1 From Innovation to Social Impact
7
1.5 The Bumpy Road to Social Impact
Developing successful technologies is challenging, and obtaining the desired social
impact is even more so. For an innovation to have social impact, it must make the
transition from an innovation to a technology that can be implemented at scale, e.g.,
by becoming a mainstream product such as a smart phone. The key question is how
can a technology be brought to scale in order to have a broad and positive impact?
Ensuring that a technological solution successfully addresses a specific issue in the
Global South requires careful attention during each phase of production, from the
initial idea to bringing the technology to scale (Hostettler 2015). The first step is conducting a thorough needs assessment in order to ensure that intended beneficiaries’
priority needs are being targeted and that the right population has been identified. The
needs assessment can also help indicate whether a technology will be socioculturally
appropriate and therefore increase the chances of adoption. During prototype development in collaboration with key stakeholders, the cost of the technology—a crucial
factor—must be carefully considered, as well as the customers’ ability and willingness to pay for it. An unaffordable technology will not have the desired impact, as
no one will be able to purchase it. Developing a sustainable business model from
the outset of technological innovation is key. If economic insight is not part of the
technological innovation process, then the chances of failure increase dramatically,
as the long-term financial sustainability cannot be ensured.
Regarding technical aspects, especially in developing countries, a technology’s
robustness is crucial, as it will have to withstand high temperatures, humidity, dust,
and unstable electrical circuits. Other key questions to be considered are: Is the
technology easy to use, or can it only be operated by experts? In the event of a breakdown, is there a supply chain for spare parts, or will they need to be imported at a
prohibitive cost from developed countries? Do the required capacities and infrastructure for repairs exist? Can the waste products of production and the technological
product be recycled at the end of its life? Does the product meet the objectives of a
circular economy? How can local staff be trained? Does the technology comply with
national and international standards? What needs should be considered regarding
the legal framework, e.g., patenting or open access? In addition, we need to ask ourselves, does this technology push local companies out of business? Does it consider
local political factors such as corruption and civil unrest? Who will have access to
this technology? Does it run the risk of creating inequalities?
It is particularly important to integrate scalability early on. Key factors such as
country size, the political landscape, culture, language, the potential cost of establishing a regional service network, logistical challenges, spare part depots, and human
resources must be taken into account. A large-scale study of 20,000 geotagged households in Kenya showed that 50% of unconnected homes are “under grid,” meaning
they are within range of an existing transformer but are not connected. It turned
out that the need for innovation lies not at the technological level but in identifying appropriate tech adoption incentives, such as subsidies and innovative financing
mechanisms (Lee et al. 2016). This experience shows the importance of taking an
7
1.5 The Bumpy Road to Social Impact
Developing successful technologies is challenging, and obtaining the desired social
impact is even more so. For an innovation to have social impact, it must make the
transition from an innovation to a technology that can be implemented at scale, e.g.,
by becoming a mainstream product such as a smart phone. The key question is how
can a technology be brought to scale in order to have a broad and positive impact?
Ensuring that a technological solution successfully addresses a specific issue in the
Global South requires careful attention during each phase of production, from the
initial idea to bringing the technology to scale (Hostettler 2015). The first step is conducting a thorough needs assessment in order to ensure that intended beneficiaries’
priority needs are being targeted and that the right population has been identified. The
needs assessment can also help indicate whether a technology will be socioculturally
appropriate and therefore increase the chances of adoption. During prototype development in collaboration with key stakeholders, the cost of the technology—a crucial
factor—must be carefully considered, as well as the customers’ ability and willingness to pay for it. An unaffordable technology will not have the desired impact, as
no one will be able to purchase it. Developing a sustainable business model from
the outset of technological innovation is key. If economic insight is not part of the
technological innovation process, then the chances of failure increase dramatically,
as the long-term financial sustainability cannot be ensured.
Regarding technical aspects, especially in developing countries, a technology’s
robustness is crucial, as it will have to withstand high temperatures, humidity, dust,
and unstable electrical circuits. Other key questions to be considered are: Is the
technology easy to use, or can it only be operated by experts? In the event of a breakdown, is there a supply chain for spare parts, or will they need to be imported at a
prohibitive cost from developed countries? Do the required capacities and infrastructure for repairs exist? Can the waste products of production and the technological
product be recycled at the end of its life? Does the product meet the objectives of a
circular economy? How can local staff be trained? Does the technology comply with
national and international standards? What needs should be considered regarding
the legal framework, e.g., patenting or open access? In addition, we need to ask ourselves, does this technology push local companies out of business? Does it consider
local political factors such as corruption and civil unrest? Who will have access to
this technology? Does it run the risk of creating inequalities?
It is particularly important to integrate scalability early on. Key factors such as
country size, the political landscape, culture, language, the potential cost of establishing a regional service network, logistical challenges, spare part depots, and human
resources must be taken into account. A large-scale study of 20,000 geotagged households in Kenya showed that 50% of unconnected homes are “under grid,” meaning
they are within range of an existing transformer but are not connected. It turned
out that the need for innovation lies not at the technological level but in identifying appropriate tech adoption incentives, such as subsidies and innovative financing
mechanisms (Lee et al. 2016). This experience shows the importance of taking an