apps-for-asia 

You asked us at Microsoft to help you find new markets, identify new needs for your apps and to help you reach out new customers, Well, we're going to do exactly that and what's more we're going to do it in a way that helps you make the world a better a place.

We're launching a new program called "Apps For Asia" - Redesigning Development". The program will connect up the creative power of ISVs like yours with the economic, commercial and social applications needs of governments, NGOs, citizens, and enterprises throughout the region. We're delighted that the Asian Development Bank wil be collaborating with us on this program and working with us to capture the applications needs of its 40 developing member countries.

We'll kick-off the program on 22 January 2013 at Bangsar South City and we'll add to it by including all participating ISVs in a national contest for innovative applications that best address the needs of the Asian Development Bank's members' needs. In addition, to help you develop applications that attract the strongest commercial interest from the bank's membership we'll be providing technical training, development tools and 24-hour technical/architectural support.

The highlight of the "Apps For Asia" - Redesigning Development" program will be a software technology showcase at the Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors in Delhi, India on 2-5 May 2013 (The event is attended by over 6,500 named invitees of the Asia Development Bank's membership). The winner will get an exclusive place in the event to showcase their applications and get access to potential business. The top 3 prizes will include a trip for 1 person to the event. Don’t miss out this chance. ISVs that don't attend the event in person will still have their applications promoted directly to the governments, enterprises and NGOs within the forty developing countries.

For more details, please call 603-62055291 (Alice) or Email to appsforasia@crystaledge.net or check out our MSDN blog here.

Event Details:

Date: January 22, 2013
Time: 9am-6pm
Venue:
Dewan Auditorium Level 1, Menara PNS Tower 7, Avenue 7 Bangsar South City No.8 Jalan Kerinchi 59200 Kuala Lumpur

If you're excited by this opportunity then do the following:

step-two
Go through the summary of the applications needs that Microsoft, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank has prepared and register yourself there.
register
Who to attend:
ISV, Technical Decision Maker, Business Decision Maker, Developer, Student

 

 

If you're excited by this opportunity then do the
following:
step2
Go through the summary of the applications needs that Microsoft, in collaboration
with the Asian Development Bank have prepared above.
 
step3
Download the Windows Azure SDK, documentation and sample code you’ll need
here.
 
step4
Signup for a Windows Azure 90-day free trial here.
 

We look forward to working with you on this great opportunity.

 

Event Sponsors:

 
 
