IMPROVING COMMUNICATION LINKS.

Poor communication strategies/links which have resulted to low access to the digital economy. Solutions to this include: use of integrated systems such as GIS and remote sensing. Reducing tax imposed on bodies that provide communication/vital information to the public. The government should invest in allowing the public access to knowledge and skills needed  in the digital economy. By  embracing the use of software such as Google Earth and QGIS. By embracing innovative ideas from the public that prop the growth of digital economy. By diversifying the use of devices such as mobile phones. This will globally  create employment, bring more communities closer and enlighten more people on the digital economy and impart more skills among the people. This will also lead to the growth of the economy worldwide.

Inadequate information on systems that link societies in the digital economy as a result of poor communication. This affect many people globally and locally especially in rural areas more people are affected..  This is as a result of : inadequate  enlightenment of people, lack of qualified personnel to provide the right knowledge and skills to the people, poorly done or unfinished projects that tend to bring people close when it comes to accessing digital economy, putting perpetrators at frontlines of projects that aim to improve communication ,failure of communication between organizations. If communication can fail, it will fail. If communication is given a possibility to fail, it will most certainly utilize the opportunity. If messages are formed with haste, negligence or inexperience, the communication most probably will fail.(Wiio,2009,53)

According to Bonne(2000)communication has three main functions. The first one is to connect different people in and around the organization. Connecting can be via some media/direct face to face communication, but in order to communicate people need to be connected first. After people are connected, communication is about informing. The third important aspect of communication is to engage people. Engaging means that all people are willing to share the creation and implementation of the ideas. 

Solution Description 

1. Use of integrated systems such as Google Earth and QGIS. This entails computer based software that is integrated with other fields such as geospatial or remote sensing to provide geographical information and indicate some effects of certain projects in the environment. This requires qualified personnel for efficiency. 2.  Use of people who show interest in running projects that aim to bring more light in the society as far as communication is concerned and not those with malicious intentions. 3. Ensure clear and continuous communication between organizations so that that conflicts or communication failure doesn't result. 4. Propping establishment of cyber cafes in rural areas so that residents can have access to the internet at a low cost in order for them to stay informed about digital economy. 5. Running campaigns that support distribution of electricity in remote areas so that people can easily operate devices that connect them to others such as mobile phones. 6. Forming groups that will educate people on how to diversify the use of their mobile phones especially smart phones for activities such as networking  which can connect them and also earns them income. 7. Getting support from the government and NGOs.

Target population :Those in refugee camps irrespective of gender and financial status,school children in remote areas both in primary schools and secondary schools, sick patients in health facilities both in rural areas and urban areas and finally those who are less fortunate in developing countries. These are people who have deficiency when it comes to acquiring the right personnel, funds, resources needed such as smart phones, computers, electricity and so on to enable them have easy access to digital economy. This people lack what is needed to access services/products in the digital economy hence they need support to be able to acquire them. 

What's being done to understand their needs and how they are being engaged : a)  use of questionnaires to get quality data on supply of electricity in remote areas.  b)  use of questionnaires to get enough data how people in refugee camps access communication services e. g., by finding out how many have smart phones. c). using questionnaires to collect data on the most demanded products and services in these areas yet they are less supplied by the digital economy due to either poor communication,poor infrastructure or deficiency in the required resources. e). Conducting surveys in health facilities to see the technology available and the services rendered to patients when it comes to digital economy.  f). Getting quality data from refugees, school pupils/students in schools, patients in hospitals on the services they feel they are yet to get access to in the digital economy by use of questionnaires. g). Getting views from those in rural areas ,refugee camps and less developed countries on what they are lacking in order to have access to digital economy and how they think/feel the government/any other interested organization should step in and help. h). Getting data by use of interviews with those who reside in refugee camps, rural areas and less developed countries on what they think needs to be improved/removed/subsidized when it comes to infrastructure and on resources needed for their easy access to digital economy. 

Addressing their needs(impact on their lives) :

1. This will ensure that those in rural areas, refugee camps and developing countries have satisfying information, services or products from digital economy. 2. This will create room for employment as personnel is needed to educate the refugees, those in rural areas,those in developing countries and also personnel is needed to run computer based operations such as GIS. 3.This will give room for more investment opportunities in rural areas and developing countries such as opening and running of cyber cafes.  4. There will be easy movement of vital information needed by those in hospitals, refugee camps,rural areas and developing countries concerning digital economy. 5.This will support development of infrastructure in rural areas and developing countries hence creating room for easy connection and movement of people, services, and products in the digital economy. 6. This will improve livelihood of those in rural areas, refugee camps, developing countries and health facilities as it creates diversed employment opportunities such as online networking. 7. This will lead to general growth of the economy as more people will get a chance to share their innovations and ideas which prop economical growth such as use if mobiles/media to enlighten people on how to grow a certain crop which is economically important. 8. This will bring in place a more educated nation as peoe can easily access educational programs in the digital economy. 

