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Bit about me

Helping impoverished communities without creating dependency Neal Lesh, Co-founder Spark Microgrants. Bit about me. 1998 : PhD in Computer Science. 2005 : Masters of Global Health. 2009 : Co-launched CommCare, a mobile app for community health workers.

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Bit about me

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  1. Helping impoverished communities without creating dependencyNeal Lesh, Co-founder Spark Microgrants

  2. Bit about me 1998: PhD in Computer Science. 2005: Masters of Global Health. 2009: Co-launched CommCare, a mobile app for community health workers. 2010: Co-launched Spark Microgrants 2011+: Primarily work on mobile health; support Spark

  3. Innovation in Healthcare in Ilolangulu, Tanzania (2009)

  4. Increasing Access to Education in Wanteete Uganda (2010)

  5. Spark in 2013 • 37 new communities start process • 23 communities completed process • 20 staff, most in Rwanda or Uganda. • 655 facilitated meetings • $364,290 total expenses

  6. Why This Is Important It suggests development efforts should be more: • patient • trusting • empowering and less: • solution oriented • expert driven

  7. More Eloquently…. “If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us walk together…” - Lila Watson

  8. More Humorously….

  9. Spark’s Process

  10. Facilitators

  11. Sasha Fisher, Executive Director Flew to Kigali in 2010 with few months funding. Never really came back… Has rallied a growing band of “communatarians” and quickly learned fundraising, HR, ect.. See her 2013 Do Something Finalist (video)

  12. Takes Time • Weekly meetings for five months • Over time, see more: • Meeting start on time, follow up on actions • Women participation • Group cohesion • Confidence

  13. Why This is Different • Typical solutions often inappropriate. • Hypothetical example: chopsticks for obesity • Typical aid creates dependency • Handoffs are hard

  14. The Benefits • Good projects • Efficient use of resources • Locally appropriate • No handoffs / ownership • Empowered Communities • Civic engagement • Capacity • Leadership • Cohesion

  15. Results • 95% projects still running • 64% increase in female participation. 40% of leadership committees are women. • Of 430 community-elected leaders, 79% had never previously held a leadership role. • 35 independent community initiatives launched by end of 2013.

  16. Example of Inspiring Change

  17. Challenges • Follow up after initial grant / avoiding dependence on spark • Providing expert support where needed • Communities that choose challenging projects, e.g. building a health center

  18. Some Related Approaches • Microcredit • Participatory design • GiveDirectly

  19. Some takeaways • Beware of solutions and expertise. • It’s difficult to transfer a true sense of ownership

  20. Thanks! For more information, visit Spark Microgrants (www.sparkmicrogrants.org) or email Neal Lesh (nlesh@dimagi.com) or Sasha Fisher (sasha.fisher@sparkmicrogrants.org)

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