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Jokko Initiative: Mobile Technology
Amplifying Social Change
Tostan's experience and successes have shown that communication is critical to the spread of positive social change; in particular, the kind of communication that encourages the diffusion of ideas between individuals, through family networks, across regions, and into the diaspora. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to reach large numbers of people in rural areas due to a lack of financial resources, transportation infrastructure, and communication technology.
The internet and mobile phone services are rapidly becoming more widespread and are beginning to present a solution to this problem. Mobile phones are increasingly serving as the platform for services provided by governments, health clinics, schools, and banks. Access to information in the developing world is still limited and most rural communities are still "offline" and excluded from the benefits that online networking has to offer.With mobile phone networks now able to reach the vast majority of African citizens, and mobile phones already commonplace even in the most remote villages, SMS technology is a promising platform for more powerful and inclusive systems of communication. What’s more, this expansion is creating a new demand for literacy, and providing the perfect tool for training—cell phones are a means for people to learn and practice literacy skills daily, in a way that is relevant to their lives.
With the launch of the Jokko Initiative, Tostan and UNICEF have formed a partnership that positions them at the forefront of SMS-based innovation, focusing on empowering people to harness the power of accessible mobile technology to improve their lives and those of their children. This partnership links UNICEF’s reach, resources and technical expertise with Tostan’s grassroots experience and understanding of local realities and challenges. Together, they are seeking creative solutions to the issues facing Africa and the world’s rural populations.
The Jokko Initiative: A Two-Phase Approach
Phase One – A Model for Teaching the Basics
Tostan is adding a new component to its Community Empowerment Program (currently reaching over 800 communities in eight African countries), to teach the practical uses of standard cell phone capabilities and SMS texting.
Tostan has seen that mobile phones and SMS texting can:
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Provide a more economical means of communication than a phone call;
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Serve as a practical tool for learning and reinforcing literacy and numeracy skills;
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Offer other applications to practice the organization and management skills that are taught in their program
Tostan’s long-standing emphasis on the inclusion of women and girls in CEP classes ensures that those populations most at risk of exclusion from the benefits of technological advances will be reached. The Jokko Initiative will provide a new generation of girls with access to the valuable tools of communication technology, and training in its applications for community engagement and positive social change.
Phase Two – Develop Practical Applications
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he Jokko Initiative also aims to provide practical SMS-based applications. Placed within a program of community-led development, mobile phones and SMS texting have the potential to accelerate positive social change, by:
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Connecting women with each other and with their communities, helping to build consensus on local development priorities;
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Amplifying the voice and influence of youth and marginalized groups, in a community's decision-making process;
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Providing a platform for exchanging information, broadcasting ideas and organizing advocacy work;
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Accelerating social interaction and facilitating large-scale and significant cross-group effects at community and societal levels
To these ends, the Jokko Initiative is identifying mobile services that exist to serve the needs of rural communities, as well as developing new mobile applications as they are needed.
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