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The State of Mobile Data for Social Good Report

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The State of Mobile Data for Social Good Report THE STATE OF MOBILE DATA FOR SOCIAL GOOD REPORT JUNE 2017 1 Global Pulse is an innovation initiative The GSMA represents the interests of of the United Nations. The Initiative mobile operators worldwide, uniting works to promote awareness of nearly 800 operators with almost 300 the opportunities big data presents companies in the broader mobile for sustainable development and ecosystem, including handset and humanitarian action, forge public- device makers, software companies, private data sharing partnerships, equipment providers and internet generate high-impact analytical tools companies, as well as organisations in and approaches through its network adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA of Pulse Labs, and drive broad also produces industry-leading events adoption of useful innovations such as Mobile World Congress, across the UN System. Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Mobile World Congress Americas and For more information, please visit the Mobile 360 Series of conferences. the UN Global Pulse website at www.unglobalpulse.org. For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www. Follow UN Global Pulse on Twitter: gsma.com. @UNGlobalPulse. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT .....................................................................................................2 Pupose of the Report ..................................................................................................................4 Mobile Data in Brief ...................................................................................................................5 Mobile Data for Social Good ........................................................................................................5 Landscape of Mobile Data for Social Good ....................................................................................8 Stakeholders in Mobile Data for Social Good ...............................................................................10 CHALLENGE AREAS ....................................................................................................................12 Lack of a strong evidence base to support investment ..............................................................13 Lack of a shared vision and cohesive implementation mechanism .............................................14 Lack of common approach to data privacy and risk mitigation associated with data use ...............14 Lack of technical capacity globally and in LMICs .....................................................................18 RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................................................20 Identify and build sustainable business models .......................................................................21 Address gaps within the data privacy and data protection landscape and mitigate risks ...............22 Build capacity in the right places ...........................................................................................24 Create global tools for public good .........................................................................................24 PROPOSED MILESTONES FOR 2018............................................................................................26 Design and Conduct an Impact Demonstration Project .................................................................27 Step 1: Bring key leaders from the involved sectors together ....................................................28 Step 2: Build a community-driven roadmap for the impact demonstration project .......................28 Step 3: Secure catalytic funding for roadmap activities ............................................................30 Step4: Create a public-private partnership to oversee the demonstration project .........................30 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................33 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................34 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was produced by UN Global Pulse and the GSMA with support from Vital Wave Consulting. Appreciation goes to colleagues from the two organizations who spearheaded the preparation of this report and provided their expertise in outlining the content of the paper. The report also benefited from the expertise and knowledge of representatives of international development agencies, mobile network operators, civil society organizations and technical data experts. UN Global Pulse wishes to thank the Vodafone Americas Foundation for its generous financial support as well as its technical advice in the preparation of the report. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In September 2015, Member States of the United Nations adopted, by consensus, the 2030 Agenda for Sus- tainable Development. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contained in the 2030 Agenda constitute a transformative plan for people, planet, prosperity, partnerships and peace. A ‘data revolution’ was recognized as an enabler of the SDGs not only to monitor progress but to inclusively engage stakeholders at all levels to advance evidence-based policies and programs to reach the most vulnerable. One of the key sources of data needed to unlock this potential is the range of data generated from mobile networks and devices. Insights about population movements, density, location, social patterns, finances and even ambient environmental conditions can be derived from the data logged in mobile systems. As this data is uniquely detailed and tractable, it can capture information not easily found from other sources at a scale that would be difficult to recreate through other means. Experts across sectors have suggested that despite its potential, the use of mobile data for social good re- mained largely in the pilot phase, a situation common to many cutting-edge fields. While the examples to date are compelling in showing the range of potential uses for this data to serve the social good, including the achievement of the SDGs, the lack of examples that have scaled or become sustainable indicates there are still gaps in the field. This report outlines the value of harnessing mobile data for social good and provides an analysis of the gaps. Its aim is to survey the landscape today, assess the current barriers to scale, and make recommendations for a way forward. The report reviews the challenges the field is currently facing and discusses a range of issues preventing mobile data from being used for social good. These challenges come from both the demand and supply side of mobile data and from the lack of coordination among stakeholders. It continues by providing a set of recommendations intended to move beyond short-term and ad hoc projects to more systematic and institutionalized implementa- tions that are scalable, replicable, sustainable and focused on impact. Finally, the report proposes a roadmap for 2018 calling all stakeholders to work on developing a scalable and impactful demonstration project that will help to establish the value of mobile data for social good. The report includes examples of innovation projects and ways in which mobile data is already being used to inform development and humanitarian work. It is intended to inspire social impact organizations and mobile network operators (MNOs) to collaborate in the exploration and application of new data sources, methods and technologies. The ‘State of Mobile Data for Social Good’ is informed by a series of expert interviews with representatives of the United Nations, NGOs, MNOs, and data experts, as well as by analysis of case studies involving the use of mobile data. It also draws from the body of existing literature, and a number of consultations at recent conferences and workshops related to uses of mobile data for social good. 1 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT 2 The near ubiquity of mobile phones is allowing people to leapfrog legacy communication technologies and tra- ditional information systems. Mobile phones have changed the paradigm for how people obtain services, access information, and connect with friends and family. The number of unique mobile subscribers has surpassed the five billion mark in 2017. Mobile users include nearly everyone in the developed world and 62 percent of the population in low and middle-income countries (LMICs)1. By 2020, nearly three billion people worldwide will own smartphones, and the forecast in Africa for 2018 is double what it was in 20142. Insights generated from mobile phones and apps have already disrupted and transformed industries. For ex- ample, over 277 mobile money services are now offered across 92 countries enabling previously unbanked people to access banking services. In the energy sector, 5.5m people have been able to switch from harmful energy sources (e.g. kerosene) to clean renewable energy through a “pay as you go” solar model that lever- ages mobile money as a key enabler. In addition, a number of apps use data extracted from GPS receivers in mobile phones to pinpoint the geographical location and daily routine of clients to provide relevant services. For example, pushing ads and e-coupons to mobile users based solely on their approximate location has be- come a well-cemented business model. When appropriately aggregated, and with privacy
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