www.isif.asia

Information Society Innovation Fund

Empowering communities to design and implement Internet-based solutions

for their own development needs.

ISIF Asia funding mechanismsGrantsISIF Asia grants support innovative Internet-based projects that can be implemented in a period of three-to-twelve months.

• grants are not loans – repayment is not required and interest on bank deposits should be reinvested in the project

• grants are allocated through a competitive selection process

• throughout the project lifecycle, recipients are required to provide regular technical and financial reports that once approved allowed for funds to the disbursed

• small grants funding allows the use of flexible and simple management tools.

Awards• monetary awards are granted to projects aligned with

ISIF Asia objectives and eligibility criteria

• projects should be complete or in the final stages of implementation, and they should demonstrate significant positive impact

• innovation and development should be an integral part of all award nominations

• award winners are bound by terms and conditions, which include a commitment to attend the Internet Governance Forum, or another relevant global or regional meeting to showcase their projects

Capacity Building

Our latest funding innovation, the Capacity Building Fund, enables successful grant and awards recipient teams to do more to make their projects sustainable, or to make development benefits more widely available.

Many recipients lack the skills to develop viable business models and support from existing incubator programs, access to training and support from consultants will take them a long way towards sustainability of their initiatives. Capacity building mentoring spans the lifecycle of supported projects. It is delivered using online tools, coaching, and face-to-face meetings with members of a team of experts drawn from the Asia Pacific region.

Funding recipients’ reports

An online library of technical reports describes ISIF Asia grant recipients’ activities, decision-making strategies, processes, and challenges. These resources show how ISIF Asia-supported teams demonstrated ingenuity and outstanding commitment in bringing the benefits of the Internet to their communities.

We are sharing these reports so that everybody can benefit and build upon these achievements. Final reports are available under a Creative Commons License.

ISIF Asia funding partners

Our funding partners provide much more than money. They are actively involved in the entire process.

Our Steering Committee has a representative from each funding partner organization. Each year, the Committee develops and improves the funding process as it reviews program outcomes, objectives and logistics. All decisions are reached by consensus.

To ensure maximum benefit for funded projects, the committee continually strives to make the process efficient. In recent years, it has greatly simplified application and pre-screening processes, which are conducted entirely online.

One representative from each of the funding partners, and one from each sponsor, serve on the six-member Selection Committee. They review grant applications and nominations for awards.

Be a part of ISIF Asia

How you can help to empower communities to innovate their way to development

ISIF Asia has contributed to the empowerment of many communities across Asia Pacific to engage with the information society.

But we have not achieved this on our own. ISIF Asia exists only because of the vision and generosity of our partners and sponsors. With your help, we can make even more of a positive difference in the coming years.

Our partners and sponsors give more than money. They provide their experience and advice. They help to identify or encourage innovative development projects.

We offer flexible partnership and sponsorship opportunities. Organizations and individuals can support the program through packages tailored to suit their specific expertise, resources and interests.

Take the first step to becoming an ISIF Asia partner or sponsor by visiting us at www.isif.asia, or send us an email at info@isif.asia.

Innovation on access provision: doctHERs - Pakistan, NAYA JEEVAN

doctHERs is a novel healthcare marketplace that connects home-restricted female doctors to millions of underserved patients in real-time while leveraging technology. doctHERs circumvents socio-cultural barriers that restrict women to their homes, while correcting two market failures: access to quality healthcare and women’s inclusion in the workforce. doctHERs leapfrogs traditional market approaches to healthcare delivery and drives innovative, sytems change.

Code for the common good: Batik Fractal - Indonesia, Piksel Indonesia Company

Piksel Indonesia is creative social enterprise that empowers batik artisans in Bandung through jBatik Software, a modelling software application to create batik design generatively. Around 1400 artisans have been trained to use the jBatik software incorporating technology to develop their traditional craft work while increasing productivity, bring more sales and increase their profit which lead to improved income.

Innovation on learning and localization: Jaroka Mobile Based Tele-Healthcare - Pakistan, UM Healthcare Trust

Jaroka Tele-Healthcare model utilizes Internet and mobile platform technologies to extend tele-healthcare services in rural Pakistan. This includes voice, Short Text Messaging (SMS), Multimedia Messaging (MMS), GPRS/Edge and VSAT to quickly and efficiently extend medical advice to Rural Health Workers (RHWs) in the field by connecting them to our network of specialists in cities and abroad. This model also includes Pakistan’s First Health Map through which the latest and live healthcare information is shared with relevant stakeholder across Pakistan to improve the healthcare in Pakistan. Through this project over 130,000 has been provided treated at hospitals and in fields.

Rights: I Change My City - India, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy

Local social change network of communities where Bengaluru’s citizens keen on solving city centric problems connect to improve their city. The site has helped to resolve around 10,000 complaints by connecting citizens to government agencies, from garbage collection, poor street lighting, potholes to personal safety. It has also provided citizens with useful information about budget allocation to wards and constituencies and how funds have been used. The unique power of ichangemycity.com is that it networks people locally to address issues of common concerns. It connects people on-line to bring them together off-line for civic engagement on the ground, to overcome the paperwork involved that acts as a deterrent for many individuals to connect with civic agencies, by providing a seamless bridge between government and citizens through a the 4C mantra (Complaint, Community, Connect, and Content).

