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POVERTY IN AFRICA

POVERTY IN AFRICA. Using Systems Engineering to tackle an insoluble problem MIT SDM Program – January 2004 Design Challenge II. Approach Themes. Team 1: Systems Analysis - Communication for Education Team 2: Root Cause Analysis – System Dynamics

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POVERTY IN AFRICA

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  1. POVERTY IN AFRICA Using Systems Engineering to tackle an insoluble problem MIT SDM Program – January 2004 Design Challenge II

  2. Approach Themes • Team 1: Systems Analysis -Communication for Education • Team 2: Root Cause Analysis – System Dynamics • Team 3: Causal Analysis – Continental Highway Building Program • Team 4: Build on current programs – KRITI (Knowledge Reach Improvement Technology) • Team 5: System Analysis – SMART Plan(Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-oriented, Time-Based) • Team 6: Holistic Approach – Rhizome Model

  3. Common Thread! Political ... Education War & Conflicts Good Government ... Political Stability Social Law Enforcement Education AIDS ... Health Economical ... Education Income GDP Team 1: System Analysis • Where do we start? • Brainstorming within team pointed to education • Review of literature revealed govt policies, good governance, better data, “voice” of people • System dynamics models developed to help focus .. • How to use system dynamics models? • Concept was to look for common threads • These might suggest areas to focus on • Conclusion: good governance and education

  4. Concept development • Communication and education were therefore chosen as the area for a project • Concept: • ICT (information and communication technology) is a fundamental ingredient in the development toolkit • Focus on primary education, health, agriculture etc • ICT also enables greater connectivity between all parties, facilitating greater ‘voice’ from community • Implementation proposal: • Africa Education Network (AEN) • To date effort has been on development of ICT infrastructure • Proposal is to focus on Content and put in place the necessary capacities to manage both Content and Connectivity

  5. Project Overview Opportunities • UNESCO has developed CMCs (Community Multimedia Centers) focusing on: • Radio • Low cost internet systems • Low cost renewable energy sources • Existing satellite coverage over sub-Saharan continent AEN project will • be a continental broadcaster of education content for television, radio, and internet • be a satellite-delivered content provider of educational information • utilize Africans to Educate Africa, focusing on garnering support and hiring from African Universities • attempt to create relationships with the African Union and UNESCO in hopes of utilizing their infrastructure to facilitate delivery and develop education-specific content

  6. Visualize • Achieve Problem Statement • Commit • Celebrate Achievements • Build for Tomorrow • Sustain the Plan Assign the team • Prioritize • Determine Improvement Priorities • Fishbone Diagram • 5 Whys • Root Causes • Improve • Design and Implement Improvements • Brainstorming • Development Plan • Technology Based Improvements • Characterize • Define Existing Process Plan Improvements • Root Cause detailed analysis • Dynamics Diagrams Team 2: The Process

  7. Root Cause Analysis Focus on Issues Technology where technology can have an impact 5 Whys Mind-Manager Tree Focus on Key Root Causes Identify All Root Causes Rate Importance and Level of Impact Root Cause Analysis • Summery of Root Causes • Socio-Political • Economic • Education • Healthcare • Infrastructure

  8. AID from Stakeholders Family Welfare System For Accountability Focused Training Build Strategic Partnership with Participating Country Creates Employment Improved Healthcare Develop Insurance Process Revenue Policies & Reforms Provides Healthier Workforce Investment Infrastructure Ability to Attend Labor Intensive Manufacturing, Agriculture, etc. Manpower from Neighboring Countries Improves Access for Industry Industry Access Investment Education Return (ROI) Mineral Resources Business Investment System Dynamics – Short Term Identify Countries for Participation AID + GDP >= Dev Cost + Maint Cost + Import Costs AID

  9. Training Businesses Investment Industry Return (ROI) Business Investment Next Generation Workforce Real Estate Equity Est. $1trillion (1997) System Dynamics – Long Term Build Strategic Partnership with Next Country Group Family Welfare Maintain Strategic Partnership with Participating Country Creates Employment Revenue Company Based Healthcare Insurance World Standard Healthcare Policies & Reforms Provides Healthier Workforce Re-Investment Infrastructure Ability to Attend Improves Access for Industry Access Education AID + GDP >= Dev Cost + Maint Cost + Import Costs Teach Him to Fish, You Feed Him for Life

  10. ECONOMY EDUCATION HUNGER HEALTH POLITICS CULTURE GEOGRAPHY INFRASTRUCTURE Team 3: Approach • System’s approach • Gathered information and brainstormed • Divided into major areas • Identified links within these areas: cause effects • Selected • areas to impact, what can we affect? • core issues, what are the root causes • Identified common major root cause • Solutions based upon most influence on identified root cause

  11. Short Term – Long Term Recommendations • Short-term Goal • Pilot program CHBP (Douala to Bangui, 1100 km) • Program combines infrastructure and educational development focused on socio-cultural growth • Long-term Goal • Education • Ties to political, economical and cultural growth • Economic stimulus • Through trade, region cooperation • Access to previously unavailable resources to landlocked countries • Whole “equatorial” road (Douala to Mombasa) • Long-term • Use the model: community development while providing education to the people • Continue CDHP throughout all regions of Africa

  12. Lessons Learned • Lessons learned about complex systems • There are so many aspects to consider to come up with viable solutions • So many stakeholders with diverse values that it is difficult to address everybody’s needs • Lessons about Africa • Access to education is key • Politics are the big road block • We realized an appreciation for the Intricacies of the issues of Sub-Saharan Africa (social, political, economical, cultural, etc.)

