Mozambique Development Marketplace chooses its winners

Launched in May 2007 at the Joaquim Chissano’s Conference Center, followed by a promotional campaign in seven provinces, the competition’s objectives were to stimulate the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) for rural development in Mozambique. The competition was organized in coordination with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and in partnership with the Government of Mozambique, through the Ministries of Science and Technology, Transport and Communications; the Mozambique Information and Communication Technology Institute (MICTI); and private partners including Millennium Bim, Vodacom and Mcel.

“Innovation is the engine of productive societies. So, it is very encouraging to see that this event, which is about innovation, has been embraced by so many Mozambicans. This is reflected by the number and range of participants involved throughout the process and particularly by the fact that initial proposals were received from all 10 provinces in the country .” Said Michael Baxter, Regional Director for Mozambique, Angola, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Responding to questions by the media, the Minister of Science and Technology, H.E. Venâncio Massingue, said “I hope this kind of event will be replicated in the coming years. I must thank the World Bank and its partners for organizing such an interesting program. When a country has a clear sense of orientation about its own priorities, our partners can easily support us, as has been done with this initiative”.

A total of 125 proposals from individuals, private firms and NGOs were received. Twenty-two of these proposals had been selected as finalists, of which19 eventually competed in the final event. Five winners were selected among the finalists, plus a public’s choice award. The event featured an exhibition of the finalists’ projects; a showcase of ICT products and applications by the event sponsors and telecommunications companies; workshops; and entertainment. The finalists were judged based on criteria that included innovation, sustainability, and the project's impact on its beneficiaries.

Five out of the nineteen finalists won seed money to invest in their particular project up to US$20,000. Three of the winners come from Maputo and the other two from Inhambane and Nampula. These are:

1- WIWANANA - A community radio project in Ribaue, Nampula

2- A Tecnologia de Informacao de Comunicacao Assumida pelas Comunidades Rurais - a telecentre project for Marracuene by the ONG KULIMA.

3- AGRINFO - a price exchange system to link the producers market of Zimpeto with the consumer markets in Maputo (Malanga, Fajardo and Mercado Central). Instituto Superior de Ciencias e Tecnologia de Mocambique (ISCTEM) is the proponent.

4- M-CREDELEC - a system for buying prepaid electricity using sms based technology, by engineering students from Universidade Eduardo Mondlane. M-Credelect also received the People's Choice award.

5- Mercado em Progresso - a database for the Municipal Market of Inhambane to allow for efficient management of revenues and contact between suppliers and market sellers.

The “Escola Secondaria Estrela Vermelha” was the winner of the children’s competition, with a submission of pin-hole cameras made from recycled cans and cardboard. Several of the children were on hand during the event to demonstrate how these cameras work.

Development Marketplaces are sponsored by the World Bank at the global and country level. The Development Marketplace for Mozambique was considered somewhat unique however. This was because the finalists were provided with technical assistance over a three month period to help them prepare their business plans.

“I’ve learnt a lot with the trainings and workshops. I had ideas, as most of the participants did, but we didn’t know how to put them into practice. The business plan and the marketing component of those workshops are what I value most, because they helped us turn ideas into projects with realistic goals ” Said one of the contestants.

A summary of all projects can be found at the following link: www.inovareganhar.org.mz

Related Links:

www.inovareganhar.org.mz

www.worldbank.org/mozambique

List of Finalists:

• Projecto de Rádio Emissor de Frequência Modulada (FM) de Baixo Custo, pela empresa Pavies Computação e Electrónica – local/ Maputo
• Projecto: WIWANANA, pela Radio Comunitaria de Ribaue – local/Ribaue,Nampula
• Projecto: A Tecnologia de Informacao e Comunicacao Assumida pelas Comunidades Ruraus somo instrumento do seu proprio desenvolvimento, pela KULIMA – local/Maputo
• Projecto de Programa de Pesquisa para a Inclusão Digital (PROPID), pela Mwananga Projectos Lda – local Maputo
• Projecto LM CellNet, pela Lucrécio Macuacua Inovações Tecnológicas- Local/Maputo
• Projecto de Rádio na Comunidade, pela Associacao dos Jovens de Vilankulo – Local Vilankulos, Inhambane
• Projecto de Criação de Sistema de Informação Móvel de Produtos Agrícolas, pelo Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologias de Moçambique (ISCTEM) – Local/Maputo
• Programa de Identificação Electrónica das Comunidades Rurais - Identifique-me, pelos Srs. Fausto Jaime Lichucha e Limpo Zambo – Local Maputo, Maputo
• Projecto de Bolsa de Emprego de Recursos, pela Sociedade de Intermediação de Serviços e Produtos (SOCIMEDIA) – Local/Maxixe, Inhambane
• Projecto de Compra de Crédito de Energia (CREDELEC) por SMS, pelo Grupo de Estudantes Finalistas de Engenharia Electrónica da UEM – Local Maputo
• Projecto de Produção de Software de Apoio a Monitoria e Planeamento Estratégico do Governo, pela CLEY Lda - Local Maputo
• Projecto de Conteúdos Locais para as Comunidades, pela CMC de Nova Rádio Paz Quelimane – Local/ Quelimane, Zambézia
• Projecto de Transição Educacional - O revigorar do currículo do ensino secundário e a preparação do estudo superior através de novas tecnologias de informática, pela Universidade Católica de Moçambique- Local Pemba, Cabo Delgado
• Projecto de Mercado em Progresso, pelo Centro Provincial de Recursos Digitais (CPRD) – Local Inhambane
• Projecto Associativismo em Rede, pela Associacao de Desenvolvimento Local (ASDELO) - Local Chimoio, Manica
• Projecto Feira Virtual Online de Produtos Agro-pecuários, pelos Eng. João Sambo, Eng. Custodio Dimande e Eng.Tomas Nhabetse – Local Xai-Xai, Gaza
• Projecto SMS Transporte, por Abel Felizardo Viageiro – Local Maputo
• Projecto Preços por SMS, por Valdemiro Jamal Sultane – Local Maputo
• Projecto Aquisição e Divulgação das Informações Usando SMS, pela PHC Zone – Local Maputo