CIVIL SOCIETY ON CHILD AND GENDER ISSUES
Current Situation:
Gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential for meeting Asia’s aspirations of inclusive and sustainable development. Gender equality needs to be pursued in its own right for a just and equal society, and for better development outcomes. We strive for a just world in which all children realize their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity. There is a strong need for equal accessibility to service - some girls are not able to access to facilities only because of gender inequality. They work at home or in the field, for instance, to earn extra money for feeding the family. Innovation can deliver targeted child participation programs to reach the most marginalized and vulnerable groups, including those outside of school, younger children and children with disabilities. Such solutions can go a long way to strengthening the confidence and leadership skills of young people – through projects such as media and journalism –support children to lead advocacy initiatives and make positive change.
Description of Application Requirement:
Provide mobile education Apps that are accessible to children – especially girls – who lack educational opportunities.
Problem/Challenge
Source of Demand
Suggested Solutions
Potential Market
Supporting more children to realize their rights and fulfill their potential.
Address the challenges of exclusion and marginalization to ensure every child benefits from the positive impact of development.
Child safety and security
  1. Mobile/tablet apps for basic reading and writing
  2. Apps for child protection – reporting on safe and unsafe places.
  3. Apps reporting to Interpol or authorities any kind of cases involving abuse, trafficking, etc.
  4. Apps monitor the use of internet or ICT inappropriately such as the violence-based game online or online chatting
  5. Apps to equip the skills for children to know how to prevent or respond to unsafe situations due to internet or mobile connection
  6. Apps for producing their own media - such as radio, music and video and handmade magazines
Health well being and treatments
Children have the right to a healthy start in life. From fighting diseases to boosting nutrition,
Improve the health of children and the society around them
  1. Apps to promote and track community-level health programs include immunization, child nutrition and hygiene promotion
  2. Online parenting skills apps for adults and illiterate
  3. Apps to track and monitor quality reproductive and sexual health education and services to advocate for the rights of children and youths living in a world with HIV
  4. Mobile registration of children (newly born and late registration) and data uploaded immediately into the government database and system. Including use of mobile phone to monitor the status of document application ( MAJA: I can send you UBR concept (but really not for distribution yet)) .
  5. Mobile tracking system for TB patients who need to take medicine for at least 6 months.
  6. Mobile Health surveillance apps
  7. App for a basic banking system in school for deposit and withdraw money. The parents can also borrow the money with low interest to do the small business.
  8. Using mobile phone eg PoiMapper to monitor the integrated programs provided to the beneficiaries on a real time basis.
EDUCATION
Current Situation:
Throughout Asia the primary education level, enrollment rates are increasing; however, this masks other issues in ADB’s Developing Member Country (DMC) education systems, such as inadequate financing and resources, poor learning outcomes, high rates of grade repetition, school dropout, and teacher absenteeism. At the higher education level, there is also burgeoning growth in enrollment and an urgent need for improved quality and access to higher education and TVET. Inadequately educated and trained workers are a major bottleneck for growth and economic expansion for modernizing economies and leads to unemployment/ underemployment due to skills mismatch. Appropriate investments in resource-constrained DMCs will need to catch up for higher education as well as sustaining adequate funding for basic and secondary education.
Description of Application Requirement:
Apps to improve the quality and access of education with improved learning outcome and reduced school dropout
Problem/Challenge
Source of Demand
Suggestion Solutions
Potential Market
Poor quality of teaching-learning. Poor utilization or integration of IT infrastructure (computers and internet)
These are mainly ADB developing member country governments, specifically MOE with a focus on teachers and students. The apps can be implemented by MOE itself or together through bilateral or multilateral projects.
  1. More context-specific, dynamic teaching-learning tools (e-learning and software apps) to make learning more interesting and for teachers to identify gaps in student achievement
  2. E-learning content and programs (HD-installable that do not require internet connection) are relevant to and can be easily integrated into the curricula making use of currently-available IT infrastructure.
Weak targeting and outreach for education and social protection
Same as above; other relevant ministries in social protection, e.g., health,
  1. GIS mapping of school-aged children (population enumeration exercise) to better inform school planning and outreach programs
E-payment solutions for cash transfer to better reach the poor and provide a wider range of social services (as well as financial services).
MOE at various levels (central, regional, provincial/district, etc.); Ministry of Finance and Planning
