ABSTRACT

Much research on ‘mobiles for development’ focuses on outcomes and impact of services. This paper focuses on the underlying business models. It draws on two case studies as part of a UK Aid funded evaluation of the GSM Association led mNutrition programme. Vodafone Farmers Club in Ghana provides agricultural and nutrition information via SMS and Wazazi Nipendeni in Tanzania is a maternal and child health SMS service. The paper presents the salient points of the two contrasting business models, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of both. The merits of the different approaches depend on the principle motivation, but when it comes to delivering positive outcomes among the poorest, the weight of evidence appears to be in favor of an independent, third party driven model.

摘要

许多关于“移动促进发展”的研究都集中在服务的结果和影响上。本文重点关注底层商业模式。它借鉴了两个案例研究，作为英国援助资助的 GSM 协会领导的 mNutrition 计划评估的一部分。加纳的沃达丰农民俱乐部通过短信提供农业和营养信息，坦桑尼亚的 Wazazi Nipendeni 是一项母婴健康短信服务。本文介绍了两种截然不同的商业模式的要点，强调了两者的优势和劣势。不同方法的优点取决于主要动机，但在最贫困人口中取得积极成果时，证据的重要性似乎有利于独立的、第三方驱动的模式。