Kenyans meet for global conversation on tech for social good

Alicia Keys attends the 2014 Social Good Summit at 92Y on September 21, 2014 in New York City. AFP PHOTO | TAYLOR HILL

Kenyans are set to meet up in Nairobi for the “Social Good Summit”, an online global conversation that explores how digital technology can be used to build a better future for the good of the society.

Thousands of people worldwide every year take part in the summit held in New York, in which participants engage on the most pressing social issues.

The event is held during UN Week and it draws both global leaders and grassroots activists to discuss solutions to the greatest challenges facing the world today.

This year’s theme #2030NOW asks the question “What type of world do I want to live in by the year 2030?”

In Kenya, the event will be held at Strathmore University on Monday from 4pm and will discuss how technology is influencing development now and for the future.

CASHLESS ECONOMY

“The main aim of the event is for participants to discuss the impact of technology and social media on development, and to connect people in order to keep the momentum going,” said James Ochweri, the multimedia officer at United Nation Development Programme-Kenya.

The event, organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-Kenya) and the United Nation’s Foundation, will be graced by technology and development experts who will discuss issues ranging from digital economy, youth activism, solar energy, conservation, GPS/satellite applications and how the African continent is reported.

In Nairobi, participants will hear about how the cashless economy is not taking a life of its own as panellists discuss, among other issues, Bebapay - the cashless fare application being implemented by the government in Kenya.

Environmental activists at the forefront of protecting Africa’s elephants will speak on their efforts to stop poaching.

With Africa’s elephant and rhino population decreasing at alarming rates, Trezer Ogunda of Save the Elephants and Njambi Maingi of Hands off Our Elephants will discuss the challenges and solutions to the problem.

The Social Good Summit held against the backdrop of UNGA’s annual meeting aims to create a global conversation that is open, democratic and accessible to all unlike the closed UN’s meeting.

HOSTED THE EVENT TWICE

Nairobi has hosted the Social Good Summit twice, in 2011 and 2013.

In the first summit, Safaricom discussed M-pesa – the successful mobile money transfer platform - which now has been exported to parts of Europe, including Romania, where it was launched in March 2013.

Safaricom’s former CEO Michael Joseph launched the maiden roll-out in 2013, saying “the launch was the first of several planned in central and eastern Europe.”

The mobile money service has also been introduced in Egypt, India, Lesotho, and Mozambique. Other countries where M-Pesa is in use include South Africa, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“It is such disruptive technologies and ideas that energise the Social Good Summit. This is an event for those in technology and development to network and keep the momentum going so that we can connect people and for good,” said Mr Ochweri.