Cash transfers to poor and disadvantaged/marginalized households for financing school/higher education among other social services such as health care services, poverty alleviation subsidies, social cash transfers, etc.
Weak management of student/teacher records
Same as above
  1. Education information system data entry through mobile app (smart phone based) at school level feeding data to EMIS (useful for routine monitoring at school level or local education office level).
MOE at various levels (central, regional, provincial/district, etc.).
Mobile app would be for uploading/sharing various information on student enrollment, attendance, school fees/ledgers, student performance, other accounting, monitoring and evaluation indicators, etc.
Little to no follow-up on TVET and skills development programs and the status of graduates
Training centers/institutes, TVET apex institutions/governing bodies, TVET graduates
  1. Mobile (non-smart phone, text message based system) and internet based apps to support tracer study of TVET graduates (enabling TVET graduates to register themselves and update their employment status).
The problem is poor understanding of skills/labor market and TVET graduates’ trajectories post-graduation. The app would provide a platform for collecting data that can be used for skills gap analysis for labor market supply and demand, and projecting future labor market/skills needs.
GOVERNANCE
Current Situation:
ICT has the potential to transform relationship between citizens, business, and government agencies enabling better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business, and citizen empowerment through improved access to information and government services. ICT driven OPEN access participation of a wide range of stakeholders in development processes improves governance in public management, reduces corruption, and increases transparency.
Summary of Governance Challenges and Possible Aps
  1. Open access to information
  2. Stakeholder monitoring systems (citizens' participation and complaints mechanisms)
  3. Open access to services and opportunities for stakeholders
Description of Application Requirement:
Apps to drive citizen empowerment through improved access to information and government services
Problem/Challenge
Source of Demand
Suggested Solutions
Potential Market
Citizens lack open access to information
Lack of access to government information is generally true for any governments but worse in developing countries. Demands for access to government information come from the people at the grass roots level. Target users are general population but vary depending on what area do the Apps specifically focus. Strategically, it would be better for the APPs to focus on the areas where potential impact is greater but less resistance from the relevant government agencies for opening up their information. It doesn’t matter whether the project funded by multi-lateral or bi-lateral.
  1. Applications and communication tools for governments to provide information locally and in a timely manner. The kind of information depends on country context but will include information about police/crime, licensing, key events etc.
  2. Apps that simplify and translate complex information into simple information bites for citizens. For example, most people have hard time to understand new laws and regulations that will affect them in everyday life. Also, the App can help “self-help litigators” who cannot afford to pay for lawyers.
  3. Apps and kiosks that empower the poor and vulnerable by sharing information that is easy to understand – even for illiterate adults.
  4. Procurement systems are online with easy access to information on the status and results of bidding
  5. Citizens can file applications for permits online. This is important for citizens who own a small or medium business because their businesses are all dependant on government permits.
  6. Citizens can request and register for participation in information. This function can be used for any government information as long as the government has willingness to open up its data to the people. Some information should be publicized by law without request (land registration information, law information, etc) and some information can be provided by request. Apps can be used for both cases.
  7. GPS savvy applications that share project information and design information/data amongst multiple stakeholders in the areas of urban planning and developments, transportation, etc.
  8. Citizens can check the status of their applications and get a result immediately through mobile phone Ok
In principle, specific solution should be proposed by entrepreneurs and APPs developers based on their own analysis on the market and demands in their target locations. This document only provide a broad guidance in scope when they determine their solutions. Otherwise, their Apps cannot be viable in the target market. I think their Apps should be submitted with the business proposal or market analysis report.
There is often a lack of transparent communication channels to address citizens' complaints on public service. Online applications and monitoring systems for citizens' participation and complaints improves transparency and governance. Open access systems can be used to improve public services where corruption and irregularities is most likely to occur.
Apps that do the following:
  1. Citizens can raise questions, ask for information and file applications for complaints online.
  2. Complaints responses and follow-up actions by participating government agencies are monitored. Monitoring can itself make a big difference in the first place.
  3. Recording and publication, with easy access, of key decisions which affect citizens
  4. Citizens can record their willingness to participate and become key project information focals.
