From the Community: Mobile Moving Us Forward

Part of our #SocialGoodTech series on emerging technologies

It is estimated that 62.9% of the global populations owns a mobile phone. As the world becomes more connected, we have more opportunity to use mobile technology to create positive change. While the potential of this rising technology is great, it also has barriers and challenges. How do we ensure that innovations positively impact everyone? How do we create solutions that are also sustainable?

Organizations like UNICEF, WFP, and Ericsson have been exploring these questions and more. By addressing the complexity of mobile solutions, we can work to create solutions that are effective, efficient, and equitable.

The +SocialGood community came together for a #SocialGoodTech chat to discuss how mobile technology can move us toward the Global Goals. Find the full summary of the conversation on Twitter moments here.

All the answers and solutions below are from you, the community!

Mobile is moving forward many social good sectors. The creativity and diversity of mobile solutions is astounding. From increasing access to cooking fuel to empowering youth to securing land rights, almost every sector has found a way to utilize mobile phones to their benefit.

• Hello Tractor allows small farmers to buy or rent low-cost smart tractors, with drivers, through their mobile phone.
• Cities in Mozambique use mobile phones to protect and restore local mangrove trees, which are essential to the community’s survival.
• Bisa and Medrxapp connect citizens in Ghana with the medical care they need.

While mobile technology is pervasive, we must insure our solutions are built for everyone. Having 62.9% mobile coverage means that there is still 37.1% of the global population without access to mobile innovations. Even people with phones are not able to access every solution — language barriers, illiteracy, and lack of bandwidth or connection can serve as barriers. Mobile solutions must work with local populations to adapt and overcome these obstacles.

• Fairwaves is an affordable mobile network that is easily installed into previously unserviced rural areas.
• The Huffington Post shares six ways mobile technology is helping empower impoverished people worldwide.
• Safecity helps victims and marginalized populations gain a voice by creating space for the reporting of sexual harassment and abuse in public.

Strong partnerships are key to successful mobile solutions. Successful mobile solutions are put together with many moving parts. They must utilize existing or new infrastructure, work within government regulations, and receive buy-in and use from the local community. Strong partnerships are essential to ensuring that even the best ideas are able to be put into action.

• The United Nations partnered with Vodafone to improve health in Brazil’s remote communities.
• Qualcomm has empowered hundreds of mobile solutions, including those in remote areas of Colombia, India, & the Philippines.
• These 15 technology solutions are working across sectors to create progress throughout Africa.

Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation! Remember you can get updates about emerging technology solutions for social good year round by subscribing to the +SocialGood monthly newsletter. Subscribe here.