https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/0f39d8b3-8720-4e50-a1ff-0b06082bdb16/1/asongu2017enhancing(2).pdf

Enhancing ICT for Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

The use of mobile phones in poverty reduction and development has ignited much interest over the past decade. To take advantage of the rapid expansion of mobile phones in developing countries, businesses, government agencies and non-governmental organisations are increasingly turning their attention to the delivery of services through mobile phones in areas such as health, education and agriculture. This paper examines how such m-services could be and are already being used to facilitate agricultural technology adoption among farmers in developing countries, including accessing, using and generating income from new technologies. The paper argues that m-services could help to overcome some of the obstacles to technology adoption by facilitating access to information and learning, financial services, and input and output markets. Existing studies assessing the impacts of mobile phones already point to the potential benefits for poverty reduction and rural development. However, there is a risk that the poorest and marginalised may fall behind. Further research is needed to understand how their particular challenges could be addressed through m-services and other support activities, and how they might become active players in the demand for m-services. Such research will need to draw on various disciplines to allow for an analysis of the economic, social and biophysical dimensions of the users, farming contexts and technologies.

https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/88382/1/773376690.pdf

Facilitating agricultural technology adoption among the poor: The role of service delivery through mobile phones

Digitalization to achieve sustainable development goals: Steps towards a Smart Green Planet.

This new flagship report for the
 eTransform Africa Project, produced by the World Bank and
 the African Development Bank, with the support of the
 African Union, identifies best practice in the use of
 Information and communication technologies (ICTs) in key
 sectors of the African economy. Under the theme
 transformation-ready, the growing contribution of ICTs to
 agriculture, climate change adaptation, education, financial
 services, government services, and health is explored. In
 addition, the report highlights the role of ICTs in
 enhancing African regional trade and integration as well as
 the need to build a competitive ICT industry to boost
 innovation, job creation, and the export potential of
 African companies.

The Transformational Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Africa

Educational quality thresholds in the diffusion of knowledge with mobile phones for inclusive human development in sub-Saharan Africa

The dynamic growth of mobile communications technology is creating opportunities for economic growth, social empowerment, and grassroots innovation in developing countries. One of the areas with the greatest potential impact is in the contribution that mobile applications can make to agricultural and rural development (ARD), by providing access to information, markets, and services to millions of rural inhabitants. For both agricultural supply and demand, mobile phones can reduce waste, make delivery more efficient, and forge closer links between farmers and consumers. This report provides policymakers and development practitioners with a guide that facilitates the development and deployment of mobile applications for ARD. It also informs their understanding of the key drivers for promoting such applications and services in their countries. Using James Moore’s (1996) revised definition of ecosystems: economic communities based on interacting organizations and individuals the report identifies a wide range of players in the ecosystem for m-ARD apps, such as mobile network operators, m-app (mobile applications) providers, content providers, and various types of users. M-apps are software designed to take advantage of mobile technology and can be developed for technology besides mobile phones. But mobile phones have many key advantages: affordability, wide ownership, voice communications, and instant and convenient service delivery. As a result, there has been a global explosion in the number of m-apps, facilitated by the rapid evolution of mobile networks and by the increasing functions and falling prices of mobile handsets. M-apps are markedly different in developing countries because they typically run on second-generation (2G) phones rather than smartphones, which are far more common in developed countries. The report reviews country examples and extracts policy lessons and good practices. It also presents detailed studies of cases from Kenya, Philippines, and Sri Lanka, as well as summarizes 92 case studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the development impact, ecosystem, and business models for mobile applications in ARD. The report is intended to complement the recent ICT in Agriculture eSourcebook. One of the main findings is that an enabling platform (or platforms) is probably the most important factor for the development of m-ARD apps. Platforms can facilitate interactions among ecosystem players, increase access to users, provide technical standards, and incorporate payment mechanisms.

Mobile Applications for Agriculture and Rural Development

Mobile money (m-money) refers to the use of mobile phones to perform financial and banking functions. However, the technology is far ahead of the infrastructure of financial and technical network service providers needed for an m-money system to function. This study was undertaken to increase the understanding of m-money and to address key issues in scaling up development of m-money services globally. It examines the potential demand for m-money, national regulatory environments, major obstacles, and the requirements of potential service providers and networks to run m-money services as viable businesses. Four countries - Brazil, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Thailand - each of which represents a different world region, socioeconomic situation, and financial sector context, were included in the study. The countries were analyzed in terms of m-money business models, money flows and demand, potential user perceptions and behavior, regulations, and agent networks. In each country, an m-money service provider acted as a partner institution. To place these four countries in the wider context of m-money developments, three case studies - Japan, Kenya, and the United States were also examined. The size of potential opportunities for m-money were quantified through demand estimates and compared with estimates in the three reference countries. Chapter one provides an introduction to the study's objectives and context, and explains the definition and positioning of m-money used in this report. Chapter two presents case studies of the prominent m-money countries Kenya and Japan, as well as the United States. Chapter three presents an overview of the four country study findings and analysis. Chapter four describes the m-money business models adopted in each country and the challenges that each country faces. Chapter five concludes by placing each country along an m-money demand curve and explains the impact of this placement on the development of an opportunity for m-money.

Steve Esselaar

Papers

Mobile Applications for Agriculture and Rural Development

IFC mobile money study 2011 : summary report

Mobile Applications for Agriculture and Rural Development