The global revolution in low costinformation and communication technologies can help addresssome of the developing world's oldest challenges inwater and sanitation. More people today have access to amobile phone than to a toilet. Convergence of widespreadmobile phone ownership with new mobile commerce and locationaware services offer new platforms for reach, transparencyand participation in achieving water security. WaterHackathon had four interim objectives: (i) creation of anetwork of atypical partners engaged in finding solutions towater-related challenges, (ii) preparation of a list ofchallenges facing the water sector, (iii) development of newapplications designed to address these challenges, and (iv)adoption of new applications and codes in World Bankprojects. The openness of the approach attractedconsiderable attention from within the water community andalso from print and online media, including blogs and socialnetworks, which traditionally do not feature water content.'This was the new Egypt at work,' said oneparticipant in Cairo. Water Hackathon offered a low-cost,high-reward opportunity to open up water sector challengesto the talent and creativity of the ICT design anddevelopment community. This approach also required a changein mindset for the World Bank, calling for greater openness,experimentation and tolerance of failure.
PDF
download
878987797
028-85220240
