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Technology for International Development and Human Security. A Brief History of the Sentinel Project. Founders had a background in Darfur-related activism 2008 – Started by recent grads at the University of Waterloo 2010 – Concept began growing into a Toronto-based team
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Technology for International Development and Human Security
A Brief History of the Sentinel Project Founders had a background in Darfur-related activism 2008 – Started by recent grads at the University of Waterloo 2010 – Concept began growing into a Toronto-based team Gradually grew countries monitored and technology projects 2013 – Launched first fieldwork in Kenya
To actively assist people worldwide wherever and whenever they are threatened by mass atrocities. Innovative use of technology Cooperation with threatened communities
Why is technology relevant to international development, human rights, and security? Opportunities Risks Defenders Violators
Technology by the Numbers • 5:1 - Mobile phone subscriptions greatly outnumber landlines and growing 6,400,000,000 Mobile subscriptions 4,500,000,000 Unique mobile users 2,700,000,000 Internet users
Guiding Principles • Techno-realists NOT techno-utopians • Principles keep us focused: • The 10/90 rule - Behaviour is more important than tools • Ensure accessibility
Guiding Principles • Take a people-centred approach • Link technological tools to real-world action
Business Innovation Supports ICT4D Africa is home to many technologists and entrepreneurs For-profit innovation provides more tools for development and civil society M-Pesa provides basic financial services to those without bank accounts
iCow – Mobile Agricultural Updates Guides farmers on effective cow and chicken rearing practices Subscribers receive 3 SMS tips per week for 3 shillings each Advice is customized to individual needs Calendar and veterinarian locator also available Available in English and Swahili
Crowdsourcing and Crisis Mapping Reports from general population Put into geographical context for better situational awareness and response Faster data gathering but may be inaccurate
Tana Delta – Interethnic Massacres (2012-2013) Orma (pastoralists) and Pokomo (farmers) 160+ people killed Many more wounded Tens of thousands displaced Heavy police and military presence Election seemed to escalate violence
Tana Delta – Field Survey (February 2013) Acted as election observers Visited the Tana Delta to understand violence Why did it happen? How did it happen?
Tana Delta – Misinformation is Key Information-starved environment Most news travels by word-of-mouth Most people poorly informed about the area • “Orma herders have intentionally grazed their cattle on Pokomo farms.” • “A Pokomo health worker has tried to inject Orma children with poison instead of vaccine.” • “Someone has given the Orma 3,000 AK-47s to destroy the Pokomo and drive them off the land.”
UnaHakika – How It Works Crowdsourced Rumour Reports Verification Accurate, Neutral Info to Community
UnaHakika – Baseline Survey • What technologies do Tana Delta residents use? • How do they receive information? • How do they think about information? • How do they think transmit information?
Survey Results 45% are internet enabled 82% own a mobile phone 31% use the internet 80% of mobile phone owners live in multi-phone households 28% use Facebook 2.25 phones per multi-phone household
71% strongly believe that rumours have contributed to violence Survey Results Percentage who feel "highly" well informed about events at own village, neighbouring village, county, and national levels 61% heard news they felt was not completely true in the previous 12 months 49% took no action to check if doubtful information was indeed true
UnaHakika – What’s Next? Time to put it into action Returning in May to actively promote the service Public communications to build subscriber base Recruiting and training community ambassadors
