Marjolein van Gendt
Who
Marjolein van GendtWhat
Advisor and Business Analyst for Base of the Pyramid Markets ICT Entrepreneurship , Ungana-AfrikaWhere
Pretoria, South AfricaMore about me
I am interested in the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) for Development field. This evolved as a way to combine my two masters in 'Artificial Intelligence' and 'Business and Development Studies', the latter of which I obtained in Japan. After my studies I have worked at the UN in South Korea as a consultant where I helped develop an e-learning system. Through this system government officials from developing countries can learn how to employ ICTs for socio-economic development. My next job will be with Ungana-Afrika in Pretoria, South Africa.
Examples of how ICTs aid development? Farmers get access to market prices which eliminates their dependency on middlemen, villagers can get an education and keep in touch with family across the globe at telecentres, and early warning systems warn people of coming tsunamis or typhoons so that people can evacuate to safe places.
I am Hivos because
The organisation I work for (Ungana-Afrika, South Africa) is one of Hivos's partners. Hivos has created the possibility for a Young Professional to be sent to Ungana-Afrika through the PSO Youth Zone Program. I was lucky enough to be selected and am therefore currently working at Ungana-Afrika.
Ungana-Afrika is a niche consultancy and non-profit that catalyses innovation, enterprise development and service delivery in emerging markets and under-served communities. The organisation works directly with poor rural and peri-urban communities to incubate businesses which provide employment and much-needed services, and assists NGOs in framing their sustainability plans. Ungana-Afrika's services include market research and feasibility analysis within base of the pyramid market segments, business modelling and planning for NGOs and SMMEs, and participatory enterprise incubation in poor communities.
Links
» | Ungana-Afrika
» | PSO Youth Zone Program
My favorite Hivos-theme(s)
ICT & mediaMy favorite Hivos-countries and/or Hivos regions
South AfricaRECENTLY POSTED
The Festive Season
In South Africa December holidays not only mean Christmas and New Year's Eve, but Summer Holidays as well. This entails long, long, looooong holidays and nobody daring to come near work from 24 December to 3 January at least. People think you're crazy if you do. So slowly the office got emptier, and so did the streets and e-mail inboxes. A n...
Yema yema! (Get up and do something)
One month ago I arrived in Pretoria, South Africa, to join Ungana-Afrika through PSO's Youth Zone Program, facilitated by Hivos. Ungana-Afrika is a young organisation passionate about making sure South(ern) Africa does not miss out on the benefits Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can provide. This is right...
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