TRANSPORT
Current Situation:
Asia and Pacific has enormous needs accessible, safe, environment-friendly, and affordable transport. Asia’s Developing Member Countries’ (DMC’s) needs have increased rapidly as a result of population growth and the economic progress facilitated by past transport development. ADB has adopted sustainable transport as the guiding principle for aligning its transport operations with the growing needs of the region. While various definitions are possible, a sustainable transport system may generally be considered to be one that allows the basic access and development needs of individuals, companies, and society to be met safely and in a manner consistent with human health. ADB’s Sustainable Transport Initiative (STI) is a change initiative. It focuses on adapting ADB’s transport operations to serve the changing transport needs of DMCs, taking into account the diversity of these needs by:
  1. Mainstreaming sustainable transport in existing areas of operations.
  2. Initial implementation of new and enhanced sustainable transport operations.
  3. Studies and pilot testing of new types of sustainable transport operations.
The use of information technology through intelligent transport systems (ITSs) is likely to be a major tool for sustainable transport in the future. ITSs already include equipment and in-vehicle technology and software for traveler information, transport systems management, driving assistance, and electronic transactions. They can benefit transport managers, users, and the environment by offering improved operational efficiency and reduced travel uncertainty, and can reduce avoidable trips and increase safety.
Summary of Transport Challenges
  1. Last-kilometer connectivity in urban areas
  2. Walkability of public space.
  3. Integrated public transport services.
Description of Application Requirement:
Apps to drive intelligent and sustainable transport systems that are efficient and safe
Problem/Challenge
Source of Demand
Suggested Solutions
Potential Market
Last-kilometer connectivity in urban areas: In order to make the last kilometer of public transport systems viable for much of the population, connectivity on the last few kilometers of a trip is a challenge to overcome. Quite often public transport operating on a main corridor in a city does not extend services into residential areas or certain commercial destinations. The types of services available to address the last kilometer are:
  • Bicycle sharing services
  • Pedicab services
  • Motorized three-wheeler services
  1. An APP would note the location of stations and vehicles providing these services. The APP would indicate the closest service available to the customer.
  2. An APP would also allow the customer to notify the service provider of their request and confirm the dispatch of the vehicle to the customer’s location.
Walkability of public space. There are many mapping systems that note the time and routing options for motorized vehicles. To date, little exists in terms of accurate walking routes and the quality of the walking environment.
  1. Create an APP that would have an “open source” element to it in which individuals can input their observations to create a database of walkability information that continues to grow and improve.
Integrated public transport services. Currently, there are several major transport systems in the region which have developed APPs providing information on optimum routing and schedules. Unfortunately, there is little inter-operability between such systems and usually many informal collective transport services are not included.
  1. An APP tool is needed that reaches across systems to allow customers to access trip information for travel that involves more than a single transit company or a single mode.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Current Situation:
Cities generate over 80% of gross domestic product (GDP) in many countries of the Asia and the Pacific and are engines of economic growth that have lifted millions from poverty, but as they swell in size and number they are under increasing strain. Asia’s cities will become home to another 1.1 billion people in the next two decades as the poor continue to be drawn to better opportunities. Over 200 million now live in urban slums, a number predicted to soar to a staggering 692 million by 2015. Many cities are already struggling with environmental degradation, traffic congestion, inadequate urban infrastructure, and a lack of basic services, such as water supply, sanitation and waste management. Maintaining vital economic growth, while creating sustainable livable cities for all is the biggest urban challenge facing Asia.
Summary of Urban Development Challenges
  1. Over population in slum areas
  2. Growing problem with waste removal/management
  3. Government unable to enumerate the population
  4. Urban poor lack access to government services
  5. Urban poor lack information access to basic service availability (for example water)
  6. Transport corridors clogged with traffic
  7. Participation of all citizens to report needs and/or problems (for example in the urban transport sector)
  8. Urban Health Sector. Inadequate poverty targeting and tracking of health service utilization and quality of health services
Description of Application Requirement:
Apps to drive citizen services in urban areas and to support sustainable and livable cities
Problem/Challenge
Source of Demand
Suggested Solutions ( AV4: Would suggest to switch the columns – 1) Problem/Challenge, 2) Suggested Solutions, 3) Source of Demand, 4) Potential market)
Potential Market
Over population in slum areas
  1. A mapping system that enables governments to identify and manage urban area population density.


