Slum Logistics; mobile based addresses for slum areas
- Corporate social responsibility
- Information & communication technology
- Poverty alleviation
- Technology
- Transportation
- Urban development
Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.
Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?
Founding Story
Sacha Carina
www.sachacarina.com
(a Pinterest style overview with photos/videos of the field researches I have conducted in Kenya, India and Tanzania)
I would like to start with a saying I truly believe in: "If you are working in an institution with the means to truly make a difference in the world,optimism of the spirit is a moral responsibility" (world bank)
I work at TNT Express as Global Program Manager Innovation. The global program I have developed focusses on the area where our business, technology (ICS) and society meet. Within this triangle, my ambition is to create shared value for all.
Within the slum logistics project, I have successfully developed the partnership between TNT, Vodafone's Mpesa team and a group of representatives of a local slum in India (Mumbai).
There are three key characteristics that I believe every entrepreneur should have (...and I hope I have): 1.Go out and meet people, 2.Have a strong believe in your ideals and 3. Think different!
Connect with people: I do not want to work within an office environment. Every possible moment, I want to go into the field and meet locals. I have spend 2 months in Kibera slum, visited rural areas in Tanzania and explored the maze-structured streets of Dharavi (India).
Believe in your ideals: My true believe in this project made that TNT and Vodafone wanted to be part of this project. If you speak from the heart, you can move mountains!
Think different: I mixed logistics with mobile phone locations to create a better world...and it works!
, NH, Amsterdam
, MM, Mumbai
all developing countries worldwide
Transportation
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Idea (you're poised to launch)
This solution is innovative for TNT express and the transport industry, because currently formal addresses are based on street names and postal codes. The technology of linking mobile phones to address locations is new to this industry.
The solution will not only be innovative for the transport industry; it will have a huge positive impact on all other sectors; food security, access to healthcare, emergency responses... Logistics are at the core of all global challenges.
Up to this date, we have conduced a local field research in Dharavi slum. The outcome of this research is that there is a lot of potential for Geocode (GPS) based address locations.
We did as well identify other areas of potential impact: formal parts of mega cities in emerging markets (there are many 'formal' houses in Mumbai that do not have an address either), rural areas and emergency situations (e.g.: geocode locations can be used to deliver goods after a disaster has occurred).
Within three years, we want to have mobile based addresses implemented in Honduras. Honduras is one of the first countries that we want to support to develop logistics and infrastructure to empower local 'BoP' communities.
TNT supports the logistics development of Honduras via our partnership with SUSTAIN (SUSTAIN is an NGO founded by TNT, UPS, WVI and Care International) to give consultancy advice on sustainable supply chain solutions for underdeveloped countries.
The value of the research for TNT's business is to learn more about mobile based addresses. Leapfrogging technologies can always be useful in the future for core processes.
TNT supports SUSTAIN's developments in Honduras, which could be a location to pilot geocode based addresses for local farmers. The pilot would be executed via the SUSTAIN partnership, which means that the funds and time will be covered by them. Potentially extra funds are needed. Option can be to look at a Public Private Partnerships to obtain the initial investment. TNT will bring in the knowledge of the research on mobile-based addresses by sending out TNT employees to Honduras to manage the project.
Currently we do not have an long-term funding and support plan. A more detailed plan will follow from a potential Honduras pilot.
The 3 key external partnerships for TNT to support this research have been; the WBCSD (Technology enablers initiative), Vodafone Group Ltd. (Mpesa) and SUSTAIN (partnership of TNT, UPS, WVI and Care International). The WBCSD serves as a catalyst to start innovative projects and has linked TNT to Vodafone for the slum research.
Internally, we have had top-down and bottom-up support. Top Down: The TNT Board of Management has supported the local field research in India. Bottom-up: we have had strong support from TNT Mumbai and the local depot managers to execute the field research.