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=Global Broadband and Innovations Program (GBI)= Global Broadband and Innovations Program (GBI) was created in 2010 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The goal of the GBI Program is to improve socio-economic outcomes by expanding access to wireless voice and broadband services and facilitating the kind of innovation that makes such access more effective for development.

GBI serves as USAID's functional center for knowledge and implementation consulting in the Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) space with two main goals: To expand wireless voice and broadband access to the world's poorest citizens and to foster the kind of innovation that will make such access more effective for development. The emphasis on broadband access and its wireless delivery is shaped by the new dynamics of convergence in the world telecommunication market. The focus on innovation reflects the emerging market for applications and cloud-based software services that is reshaping the practice of development. To achieve these aims, GBIT takes an "ecosystem approach" to ICT4D, which means that the program does more than just provide tools and the means of accessing them--it actively manages and ushers in change.

Program Background
An earlier ICT program, the Leland Initiative, brought the Internet to much of Africa between 1996 and 2000. A follow-on program, the Last Mile Initiative (LMI), sought to expand access to communications for the rural poor of developing countries. Launched in 2004, it focused on the construction of community centers that could either act as cyber-cafes or serve as way stations for the transmission of wireless voice or wifi signals. Since the launch of LMI, however, the telecommunications landscape has changed dramatically. Digital convergence has accelerated, and it has become apparent that mobile devices, not computers, will be the primary medium through which the poor access and make use of the Internet. The proliferations of cloud-based services for development, accessible through mobile phone applications, has also altered the possibilities for ICT4D service delivery.

From these programs, GBI was created to move USAID's Digital Development Strategy forward.

Areas of Focus
GBI works in four distinct areas: Connectivity, Content, Consumers, and Coordination. All activities conducted under the GBI umbrella fit into each of these categories.

Connectivity projects facilitate the rollout of wireless telecommunications infrastructure into rural areas through a combination of legal and regulatory support, technology integration, and business management. Examples of connectivity work is strengthening Universal Service and Access Funds (USAFs), promoting centers of connectivity, and encouraging technological innovation.

Content programs work to promote the use of cloud based software solutions and their associated applications, while also fostering the development of targeted ICT for development tools. These include increasing access to existing applications, supporting local content creation and content creation and program implementation.

Consumer Services connects governments and local communities through GBI to build demand for ICT. This involves training local populations in ICT skills and ensuring that governments provide valuable information over the web. Many of these services are covered in ICT entrepreneurship and business training at local levels.

Coordination between GBIT and USAID Missions and Bureaus builds coalitions of stakeholders, develops shared vissions, and manages the implementation of ICT4D projects from all angles. GBI provides coordination through direct support to missions, ICT assessments and leverages its network to mange sector relationships.

Current Projects
Dadaab Connectivity Project aims to bring high-quality, affordable, reliable connectivity to the Dadaab refugee camps in Northern Kenya so that humanitarian relief work there can be optimized. Over 200,000 refugees (mostly from Somalia) have lived in Dadaab camp since the early 1990’s. In the last year, the camp size has grown to over 500,000 refugees as the flight of Somalis to neighboring Kenya has accelerated due to the life threatening food crisis in the Horn of Africa. With the exponential growth of the camps, the number of organizations providing assistance has increased and the number of humanitarian workers living and working in the camps has doubled. With support from GBI, NetHope (in collaboration with USAID, Microsoft, Google, Cisco, Inveneo, UNHCR and WFP) is working with Kenyan internet providers Safaricom and Orange to increase the available bandwidth even more while at the same time ensuring reduction in redundancy and an increase in reliability of the connections. Once broadband connectivity to the humanitarian compounds and offices in Dadaab is established it is meant to be a sustainable infrastructure solution with the same kind of connectivity that exists in commercial areas.

Combating Trafficking in Persons in Russia Under GBI, USAID’s Office of Women in Development and NetHope have launched a program to design and test a mobile solution to one of today’s most pressing development challenges – sex and labor trafficking. Google built an app for the Android platform based on the winning concepts generated by GBI’s Stop Human Trafficking App Challenge in Russia and Eastern Europe. The app maps users to services in their area, features a panic button to alert emergency contacts of the user’s situation and location, and allows implementing NGOs to map and respond to reports of human trafficking. GBI is working with a local Russian NGO to begin piloting the app in Moscow in March 2012. Lessons learned from the pilot will be used to modify the app and the implementation process, with the goal of making the app widely available.

Innovations for Youth Capacity and Engagement looks at one of the most pressing international development challenges today, addressing issues surrounding the youth bulge. Throughout much of the developing world, more than 65% of the population is under the age of 30 and in many countries this large demographic segment is experiencing chronic unemployment and under-employment that can result in social and political instability. At the same time, today’s youth are increasingly connected and utilize technology to do everything from earning income to attending school. Seeking to harness this natural consumer trend and engagement, GBI is developing and piloting a social game to determine whether serious social games can be leveraged to affect youth learning outcomes and make youth-oriented international development programs more effective. NetHope has created a community of practice around serious social gaming and is deploying a game pilot in Jordan.

Previous Projects
Connecting Haiti The 2010 earthquake in Haiti left thousands disconnected from the rest of the world and the rest of Haiti. Communications systems were down and rescue efforts were hindered. Within 11 days of the earthquake, the NetHope member community of 34 of the largest international NGOs had partnered with local ISPs and wireless carriers, and with support of their high tech partners (Cisco, Google, Intel and Microsoft) had established a model to reconnect the NGOs working in Haiti to a broadband wireless network. Access quickly expanded to non-NetHope members as well, expanding the reach of access into rural Haiti from cities.

NetHope has maintained a presence in Haiti since the earthquake and at completion; the network will ensure access to connectivity for 80% of the population of Haiti. Reaching from the biggest population centers, the Haiti Rural Broadband Initiative now covers 12 population centers providing coverage to over 1.2 million people and contributing over half a million dollars annually to the Haitian IT community.