Growing problem with waste removal/management
  1. A waste collection monitoring and management system to be used by government.
  2. Mobile phone apps to help waste pickers find best prices for their collection
Government unable to enumerate the population
  1. A way for citizens to register with the government that is easy and cost efficient (possible solution: Mobile phone registration).
Urban poor lack access to government services
Urban poor lack information access to basic service availability (for example water)
  1. Mobile phone or Kiosk based information services (eg. “nextdrop” an App developed in India to inform on what time of the day water will be available)
Transport corridors clogged with traffic
  1. Traffic monitoring/management system.
  2. Mobile phone based apps that help road users..
  3. Mobile phone based apps that help public transport users with information on routes, arrival/departure time
Participation of all citizens to report needs and/or problems (for example in the urban transport sector)
  1. Apps to report conditions of streets, broken street lights etc. (similar to a 311 system, eg fixmystreet – already used by many cities world wide)
Urban Health Sector Inadequate poverty targeting and tracking of health service utilization and quality of health services
  1. Spatially mapping poor households in urban areas for improved outreach
  2. Archive and track basic health records using GIS mapping and unique identifiers such as national ID numbers for adults and birth registration numbers for children
WATER
Current Situation:
Water stress (too little, too much, too dirty) is evident in large parts of Asia and the Pacific region. It affects the region’s food and energy production, and its ecological needs, and adversely impacts on the health and livelihoods of its populations. Climate change and associated uncertainty will exacerbate matters. Demand for water is increasing in response to rapid economic development, increasing urbanization, and the large growth in population and its changing dietary habits. The availability and use of accessible and renewable freshwater will play a dominant role in the sustainable development of Asia and the Pacific.
Summary of Water Challenges
  1. Spatially distributed data is not efficiently collected and processed.
  2. Management of infrastructure requires a comprehensive knowledge of the condition and status of the assets.
  3. Field surveys, mapping of stakeholders and their organizations should be a seamless field to database operation.
  4. 80% of rivers in Asia and the Pacific are classified as being “in poor health”.
  5. Data is collected but information is not made available beyond the immediate agency responsible.
  6. The performance of water utilities is typically measured against a range of benchmarked indicators. This information can be made available to all.
  7. Water utilities often fail to react to emerging events because they do not have adequate control equipment to detect for example burst mains across a large network.
  8. Long-term monitoring and planning for data that benefits the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector as a whole.
Description of Application Requirement:
Apps to solve water availability, cleanliness, access, and demand issues in Asia
Problem/Challenge
Source of Demand
Suggested Solutions
Potential Market
Spatially distributed data is not efficiently collected and processed. Water related assets are widely distributed and generally services are required 24/7. Service providers typically have limited human resources and inadequate resources for monitoring of the status across an entire service area.
Potential users include staff of water supply utilities, local government departments, irrigation and drainage service providers and river basin organizations.
Other users may include general public for reporting of critical damage or routine operational information (such as water levels)
Initial procurement of apps may be development partners and projects for pilot applications
  1. Improved collection, transmittal and processing of condition of water infrastructure assets and services based information (flooding, water delivery, water quality). For example data may be submitted on status of water levels at key measuring and control structures in rivers, canals, reservoirs.
  2. With geolocation features smart phones can provide text and numeric data, pictures, voice and video messages in a two way real-time data exchange. Two-way communication would allow for communication of proposed actions and/or provision of service information. User may include staff and service beneficiaries.
  3. Opportunities for improved use of data and communication feedback improve as technology advances. Semi-real-time feedback may allow operators to adjust structures based on centralized computer analysis of distribution network status – effectively a “manual SCARDA” application.
  4. Amassing data quickly and thoroughly, directly from the underserved populations who are most in need. By improving data collection and analysis improved services in more remote areas of service areas should be possible.
Management of infrastructure requires a comprehensive knowledge of the condition and status of the assets. Whether it’s routine maintenance, e.g. a burst pipe, good asset management systems are at the heart of developing the most appropriate solutions for capital maintenance and expenditure.
Potential users include staff of water supply utilities, local government departments, irrigation and drainage service providers and river basin organizations.
Initial procurement of apps may be development partners and projects for pilot applications. Eventually successful applications may be procured by utilities etc to improve their data management and operational performance.
  1. Map water infrastructure assets and maintain maintenance registers to improve performance of maintenance.
  2. Spatially map the changes in land use and water. The changing landscape reduces water retention areas, increase demand and blocks run off paths. More up to date data will enable improved operations and anticipation of potential development of crisis events.