This align with the challenge in that:

1. There is a big need to educate people.  According to the studies more than half management problems in projects are more or less caused by poorly looked-after communication (Ruuska, 1996)  2. poor communication systems which results to conflicts sometimes.  If a message can be interpreted in several ways, it will be interpreted in a manner that maximizes the damage. Misunderstandings can cause mislead work performances or conflicts between people. (Wiiio, 2009,62)  3. low  communication competence, "communication competence can be improved by practicing and repeating,,," (Wiio, 2009,79)  

This solution intend to bring light to those in rural areas m, refugee camps and in developing countries.  The main goal is to ensure that, there is sustainability in enabling access to refugees, those in rural areas and the less fortunate in developing countries in the digital economy.  This also aims at making plans with ambitious broadband long-term vision. This also aims to ensure there is a significant increase/improvement the communication sector with goes hand in hand with the digital economy. 

The solution is innovative in a way that, it applies use of computer based systems such as Google Earth and QGIS which with the right personnel to operate can provide more useful information such as geographic location on maps in order to link more people, mapping of those areas that are still lagging behind when it comes to clear communication links in order to enable them easy access to the  digital economy because once the areas are known, the right measures can be established to prop communication links. This computer based systems are also able to monitor changes and impacts of human activities on the environment in the areas hence the right measures to ensure less/no ecosystems degradation as a result of anthropogenic activities are put in place, ecosystem degradation is a big hinderance to effective and long lasting  economic growth. For a faster growth in the digital economy to be achieved  , there has to be a healthy environment that provide the right ecosystem services such as clean air and in order to enable people to easily connect and communicate. This will broaden the market as people prefer to connect and operate in a clean and safe environment rather than a polluted one. Therefore, in order to enable more people to have access to the digital economy, the measures to monitor and mitigate on environmental impacts that result from the growing economy should also be carefully considered. 

those being served now: around 54,750 people.

in 5 years= 273,750 people.

Indicators

1. The number of weekly classes run is increasing. 

2. The number of those who complete the weekly classes ia increasing. 

3. The number of those who have access to the digital economy from the target group is rising.

4. Degradation of the environmentall as a result of human activities is lowering to lower rates. 

5. The number of ecosystems that have bren restored ia rising.

6. The rate of human activities that result to degradation of ecosytems has lowered.

1. Full time - 10

2. Part time - 5

3. Contract- 10-20, 

The team is comprised of graduates and undergraduates with skills in data collection ,data analysis, photographing, ability to input data into computer based softwares and analyse it. The team also contains potential stakeholders from rural areas, refugee camps, health facilities and developing countries who partcipate in collection of quality data to support the thriving of the project. The stakeholers being part of the target group, they provide the required information  to get the project moving which includes needs, demands and ideas which need to be considered in order to achieve the objectives of the team. This enables the team to know what needs to be added to the solution, what needs to be strengthened to make the solution more effective, which approaches to apply so as to solve the problem and which loop holes need to be sealed so as to maximise the effect of the solution. 

The team also comprise of experts who are equipped with wisdom, knowledge and ss to produce decent work when it comes to solving the problem at hand.  This include GIS experts. 

The team is made up of ambitious workers who love what they do and are comnitted to ensuring that those from the target groups have been reached and helped appropriately. 

1. Diversity: people working on the team are from multiple of disciplines such as those with skills in: information technology, natural resource management, GIS and remote sensing, teaching,  electrical engineering, communication (media) and computer science.  This enables the team to achieve the goal of having an integrated managenent system which will enhance the number of those who access the digital economy from the target groups.

Equity: the team is made up of both women and men irrespective of tribe, financial status, among others,  who work together towards achieving the goals of the project for instance, ensurung that there is smooth communication between different parties involved in order to improve communication links.

Inclusion: all the potential stakeholders from the target groups are given a chance to participate in data collectikn, provision of essential information needed to run the project and also they benefit from the project's solution which motivates them hence enabling them to develop a positive attitude towards the project. 

Barriers 

1. Lack of qualified personnel who are able to operate computer based systems such as Google Earth and QGIS. 

2. poor supply of electricity in remote areas,developing health facilities, developing countries and refugee camps which makes it impossible for communication to run continuously and smoothly. 

3. Lack of knowledge, skills and techniques among those in rural areas, refugee camps and less developed countries which hinders them to access digital economy. 

4. Failure of the government to intervene fully in matters that  support those in rural areas, refugee camps, health facilities and less developed countries when it comes to enabling them easy access to digital economy. 

5. More and more communications from the media which leads to misunderstandings in different communities, refugee camps  less developed countries and in health facilities. 

6. Low living standards which cannot allow people in rural areas, refugee camps,health facilities and in less developed countries to have access to the digital economy. 

7. Poor infrastructure which doesn't enhance effective connection of people in rural areas, refugee camps, health facilities and developing countries, leave alone connecting them in the digital economy. 

