Apps4Africa: Mobile Technology and Climate Change
By Louise Fenner
Staff Writer
Washington - "This is a fantastic time for engagement on climate issues," said Mariéme Jamme during a webcast on the Apps4Africa Climate Challenge.
Apps4Africa is a competition that is collecting ideas on ways to use mobile technology to help Africa cope with global warming. There are three regional competitions throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and nine winners will receive cash prizes for suggesting innovative, practical applications for mobile phones, computers or the Web.
Jamme coordinates the Apps4Africa competition for West/Central Africa, one of the three competitions taking place in late 2011 and early 2012. She spoke during a November 3 webcast sponsored by the U.S. State Department, along with State Department Science and Technology Fellow Jeffrey Fox.
By participating in Apps4Africa, "everyone can have their say on climate change issues across Africa," she said.
"The ultimate goal is to make sure that African people are engaged" in addressing their own climate change issues, Jamme said. "We have been listening to the West quite a lot. I think it's time for Africans to start taking ownership of the climate change issues we have on our own continent."
She pointed out that, for the first time, Africa is hosting the annual United Nations climate change conference, which is set for November 28-December 9 in Durban, South Africa. "We cannot go to Durban without having African people deciding on climate change issues," Jamme said. "I will be happy if someone says, 'I did participate in Apps4Africa, I had my say, and now I'm not feeling left out.'"
Apps4Africa and the Adaptation Partnership, an international collaboration that brings people together to address climate adaptation challenges, will make a joint presentation at the American pavilion during the conference.
HOW APPS4AFRICA CLIMATE CHALLENGE WORKS
People can submit their ideas directly to the Apps4Africa website. They can also participate in "brainstorming sessions" that bring together mobile technology experts with members of civil society who can identify specific climate change issues affecting their community, Jamme said.
On October 21, the organization Africa Gathering hosted an Apps4Africa brainstorming session in Dakar, Senegal. (Jamme is co-founder of Africa Gathering.) Others are planned for Ghana, Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There will also be sessions in East Africa and southern Africa, the other two regions in the competition.
Jamme encouraged people in rural areas to set up their own discussion sessions and submit ideas for the competition. "This is not just for big cities," she said.
She said Apps4Africa wants young people to become engaged in climate change issues, with help from mobile technology. "We need to decode what climate change means for them," she said. "Young people say, 'I'm getting all this information about climate change, but what can I do?'"
"Mobile applications, online, Facebook, Twitter, the radio - all those can help young people understand," she said.
The Apps4Africa competition is open only to residents of Africa, but people and organizations outside of Africa can register as mentors and lend their expertise to applicants.
In each of the three regional Apps4Africa competitions, first-place winners will be awarded $15,000, second place $7,000, and third place $3,000. They may also receive support from Apps4Africa partners, such as help with business plan development, advice or investment.
Each competition lasts two months. West/central Africa: October 1-November 30, 2011; East Africa: October 20-December 20, 2011; southern Africa: February 1-March 30, 2012.
(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)
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