Field surveys, mapping of stakeholders and their organizations should be a seamless field to database operation. Stakeholder analysis including mapping of the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs) forms the basis for good participatory dialogue on water matters.
Potential users are CSOs, consulting entities, utilities and government departments providing water services in communities
  1. Map Civil Society Organizations and other key stakeholders define their interests in water issues, their expertise, capacities and resources. Improved information on CSOs etc will enable improved stakeholder engagement and dissemination of spatially relevant information during design, implementation and operation of water sector projects.
80% of rivers in Asia and the Pacific are classified as being “in poor health”. Clean and healthy rivers are the basic and essential foundations for sustainable development, viable economic activities, and acceptable public health standards. Most countries have adequate legislation and regulations to ensure water standards, however enforcement of these regulations is frequently ineffective. Increasing the participation of the general public in river water quality management may offer new opportunities to drive improved river health.
Improving governance in water quality management is a challenge that may be amendable to IT solutions.
Reporting by general public stakeholders of unauthorized effluent discharges to receiving bodies could drive increased official vigilance and implementation of existing rules and regulations.
  1. Apps that teach children to change behaviors or society to protect and utilize water in a sustainable manner. Lessons may include impact of various discharges on river health and biota. Illustrations of specific biota that indicate different river health status could be shown so schools could monitor local rivers.
  2. Provide communication platforms for sharing and generating knowledge, consultations and empowering stakeholders - during design, implementation of projects and in subsequent operational phase
  3. Generate and share information across stakeholder groups for example name and shame reporting may drive improved corporate behavior in areas of lax regulation.
Data is collected but information is not made available beyond the immediate agency responsible. Government agencies collect large volumes of data on rainfall, water flows etc. However these data are rarely available in the public domain, limiting the capacity of stakeholders to understand actual water conditions in rivers and reservoirs.
Methods to demonstrate access to basic information through the internet and mobile telephony may provide a mechanism to drive improved information dissemination and thus improved water governance by more informed participation of stakeholders in water management.
Potential users are CSOs, consulting entities, utilities and government departments providing water services in communities
Procurement of mobile apps by individuals.
Central information base will be government or utility owned and maintained – pilot applications may be financed by development partners or government
  1. Publicly available data sources such as mobile phone apps and cloud based apps that enable citizens to access and interact with official data from government agencies – with the capability to comment or submit information such as photos of watersheds or rivers
Communications with stakeholders. Whether it is in planning, design, implementation or monitoring – water projects are about people. Ways to increase two-way communication with water stakeholders would offer the means to improve the outcomes of projects.
Potential users are CSOs, consulting entities, utilities and government departments involved in project development that may impact residents in the area – such as for resettlement
  1. Use social media to share and generate knowledge – such as times and locations of stakeholder meetings;
  2. Send complex messages in simple ways. Send simplified graphics that capture complex data sets to stakeholders; e.g., bar charts showing effectiveness of sanitation measures by location. Information could be sent to public to build support, to decision-makers, to NGOs/CSOs.
  3. Ensure the poor and vulnerable are included. By making information available through cell phones etc ensure all groups can be informed – for poorest may need to identify a representative.
Water safety plans are increasingly being adopted by competent utilities as sound responses to driving universal water safety. The acceptance of water safety plans and their adoption at scale could be assisted by making the broad-scale detail of the plans available to all.
The performance of water utilities is typically measured against a range of benchmarked indicators, including non-revenue water, water supply coverage (by area / customers), service standards (24/7 supply, pressure, water quality), billing statistics, investment plans etc. This wealth of information can be made available to all.
Water utilities often fail to react to emerging events because they do not have adequate control equipment to detect for example burst mains across a large network. However, water users can be potential allies to utilities in terms of reporting emerging events including large bursts, deterioration in water quality/pressure, theft or damage of equipment (e.g. meter tampering, valve apparatus), illegal connections etc.
Potential users include staff of water supply utilities, local government departments, general public, and river basin organizations/NGOs/CSOs
  1. Generate and share information across stakeholder groups
  2. Stimulate acceptance and development of the plans by creating a forum for logging observations and submitting additional information
  3. Mobilize all water constituents to lodge reports real-time to all the utility to react quickly, to maintain service standards and protect assets.
  4. Reporting by general public/NGos/CSOs of unauthorized/illegal activities (e.g., effluent discharges, meter tampering), maintenance issues (e.g. leaking pipes, water quality and flow) for projects, utility companies, and private sector
Tracking sanitation and hygiene improvement outcomes
Potential users include projects, governments, NGO/CSOs, and research institutions.
