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A private sector 'productivity tool' to eliminate poverty is catching on around the world

Kelli Rogers

April 27, 2017 |

Devex |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Paraguay, Asunción

Fundación Paraguaya is helping drastically redefine the way that poverty is identified, defined, and addressed. Through a simple, interactive, mobile-based survey called "Poverty Spotlight", workers can self-assess their level of poverty. They are then paired with microfinance agents to develop a plan to tackle their own unique challenges, with assistance in the form of training, technology, or small loans.

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The Data Donators

Mukul Devichand Nick Holland

April 18, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom, London, Greater London

Around the world, more and more people are launching projects through mobile apps that use smartphones to collect massive amounts of data for solving chronic issues. By asking thousands of volunteers to donate their data for the greater good, researchers can access data in quantities that were previously unobtainable.

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Rwanda's 'solar smart kiosk' provides digital solutions to rural mobile phone users

Christin Roby

April 03, 2017 |

Devex |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Rwanda, Kigali

Although an estimated 75% of the world's population uses cell phones, in places like rural Rwanda, the availability and costs of electricity to charge them can be patchwork at best. ARED's 'solar smart kiosk' provides a stand-alone cart that runs on renewable energy and serves not just as a charging station, but a digital and internet center for users at the base of the pyramid. The company also ensures training and monitoring support to keep kiosk operators current on the technology.

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What can the sharing economy bring to emerging markets?

Catherine Cheney

March 09, 2017 |

Devex |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

April Rinne, a sharing economy adviser in Portland, believes that new technology and the emergence of the sharing economy has massive potential to connect talent, resources, and ideas around the globe, particularly in the context of advancing international development initiatives. She works with clients around the world to "help the sharing economy realize its full potential" and challenge the assumptions surrounding poverty.

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M-Pesa: Kenya's mobile money success story turns 10

Kieron Monks

February 24, 2017 |

CNN |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi, Nairobi Area

Ten years ago, Vodafone's Safaricom launched "M-Pesa" a mobile-phone based payment system designed to ease transfer of money in Kenya among individuals and small businesses. With a maximum transaction of 70,000 Kenyan shillings ($675 USD), M-Pesa markets "to the base of the pyramid:" not only has M-Pesa taken root in more than ten other countries, but it counts 18 million active users in Kenya and, through access to a mobile monetary payment system, has lifted 2% of Kenyan households out of extreme poverty.

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USPS Could Tackle Food Insecurity

Jen Kinney

January 27, 2017 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

While the USPS has seen a drastic decline in revenues and capacity in recent years due to growing competition from the private sector and social changes, First Class Meal is reimagining the role that this institution has to play: improving national access to healthy food. Using the existing USPS app to connect organizations and food banks that struggle to distribute donations, postal drivers out on their normal routes would pick up donations, deliver to food banks or pantries, and store food in post offices with excess capacity.

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Kenya's booming digital sharing economy?

Harriet Constable

January 05, 2017 |

African Business Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

Though the big players in the sharing economy like Uber and Airbnb are eyeing growing middle class markets like that of Kenya, the concept of shared access to goods and services is nothing new for Kenyan communities. Whereas in the West, the shared economy structure arose largely from a desire for flexibility, in Kenya, much of it arose from need. Now platforms like Lynk and Little Cabs are helping connect Kenyan customers to a broad range of service providers.

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Panic button: how can safety apps for women curb sexual assaults in India?

Priyanka Borpujari

December 12, 2016 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India

Sexual violence is a huge problem in India. The mobile apps and online maps created in response aren’t helping. Why? The tools are unreliable, not integrated with government services, and don’t address the cultural dynamics surrounding sexual harassment and assault.

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Malawi: Combating maternal deaths with innovations

Brian Ligomeka

November 28, 2016 |

Center for Solutions Journalism Malawi (CSJ News) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Malawi, Balaka

Women in Malawi face numerous challenges in reproductive health, especially HIV-positive mothers, and maternal deaths are still rampant in rural areas of the country. Technology is helping change the landscape of maternal health, with devices such as cell phones being used to provide women in rural villages with vital health information, and drones delivering medications where the roads are too rough for emergency services to access quickly.

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As Columbia meal-sharing app stalled, NYU counterpart soared

Rahil Kamath

November 14, 2016 |

Columbia Daily Spectator |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

To address the food insecurity problem among its low-income students, Columbia University launched Swipes, a meal sharing app in which students with a surplus of “meal swipes” could donate them to students in need. But when that app struggled to function and roll out properly, Columbia looked downtown to New York University, where student Jon Chin launched a similarly purposed but more effectively designed app, Share Meals. So far, the app has enabled over a thousand meal donations, and is hoping to work with Columbia to share its code and expand its donor services.

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