Thanks jalcazar..I checked it out.

Hey Philip,

This other blog post /blog/make-biggest-impact-voice-sms-text/
has some insights on when to use SMS or voice

The notion that ”SMS campaigns exclude the illiterate” is opposed in the sense that exclusivity of the subjects in question is not 100%. Illiteracy is no excuse for lack of understanding with the advent of mobile phones in this era and in this case the use of SMS. Awareness programs have shown that in a group of about 5 people, 1 of them can atleast read a local language. If the receipient of a message does not understand what it means chances are that they will seek a friend to interprete it. In such scenarios where it is envisaged that most of the people fall in the illiterate category, a message that sparks debate on a topical issue is sent and you would be surprised about the response rate.

I concur with engageSPARK that voice would indeed consolidate the already existing efforts given the advantages already mentioned but note that it is also expensive to set up. It would be interesting to study the cost-benefit analysis for the implementation of voice specific interventions in mobile programs.

I believe SMS and voice used in tandem in an assumed ratio of 2:3 can be priceless in the quest to provide solutions to challenges.

The notion that ”SMS campaigns exclude the illiterate” is opposed in the sense that exclusivity of the subjects in question is not 100%. Illiteracy is no excuse for lack of understanding with the advent of mobile phones in this era and in this case the use of SMS. Awareness programs have shown that in a group of about 5 people, 1 of them can atleast read a local language. If the receipient of a message does not understand what it means chances are that they will seek a friend to interprete it. In such scenarios where it is envisaged that most of the people fall in the illiterate category, a message that sparks debate on a topical issue is sent and you would be surprised about the response rate.

I concur with engageSPARK that voice would indeed consolidate the already existing efforts given the advantages already mentioned but note that it is also expensive to set up. It would be interesting to study the cost-benefit analysis for the implementation of voice specific interventions in mobile programs.

I believe SMS and voice used in tandem in an assumed ratio of 2:3 can be priceless in the quest to provide solutions to challenges.

I have to ask why this particular reality has eluded the international experts on development for so long. My own explanation is not very complementary. But better late than never.

There are I believe an increasing number of experts who think that ‘micro bottom up’ is a better approach than the macro top down approach, but bottom up is not encouraged by the powerful elites who presently control most of the important fund flows and would lose much of their power with bottom up success.

I am a proponent of the community as the key entity where quality of life is determined. Initiatives that make it possible for people to be more productive doing things that are needed should be a priority. Flows of development assistance should be judged by the impact on community. The measures that are simply impact on project are meaningless and self serving … but metrics about state, progress and performance of a community have real meaning, and better still can be viewed over time since the community does not go home at the end of a certain time period like a typical project team.

Putting better metrics on top of the mobile platform can be a game changer. Very exciting.

I have to ask why this particular reality has eluded the international experts on development for so long. My own explanation is not very complementary. But better late than never.

There are I believe an increasing number of experts who think that ‘micro bottom up’ is a better approach than the macro top down approach, but bottom up is not encouraged by the powerful elites who presently control most of the important fund flows and would lose much of their power with bottom up success.

I am a proponent of the community as the key entity where quality of life is determined. Initiatives that make it possible for people to be more productive doing things that are needed should be a priority. Flows of development assistance should be judged by the impact on community. The measures that are simply impact on project are meaningless and self serving … but metrics about state, progress and performance of a community have real meaning, and better still can be viewed over time since the community does not go home at the end of a certain time period like a typical project team.

Putting better metrics on top of the mobile platform can be a game changer. Very exciting.