This document discusses how technology and innovation in Africa can be leveraged to improve lives in sustainable ways. It provides examples of projects like a solar-powered radio network in Mali, an offline Wikipedia, and a digital patient registration system. These initiatives showcase African creativity and capacity by adapting technologies to local contexts with open source solutions and limited bandwidth. The overall message is that empowering African ingenuity through support of grassroots projects can enable communities to help themselves in more effective ways than short-term aid or disruptive interventions.

1. Aid 2.0
Jeff R. Allen
jra@nella.org

2. Not this Africa...

3. This one!
Great capacity and creativity
is ready and waiting for a
chance to shine.
Source: BBC
Source: Nubian Cheetah, Afrigadget
Source: William Kamkwamba

4. Geek Corps Mali: http://mail.geekcorps.org
Source: William Kamkwamba

5. A solar-powered radio station in a Malian village that
receives audio programs in digital format.

6. ...and sends them on to the next village's radio station via point to
point wifi.
http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/26/water-bottle-wifi-in-mali/

7. Adapt to the context!
Lots of computers, not much bandwidth?
Offline Wikipedia!
http://www.moulinwiki.org/en

9. Le Source, from Kunnafoni
http://lasource.kunnafoni.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZEmakw2OvQ

12. The Baobab Health Partnership
http://www.baobabhealth.org/2007/06/26/patient-registration-video/

19. In summary:
Not like this:
•Expensive food airdrops
•Field hospitals that disrupt local structures
•Self-congratulatory signs that are recycled into stoves!

20. Like this!
Nii Simmonds
African ingenuity and
creativity on display.
Open Source for transparency!
http://www.akvo.org