  1. Evidence based information on the rate of population (or households) that manage to sustain sanitation improvement and behavior Reporting by households on distribution / access to toilets/sinks/potable water and the adoption of handwashing, water purification, and proper food preparation (washing fruits and vegetables).
  2. Enabling households to make informed decision towards sanitation improvement by providing information on the most cost effective measures to reduce the incidence of disease, and to advocate to local government for changes in WASH infrastructure.
Long-term monitoring and planning for data that benefits the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector as a whole
Potential users include projects, governments, NGO/CSOs, and research institutions.
  1. Using community-based reporting and sharing information publicly, and collecting data that contributes to long-term planning and risk management in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector Reporting by general public stakeholders of unauthorized/illegal activities (e.g., effluent discharges), maintenance issues (e.g. leaking pipes, water quality and flow), distribution/access to toilets/sinks/potable water, and areas impacted by flooding or drought could improve monitoring and provide data inputs to improve future planning. Draft Plans could be shared for public inputs.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT for ASIA PACIFIC
Current Situation:
650 million-strong, Asia and the Pacific’s next generation (age 16 – 24) comprise 60 percent of the global youth population. They are expected to exceed 700 million by 2030 to constitute almost 15 percent of the total population of the Asia and the Pacific region.
Economic Empowerment
The 350 million young workers in Asia provide potential for stimulating economic growth through employment, asset creation, and investment. However, if youth enter adulthood without the education and skills they need to realize this potential, unemployment, poverty and social dislocation could rise. Estimated at 36.4 million, the region has the biggest portion of unemployed youth. Furthermore, 152 million young people in middle and low income countries, are paid less than US$1.25 per day, making them part of the working poor. Forced out of school due to economic reasons, 24% of working youth in Asia are doomed into low paying jobs in vulnerable conditions. Left unassisted, these young people are likely to be trapped for the rest of their lives.
Political Empowerment
Children and young people have the right and the capacity to participate in matters that will impact their lives. The future is theirs, therefore they should be given a space on the stage to voice out their issues and contribute to the solutions to these issues. Recognizing and hearing the youth will improve “client power,” making development interventions more responsive to youth. By increasing youth participation early on, they become more likely to have higher ability and willingness to engage in active citizenship in the future.
Description of Application Requirement:
Create mobile Applications that make youth of Asia better poised to benefit from economic, social, and political developments.
Problem/Challenge
Source of Demand
Suggested Solutions
Potential Market
Many young people are outside the formal education system. In cases when young people have never even had the chance to go to school, there is a need to focus first on providing youth with the most basic literacy and numeracy skills through second-chance programs.
Youth and Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s – i.e. Not For Profit organisations/watchdogs which support and drive human rights including education. Amnesty International is an example.
A Literacy / Numeracy training application for youth outside the school system.
Cannot be a mobile smart app because target market is too poor to afford one. It won’t be a standard mobile phone because that won’t afford the rich interface to allow much educational content / interaction. So, expected to be a cloud app that provides a rich, highly interactive and intuitive graphical user interface for PC/internet based consumption.
In the developing world, most students end their formal schooling at age 15. Most students from South and West Asia leave formal education after 10 years at a little over 15 years-old. India is particularly vulnerable where on average, young people receive just over seven years of education. An estimated 759 million people aged 15 and above or around 16% of the world’s population, lack the basic reading, writing, and numeracy skills needed in everyday life. More than half of them live in South and West Asia. Among the working youth in India, approximately one in four is illiterate, and fewer than one in five completes secondary education.
Many young people are uneducated because of caste, class, gender, and location.
Youth, Civil Society Organisations
Applications that are targeted to youth in rural areas with content relevant to their everyday realities: type of mobile, language, and challenges they face.
Gaps between rural and urban areas also reflect unequal distribution of government resources. In India, the wealthiest 20 percent attend eleven years of school, whereas the poorest quintile averages only four years.
There is a lack of suitable jobs for youth with disabilities and there is little or no adaptation of schools and workplaces for them.
Youth with Disabilities (YwD), families of YwD, businesses, schools Civil Society Organisations supporting YwD
Create applications to help schools and workplaces adapt to young people with disabilities. App technologies can help support them in their working environment to enable them to function as productive individuals.
In developing countries, very few of young people with disabilities are able to study beyond primary level as they face particular difficulty in gaining access to both education and work. Culturally, they are also limited by low expectations among families and employers. UNICEF and WHO estimates that one in every ten of these adolescents is disabled. Unemployment rates for people with disabilities are higher than for people without disabilities in every society. According to ILO, in some countries of the Asia- Pacific region the unemployment rate of people with disabilities is over 80%.