  13. Population Social Ventures Knowledge Empowerment Resources Capital Partners in Development Team 4: Issues & Proposed Approaches Solution

  14. Sub-Saharan Africa: Approaches • No radical measures • Do not rock the boat too much • Build on the good work • Drastic intervention is often counterproductive • Identify existing successful projects and amplify their effect using the right technologies • KRITI is our alternative solution to accomplish the above

  15. The KRITI Project KRITI: Knowledge Reach Improvement Technology Initiative • Build alternative education & knowledge delivery mechanisms • Develop “knowledgebase” of information with the help of aid organizations • Leverage technology as a means to be more efficient in development efforts • Very low barrier-to-entry in terms of costs & skills • Apply concepts of “knowledge-web”

  16. Concept Strategy Execution Team 5: Approach - SMART I. Framework POVERTY IMMEDIATE NEEDS SUSTAINABLE AID Humanitarian Development Monitoring System CC Matrix Coordination System Decomposition Model Stakeholder Model IMPLEMENTATION (Tech, Non-Tech.)

  17. Concept Strategy Execution II. CC Matrix

  18. Concept Strategy Execution II. C. …contd. (Scatter-gram) Selection Path

  19. Concept Strategy Execution Start 3 years 5 years 3yr. - 10% 5yr. - 30% Stirling Engine Gravel-surface Roads Butane III. 3 year and 5 year Plan (Power Supply + Road) STAKEHOLDERS • Burkina Faso Govt. • Expand national campaign to promote the use of Butane • International Cooperation • Donate used portable Butane containers • Pay for transportation to BF • World Organizations - Coordinate efforts to provide used portable Butane containers STAKEHOLDERS • Burkina Faso Govt. • Formulate policy on infrastructure with prioritization on road constructions in areas where Butane is promoted as an alternative energy source • International Cooperation • Provide support on the application of labor-based method in road construction STAKEHOLDERS • Burkina Faso Govt. • Promote use of Stirling Engines • International Cooperation • Subsidize development and deployment costs of Stirling Engines • Local Administration - Substitute Stirling Engines for Classical Engines to produce electricity

  20. Team 6: The Rhizome Group What We Believe: We believe that an integrated solution, based on a holistic examination of the complete system, is required to resolve the “poverty” issue in Sub-Saharan Africa Our Mission: To enable the transition of a group from an unstable socioeconomic state to a developing, learning, and self sustaining state by planning, and implementing highly customized and integrated solutions.

  21. Increase Life Expectancy Decrease Poverty Economic Growth Promote Entrepreneurship Health Care Industry Development Human Development Infrastructure Government Policy Economic Stability Foreign Investors Agriculture Education Social Services Increase Employment Privatize Economy Stabilize Economy The Rhizome Model

  22. Government Policies Rhizome Implementation Focused Research Customized Plan Rhizome Implementation ProcessNigeria example Research De-scope • Initial Layer • Government Policy Reform • Second Layer • Utilize Petroleum • Advance Agriculture • Improve Infrastructure • Transition Layer • Improve Health • Advance Education • Advance Human Rights • BOT (Build - Own/Operate -Transfer) • Mitigation Layer • Adjustments due to transient circumstances Reaction of Surrounding Countries Infrastructure External Health Education Internal Agriculture Petroleum Social Equality

  23. What did we learn? • The system is very complex • no simple solutions • Difficult to predict affect of interventions • Development must try to affect all areas together • education, health, policies, economic growth etc • Development requires • Lots of NGOs, local civil society organizations • Lots of communication between everyone! • Common measures of poverty => MDG indicators! • Adaptability – listen to people, adapt accordingly • ICTs will play a major role in education and empowering people to help themselves and provide feedback to help steer development • We have a better respect for NGOs and their challenges!

  24. Summary • There is no golden bullet, the problem is not a technical one • The dynamics of the system is the most important aspect for any solution • Must negotiate commitment for the change from all the stakeholders • Government • Grass Roots • Investment community • AID associations • Application of Technology is only a product of the process • Solutions will be different in each county • Sticking to a disciplined process will allow the freedom for change • Short Term: Use Industry and AID to spin up dynamics • Long Term: Manage a stable economy allowing removal of AID • Lessons Learned • Not a two week problem – too long a history to be understood • Dynamics are incredibly complicated and diverse • Need to implement change taking into account the politics, culture, and structure. One aspect in isolation is not enough. • Complex Systems Dynamics (like Africa) can not be viewed in a single shot Summary and Lessons Learned

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