCHBOX?An accelerator for NGOs

Strategic and material support

Matchmaking between projects and experts

IS IT FREE?It depends.

We want to partner with great organisations.

If you can pay, we charge on a sliding scale.

If you can’t pay, we fundraise from donors.

It is also very selective to ensure we deliver.

WHO IS IT FOR?Advocacy organizations

Transparency and accountability projects integrating technology into their work

Latin America and Southern Africa (for now...)

...SO WHAT EXACTLY DO WE DO?

Idea refinement

Project planning

Matchmaking

External expertise

GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLESMexico: crowdsourcing public spending

Argentina: tracking bills in parliament

Zimbabwe: water monitoring with WhatsApp

Namibia: visualizing petroleum exploration

WHAT WE LEARNEDwe’ve noticed a lot of patterns in how civil

society, journalists, and advocates can break complex ideas into workable projects

TECH. HUH. WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?Do you really need tech?

What is tech? (Baby don’t hurt me…)

Useful beats shiny every time

Avoid complexity

THINK SYSTEMICTechnology can’t be compartmentalizedinto a single project

Tech culture - learn the basics

In-house technical capacity

Make it last

ONE STEP AT A TIMETaking technology one-step at a time is important to develop smartly

Rushing into a technology overhaul will result in missteps and poor planning

PREP, PREP, PREP.Prep.

Many problems can be avoided by taking enough time to think about a project before implementing it.

GO LOCALDon’t overly rely on international funders and technology support providers (including us!)

Become familiar with technology communities in your city or country.

THINK LIKE A HUMANUser experience is key.

It doesn’t matter what you’re building - you are creating an interaction.

Invest time to make sure your audience will want to engage with your project.

...THEN THINK LIKE A MACHINEWhat will your data model look like?

What’s a data model?

QUESTIONS TO ASKKey questions that you should ask yourself while designing a project. These questions can save you loads of time and help you refine your idea

into a workable project plan.

WHO IS THIS FOR?Obvious, but again and again we see projects that do not explore their real audience.

If you are building a tool for the ‘general public’ then you haven’t done your homework.

The more time you spend unpacking what communities your projects are for, the better your project will be.

WHAT DATA WILL I NEED?Data is the petrol for technology projects.

Understanding what data you will need to get a project moving is key.

Scraping? Crowdsourcing? SMS? Better know that at the outset and plan for it.

IS IT SAFE?Data is information - usually about human beings.

Protect the privacy of your community.

Controversial themes can make you a target.

Have doubts? Ask for expert advice.

AM I REINVENTING THE WHEEL?Are you the only one who tried this?

Hopefully there is someone somewhere who has built something similar to what you are thinking about.

Comparable research and connections with similar projects can inspire and provide you with headstart thinking and resources.

WHAT OPEN TECH CAN I USE?Only start from scratch as a last resort.

Transparency and open source go hand in hand.

There are likely a lot of open source projects that can jumpstart your project.

Meet new people, help a friend.

OUR PROCESSEvery project is different, but there are certain steps that will make any project stronger, more focused and remove some uncertainties.

1.CHECKING ASSUMPTIONS

Hypothesis of change

Brainstorm your assumptions internally

Check them with your audience

2. DISCOVERY PHASEHas anyone else done this?

Is there anything similar I can learn from?

What were their biggest wins?

What were their biggest obstacles?

What tools, resources, communities are out there that can support me?

3. MAKE A PLAN, STANStart with a pilot

Design a broad project plan

Figure out what expertise you will need along the way

Find the expertise

Refine project plan

4. SKETCH IT OUTWireframes

Audience is crucial

Avoid the echo chamber

5. A HOUSE FOR YOUR DATADevelop the data model

Build your database

Put actual data in

6. A FACE FOR YOUR PLACEFrom wireframes to interface

Visual design is your friend

Keep it simple

7. BUILD AND REBUILDTest early and often

Watch it break horribly

Rinse and repeat

Share with your audience

1.CHECKING ASSUMPTIONS2.DISCOVERY PHASE3.MAKE A PLAN, STAN4.SKETCH IT OUT5.A HOUSE FOR YOUR DATA6.A FACE FOR YOUR PLACE7.BUILD AND REBUILD

GET IN TOUCH!thematchbox.io

tiny.cc/matchboxpoint15

@engnroom

@tingeber