Solve can help me overcome by providing more insight on what needs to be done to improve communication links, it can also step in and help in selection of those who can actively participate in propping communication in the areas by administering of  challenges, solve can also step in and provide funds which can help in acquiring the right personnel and resources to ensure smooth communication. 

1. more computer based systems are needed in order to provide enough and efficient services to beneficiaries therefore support is needed in when it comes to purchasing of the computers and payment of those who provide manpower.

2. more expertise are needed who can help in educating the beneficiaries and rendering of more other services required.

3. more facilities are needed where computer based systems can be installed and get working in order to prop the project's success in several locations.

4. web development and design is still pending as a result of financial constraints.

5. data collection should be participatory, meaning that stakeholders have to be involved in data collection in order to come up with the right services and products that can satisfy their needs without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet theirs. sustainable development can only be achieved if the ecosystems providing the services and those who benefit from them are put into consideration. Therefore, more funds are needed in order to invest more in ecosystem approach of management.

Those we would like to partner with include:

1. Safaricom company in Kenya which can enhance communication services for smooth running of the project.

2. media company (Citizen TV/KTN TV) in Kenya which can support educative programs to beneficiaries by enhancing communication links and airing of educative sessions.

3. Ian Mulholland (member of MIT) so that he can assist and give more directions necessary as far as this challenges are concerned and any other information that is vital.

4. Amanda Saeli (MIT member) who can pass information and updates on what is required and offer any help if need be.

5. Karatina University in Kenya which can help by offering students pursuing different faculties to assist in different processes of the project cycle as the improve their knowledge and skills and also earn some income as they study.

qualified because:

1. the team is willing and ready to pursue its goals and objectives.

2. there is need to enlighten people on importance of equitable education.

3. there is great need to improve livelihood through equitable education which can be attained by setting in place the right projects.

how to use the prize:

1. purchase all the necessary resources needed to run the project through all its cycle.

2. put in place/employ the right personnel who can adequately provide the right services and products needed.

3. support learning centers that are still under development by putting up new facilities and also see to it that pending projects have been embarked on and finished.

4. acquire certified farm inputs that will later be supplied to farmers.

5. improve all the facilities that are under poor conditions.

qualified because:

1. the solution provided by the team also serve those who are in refugee camps.

how to use the prize:

1. purchase more resources needed in refugee camps and among other beneficiaries to ensure smooth running of information pertaining the digital economy and other projects.

2. employ more expertise who can deliver services and products needed by the beneficiaries to the latter.

3. improve the infrastructure of health facilities among the target population in order to ensure easy access to to the digital economy by them.

4.  improve data collection and data analysis methods by ensuring all the necessary parties are involved.

5. set in place more projects that will work for the better of the present generation without affecting the ability of the future generations to meet theirs.

6. fully implement the ecosystem approach of management.

7. enlighten more farmers and all essential beneficiaries on the importance of native species and conservation.

qualified because: 

can provide solution on how digital equity can be attained.

how to use the prize:

1. purchase more computers and put in place more facilities where computers can be installed and run.

2. employ more expertise and all the necessary manpower needed.

3. employ integrated management approach in order to achieve sustainable development.

4. purchase more means of locomotion to enhance movement of employees and those who take part in running of the project and also to increase the probability of the project covering a larger area.

5. undertake any necessary protocols put in place by governing bodies in order to ensure efficiency in running of the project.  

6. employ multidisciplinary approach in order to have a diversified vision.

qualified because:

1. the solution the team provides entail use of machines such as computers among others that can be used to steer any nation towards sustainable development goal.

how to use the prize:

1. have electricity supplied to rural areas, refugee camps, health facilities and less developed countries.

2. purchase and install more computer based systems among the target groups in order to increase the number of those will benefit from the project. 

3. set in place programs that will aim at ensuring people are enlightened on the importance of conservation of nature and biological diversity in order to stop species extinction and ecosystem degradation in favor of the future generations.

4. employ more personnel that can run and monitor the progress of the project in counties and places where the target groups exist.

5. provide farmers with seeds of indigenous species of crops that can support the well being of biological diversity in order to improve the ecosystem services provided to the present generation and the future generations to come.

5. acquire the necessary resources needed to run projects that work for the better of sustainable development.

qualified because:

1. the solution outlines ways through which communities can easily access the digital economy and benefit while still being able to conserve the available resources through processes such as monitoring of anthropogenic activities  effects on the environment arising from the project.

also the changes taking place in water bodies, atmosphere or the ecosystems can easily be monitored.

how to use the prize:

1. purchase the necessary resources needed for efficiency and sustainability of various projects.

2. have in place more employees for smooth running of projects.

3. improve infrastructure in rural areas for easy accessibility.

4. set in place programs that will aim at ensuring people are enlightened on the importance of conservation of nature and biological diversity in order to stop species extinction and ecosystem degradation in favor of the future generations.

5. employ more personnel that can run and monitor the progress of the project in counties and places where the target groups exist.