Democratic Participation

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05.11.12 EKStallings Advocacy Democratic Participation Education Health

For aid organizations, knowing what local communities and beneficiaries want and need is the key to running successful, sustainable programs. In Uganda, UNICEF is using mobile phones and broadcast media to get direct feedback from Ugandans on everything from medication access to water sanitation. The project, called uReport, allows users to sign up via a toll-free shortcode for regular SMS-based polls and messages. Citizen responses are used both in weekly radio talk shows to create discussion on community issues, and shared among UNICEF and other aid organizations to provide a better picture of how services work across Uganda.
 
Sean Blaschke, a Technology for Development specialist at UNICEF Uganda, explains that uReport gathers information from participants and informs citizens of their rights and available services. Recent polls have included questions about school dropouts, water point availability, mosquito net usage, and youth employment, all collected via SMS polls.

The use of SMS makes the program available to all literate mobile users regardless of handset; says Blaschke,

08.28.11 AnneryanHeatwole Advocacy Citizen Media Democratic Participation

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You are an activist, rights defender, or journalist. You use a mobile device. And you work in sometimes risky situations in your country.

This guide will help you implement mobile security practices in your work. It will help you assess the particular risks that face you and then assist you in developing a plan to mitigate those risks. First, we'll cover some of basic concepts. Then, in the second part of this guide, we'll take you through developing your own risk assessment in 5 steps.

We have previously published a Mobile Risk Primer that describes general security vulnerabilities associated with mobile technology and communication. Read it!

Throughout this guide, we'll also highlight the fictitious case of Asima, a blogger and activist in Egypt. Examples of how Asima might complete the assessment worksheet and create a security plan for her work are highlighted in this guide.

Asima lives in Cairo, Egypt and is a blogger and an activist. She used to maintain a blog on Blogspot, but now mostly uses Facebook and Twitter to follow current events, to share information, and to communicate with colleagues. She tweets from her mobile phone while in traffic and at cafes and protests and from her computer when she is at work or at home.

06.10.11 SaferMobile Advocacy Citizen Media Democratic Participation