Because it requires low skills, many young people are forced in the agriculture sector despite the possibility of agricultural work to being dangerous, seasonal, and insecure.
Youth in rural areas, CSO’s working with youth in rural areas
Applications that train youth to improve agriculture productivity and Improve access to Technical / Vocational training
70 percent of working-poor youth are engaged in the agricultural sector, which remains the largest sector in Asia. Low productivity in agriculture deepens pre-existing social inequities. In China, for example, more than 38 percent of the nation’s workforce is in agriculture, although the sector is the smallest portion of the GDP. Young people’s access to Technical/Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in secondary schools remains very low at 6% of urban youth and 3% of rural youth.
Aggravated by the global economic downturn, youth unemployment rates are high partly because of the time taken to find work.
Youth, Businesses
Applications that help young people search and find relevant jobs. Applications that help businesses to find and recruit young people.
In the case of developing countries, young people do not have the luxury of remaining unemployed so they are obliged to take poor quality jobs that are insecure, low paid and often require long hours. Supporting youth in job search, thus, enabling them to earn a decent wage on their first jobs can have long term impact on their career prospects throughout their lives
Young people’s entrepreneurial skills are not nurtured and capitalized by education. Young people need access to mentors’ experience, market information, and support systems for them to grow innovative and entrepreneurial businesses.
Youth, Civil Society Organisations
Use applications/gaming to educate youth to be entrepreneurial.
Most formal education system pedagogy treats learners as subjects – taught to perform for assessment. Teachers are autocrats of the classroom, and are expected to bear the sole truth, thus, students are to conform. In effect, formal education teaches that mistakes are bad and instill the fear of failure. Given the scale of youth unemployment, entrepreneurship presents a solution with exponential impact. Harnessing young people’s idealism for job creation presents an opportunity for increased innovation, efficiency, and income.
One of the biggest barriers to youth entrepreneurship is the lack of access to financing.
Young Entrepreneurs, Investors
Applications that improve access to funding for youth-led enterprises by supporting preparation of proposals. App can also support matchmaking to potential investors.
Because of youth’s relative inexperience, many traditional institutions remain wary of investing in their ventures. Finding an innovative way to fund young people’s businesses will be crucial for cultivating youth entrepreneurship.
Most youth in urban areas are working in vulnerable conditions in the informal sector.
Youth working in micro-enterprises, Civil Society Organisations, national and local governments
Create applications for skills training adapted to youth’s realities in the informal sector.
Many young people, particularly, young men, migrate in poor urban areas in the hope of a better future. However, most of them have low levels of education and skills that force them into the informal sector as street vendors, waste pickers, construction workers, car repair workers and other low paid, insecure work. Young people must be provided opportunities to improve on their trade and learn new skills to explore new opportunities of earning in the urban areas that they live in.
Young people are not involved in policy and decision-making in matters affecting their lives.
Youth, governments, youth-led CSO’s
Create applications that provide platforms where young people can voice and share their issues, hopes and concerns.
Young people have the right and the capacity to participate in matters that will impact their lives. The future is theirs, therefore they should be given a space on the stage to voice out their issues and contribute to the solutions to these issues. Without hearing the voice of youth, governments and institutions will remain unresponsive to young people’s needs and concerns.
Young people must be empowered without harming the environment they will inherit.
Youth, environmental CSO’s
Create Applications that Educate youth about sustainable development: environmental conservation, green jobs and the green economy.
Remaining to be an unsettling uncertainty, the kind of world that the future generation will inherit is in the hands of policy-makers and leaders of today. The social and economic problems that young people face in the future are aggravated by climate change. With most of the young people working in agriculture, a healthy environment plays a crucial role in ensuring young people have what they need to earn a decent living. Young people in agriculture work need knowledge and skills that enable them to increase productivity while preventing degradation and depletion of natural resources. Along with the emergence of the green economy comes growing demand for people with skills to fill green jobs. These individuals need training in emerging technologies on renewable energy, environmental preservation, research, and other employment activities that preserve and protect the environment.
In many cases, we fail to harness the idealism and passion of Asia’s youth for sustainable development of the region.
Youth, CSO’s, development agencies
Create applications as platforms where young people learn about development issues, and volunteering and leadership opportunities.
Increasing the participation of the Youth sector strongly contributes to sustainable development goals. As a major human resource for development, young people are “key agents for social change and driving force for economic development and technological innovation.” If nurtured and let flourish, their capabilities, dynamism, imagination, belief, considerable energies and vision will become important resources for sustainable development.