Academic articles

Africa Journal (PDF, 154Kb): Kolker, Eva. (2007). ICT Infrastructure, Corporate Council of Africa, 28-30

Boston Review response (PDF, 550Kb): Bates, Robert. (2008) Is It Africa’s Turn?, Boston Review, 13-14.

Falmer Magazine (PDF, 350Kb): Sussex University. (2007). Making the Message Count, Falmer Magazine, 13-15

Microfinance Insights (PDF, 600Kb): Microfinance Insights. (2008) Mobile Telephony and the Entrepreneur: An African Perspective, Microfinance Insights.

MIT Press: Banks, K., McDonald, S. M., Scialom, F. (2011). Mobile Technology and the Last Mile: “Reluctant Innovation” and FrontlineSMS, Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, 7-12

MIT Press: Norheim-Hagtun, I., Meier, P. (Fall 2010). Crowdsourcing for Crisis Mapping in Haiti, Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, 81-89

Mongabay interview (online): (2007). Comprehensive interview with kiwanja.net’s Ken Banks on mobile use in conservation

Nokia Expanding Horizons (PDF, 86Kb): Nokia. (2007). More than Technology, Expanding Horizons, 6-7

Stanford Journal of African Studies (PDF, 150Kb): Banks, Ken. (2007). And Then Came The Nigerian Elections: The Story of FrontlineSMS, Stanford Journal of African Studies, 2-4

Vodafone receiver (online): Banks, Ken. Africa’s grassroots mobile revolution – a traveller’s perspective, Vodafone receiver magazine, #20

Vodafone (online): Vodafone. (2011). Social Impact of Mobile: Making Broadband Accessible for All, Vodafone SIM Report

W3C. (2006). W3C Workshop on the Mobile Web In Developing Countries, Bangalore: kiwanja’s Position Paper (PDF, 246Kb), Workshop presentation (PDF, 5Mb)

Formal reports and research

Mobile Africa Report 2011, Regional Hubs of Excellence and Innovation

Didactics World (PDF, 150Kb): Banks, Ken. Reaching Out Through Mobile Technology with Humble SMS, Didactics World, 21-24

ICT Report (PDF, 260Kb): Banks, K., Burge, R. Mobile Phones:
 An Appropriate Tool For Conservation And Development?, Fauna and Floral International Conservation Report

Interoperable Technologies in International Development: Access to FrontlineSMS (PDF, 171Kb): Mannes, Ashley. (August 2011). Interoperable Technologies in International Development: Access to FrontlineSMS

Mobile Africa Report 2011: Regional Hubs of Excellence and Innovation Dr. Rao, M. (March 2011)

The report gives a snapshot of the African mobile technology landscape, and looks at issues of infrastructure, business models, marketing and the socio-economic impact of the technology.

Mobiles for Quality Improvement Pilot in Uganda Riley, Pamela and BonTempo. (November 2011). Bethesda, MD: Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector Project, Abt Associates Inc.

New Technologies in Emergencies and Conflicts. Coyle, D. and Meier, P. (2009). UN/Vodafone Foundation

The new study, available for download on the UN Foundation website, examines how authorities and humanitarian/aid organisations balance the opportunities and challenges of exploiting different technologies at key stages during the timeline of a crisis.

Project Masiluleke: Texting and Testing to Fight HIV/AIDS in South Africa (2011)

Ken Banks has been interviewed by the Yale School of Management as part of a comprehensive case study on Project Masiluleke, a collaboration between a number of organizations including Pop!Tech the Praekelt Foundation, and frog design. This Project Masiluleke case study is part of a series of case studies on Design and Social Enterprise.

Think Mobile, Act Local: The World Watch Institute (May/June 2010).

Here it is argued that, if carried out appropriately, Schumacher’s original concept of local initiatives, local ownership and local innovation can be applied to today’s mobile world, despite mobile phones being a technology often designed, developed and controlled from the ‘outside’.

Oryx Journal article (PDF, 40Kb): (2006). Conservation News’ article on the use of text messaging in conservation and FrontlineSMS, Oryx International Journal of Conservation

SMS Engagement in Pakistan – A Practical Guide for Civil Society, the Humanitarian Sector, and Government: Williams, J.L., Gilchrist, A. (June 2011). SMS Engagement in Pakistan – A Practical Guide for Civil Society, the Humanitarian Sector and Government, Popular Engagement Policy Lab.

Books and chapters

Design Like You Give a Damn 2: Architect for Humanity, 2012

Africa’s Turn?: Miguel Edward. (2009). Africa’s Turn?. MIT Press

Applying Anthropology in a Global Village: Wasson, C. (Ed.), Odell, M.B. (Ed.), Copeland-Carson, J. (Ed.) (2011). Applying Anthropology in the Global Village. Left Coast Press, Inc.

Design Like You Give a Damn 2: Architect for Humanity. (2012) Design Like You Give a Damn 2: Abrams

Education for a Digital World: (2008). Education for a Digital World: Advice, Guidelines, and Effective Practice from Around the Globe. Co-published by BCcampus and Commonwealth of Learning

“Musings” (PDF, 1.5Mb): Banks, Ken. (2007). Musings on kiwanja.net. kiwanja.net

SMS Uprising: Banks, K., Eagle, N., Rotich, J., Charles-Ivoha, C., Naidoo, A., Ngolobe, B. T., Kreutz, C., Asuncion-Reed, R., Atwood, A., Ekine, S. (Ed.). (2010). SMS Uprising: Mobile Activism in Africa. Pambazuka Press

Texting for Health: Adler, Richard. Fogg, BJ (Ed.) (2009). Texting 4 Health: A Simple, Powerful Way to Change Lives. Standford University Press.

Printed press articles and interviews

Mobiltelefoni skaber udvikling og håb (Mobile creates development and hope): (PDF, 420 Kb. Published in Danish) Interview with FrontlineSMS Founder, Ken Banks. Published Dec 2011 in Politiken DV magazine.

For more recent mentions of FrontlineSMS in the press check out our Recent News page.