Page 22 - index
P. 22
BEST PRACTICES & STRATEGIES
Mobile phones are transforming emergency response in
developing countries by unlocking untapped reserves of
local knowledge, resourcefulness and creativity
A new report "Connected Citizens - Managing Crisis" smartphones are now below US$80 in many parts of
from Developing Telecoms, an online media channel that Africa and Asia - and cheap pay-as-you-go voice and
serves the information needs of telecom professionals in data access is the norm. Thanks to mobile phone net-
emerging markets, shows how mobile network coverage works internet coverage now extends beyond the main
enables those directly impacted to collaborate in order to urban centers for the first time.
help themselves and others more quickly and effectively
than external aid agencies. During crises such as natural disasters and conflicts,
connected citizens in developing countries are finding
The overall goal is to speed up response, improve aid new solutions to traditional challenges. Firsthand expe-
delivery and reduce both the short and long term impact rience of these events provides a greater understand-
of disasters, by maintaining mobile network coverage ing of the immediate needs. The ability to access infor-
that enables connected citizens to become active part- mation and communicate with those affected provides
ners in recovery and reconstruction, rather than passive connected citizens with a much better understanding of
recipients of aid. scope and extent of disasters, allowing them to find and
implement solutions much more quickly than external
The report uses examples from recent crises in Afghani- aid agencies have previously been able to.
stan, Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, the Philippines and West
Africa, and aims to help aid agencies working more effi- The report details several examples of this new trend.
ciently by better targeting the areas of greatest need and In Iraq, for instance, mobile network operators collabo-
more accurately identifying requirements. rated to set up a single short code SMS hotline to feed
information back to a dedicated call center about the
Fact is, that mobile phone use in developing countries is needs of displaced persons in response to user re-
growing fast and better network coverage as well as fall- quests. Similarly, during the Nepalese earthquake, mo-
ing handset prices mean most people in developing bile operator Ooredoo reacted to user needs by setting
countries have access to a mobile phone, even if they up a satellite link to reconnect families using a mobile
don't own one. In addition, Internet-enabled smartphones phone internet connection.
are becoming widespread - the cheapest Android
22 Asian eMarketing October 2015: Mobile Marketing
Mobile phones are transforming emergency response in
developing countries by unlocking untapped reserves of
local knowledge, resourcefulness and creativity
A new report "Connected Citizens - Managing Crisis" smartphones are now below US$80 in many parts of
from Developing Telecoms, an online media channel that Africa and Asia - and cheap pay-as-you-go voice and
serves the information needs of telecom professionals in data access is the norm. Thanks to mobile phone net-
emerging markets, shows how mobile network coverage works internet coverage now extends beyond the main
enables those directly impacted to collaborate in order to urban centers for the first time.
help themselves and others more quickly and effectively
than external aid agencies. During crises such as natural disasters and conflicts,
connected citizens in developing countries are finding
The overall goal is to speed up response, improve aid new solutions to traditional challenges. Firsthand expe-
delivery and reduce both the short and long term impact rience of these events provides a greater understand-
of disasters, by maintaining mobile network coverage ing of the immediate needs. The ability to access infor-
that enables connected citizens to become active part- mation and communicate with those affected provides
ners in recovery and reconstruction, rather than passive connected citizens with a much better understanding of
recipients of aid. scope and extent of disasters, allowing them to find and
implement solutions much more quickly than external
The report uses examples from recent crises in Afghani- aid agencies have previously been able to.
stan, Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, the Philippines and West
Africa, and aims to help aid agencies working more effi- The report details several examples of this new trend.
ciently by better targeting the areas of greatest need and In Iraq, for instance, mobile network operators collabo-
more accurately identifying requirements. rated to set up a single short code SMS hotline to feed
information back to a dedicated call center about the
Fact is, that mobile phone use in developing countries is needs of displaced persons in response to user re-
growing fast and better network coverage as well as fall- quests. Similarly, during the Nepalese earthquake, mo-
ing handset prices mean most people in developing bile operator Ooredoo reacted to user needs by setting
countries have access to a mobile phone, even if they up a satellite link to reconnect families using a mobile
don't own one. In addition, Internet-enabled smartphones phone internet connection.
are becoming widespread - the cheapest Android
22 Asian eMarketing October 2015: Mobile Marketing