Grant-funded projects

2015

Development of mobile phone based telemedicine system with interfaced diagnostic equipment for essential healthcare in rural areas of Low Resource Countries. Department of Biomedical Physics and Technology, University of Dhaka (Bangladesh)

Deployment of a Community based Hybrid Wireless Network Using TV White Space and Wi-Fi Spectrum in Remote Valleys around Manaslu Himalaya. E-Networking Research and Development (Nepal)

Improved Carrier Access in Rural Emergencies (ICARE). Innovadors Lab Pvt Ltd and School of Computer and Information Science, IGNOU (India)

A Peering Strategy for the Pacific Islands. Network Startup Resource Center (Pacific Islands)

2014

Improving Internet Connectivity in the Pacific Islands with network coded TCP, PICISOC (Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand & Tuvalu)

Enhancing Communication and Co-operation across South Asia: An ICT Solution to Script Barriers, Punjabi University, Patiala (India)

Cook Islands Maori Database, Cook Islands Internet Action Group (Cook Islands)

Using technology to improve citizen science monitoring of coral reefs in Indonesia, CoralWatch, The University of Queensland (Australia/Indonesia)

Chiang-Rai MeshTV: Educational Video-on-Demand System through mesh networking, intERlab, Asian Institute of Technology, Mirror Foundation and THNIC Foundation (Thailand)

Preserving Oro, Penans secret signage language, ISITI-CoERI (Malaysia)

Chuuk State Solar Server Education Hub, Federated States of Micronesia. iSolutions (Micronesia)

SMS and mapping for accountability in delivery of maternal health services for tea garden workers in Assam, Nazdeek (India)

ECHO to HomeNet, eHomemakers (Malaysia/Indonesia)

Monitoring and early warning of landslides, University of Engineering and Technology and Vietnam National University - Hanoi (Vietnam)

Link TB with technology (LTT), Operation ASHA (Cambodia)

Smart phones for the deaf-blind, Bidirectional Access Promotion Society (India)

2013

Cloud-based application measuring and controlling electricity used for Indonesian houses, Binus International University (Indonesia)

Pacific Islands schools connectivity, education, and solar project (PISCES), iSolutions (Micronesia)

Real-time hepatitis reporting and surveillance system in low-resource settings using ICT and mobile phones, UM Healthcare Trust (Pakistan)

Driver distraction management using sensor data cloud, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Dhaka (Bangladesh)

Integrated maternal and child healthcare delivery and training for community health teams Access Health International (Philippines)

Developing mobile-based application to support pregnant women, Yagiten Pvt. Ltd. (Nepal)

Building low-cost wireless telecommunications infrastructure in Myanmar: Localization and Training, First Myanmar Korea Group Co. Ltd. (Myanmar)

Internet rights are women’s rights, Point of View and Association for Progressive Communications (India)

Promoting women’s rights and safety online: addressing electronic violence against women (eVAW), Foundation for Media Alternatives (Philippines)

Sinar, Transparency International Malaysia (Malaysia)

2010

Efficient and reliable GPS wireless ad-hoc sensor networks for marine monitoring, search and rescue (MSnR), Bac Ha International University of Hanoi (Vietnam)

Mobile portal for fisheries community services, National Institute of Fisheries & Nautical Engineering (Sri Lanka)

Accessibility for the print-impaired (ALIPI), Servelots Infotech Pvt Ltd (India)

Towards world’s first IPv6-ready country, Bhutan Telecom Ltd. Druknet (Bhutan)

Localized support kit and training for communities, E-Networking Research and Development (ENRD) (Nepal)

VIPNet: virtual IPv6 application test bed, University of Colombo, School of Computing (Sri Lanka)

Dili Village Telco, Rowetel (Timor Leste and Australia)

Clinical guidelines to improve rural healthcare provision, Garhwal Community Development and Welfare Society (India)

2014 2013 2012

Innovation on access provision

e-Action for Universal Healthcare Coverage, ACCESS Health International, Philippines

eToro Indigenous Botanical Knowledge Management System, ISITI-CoERI, UNIMAS and Long Lamai community, Sarawak (Malaysia)

Nepal Wireless, E-Networking Research and Development (Nepal)

Innovation on learning and localization

Accessible reading materials through DAISY standard, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Bangladesh.

Shikkhok.com (Bangladesh) Ligtas Buntis: Safe motherhood through SMS, Molave Development Foundation Inc. (Philippines)

Code for the common good

Connecting remote islands in Vanuatu with LiteGateway Network Access System, Telsat Broadband Limited, Vanuatu

RuaiSMS to empower grass root communities, Ruai Television Station (Indonesia)

Empowering non-profit organizations and micro-enterprises with ECHO, Corpcom Services Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)

Rights Sinar, Malaysia Amar Desh Amar Gram, Future Solution For Business (Bangladesh)

Climate Radio - Climate Voice, Machizo Multimedia Communication (Bangladesh)

Community Choice Award

Sohoj Sonchoy – Green Networking Research Group, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Precision agriculture information system, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Dhaka (Bangladesh)

HajjLocator - Mobile Interactive Monitoring and Tracking System for Hajj Pilgrims, Universiti Teknologi (Malaysia)

2015 AWARD WINNERS

Empowering communities to design and implement Internet-based solutions for their own development needs.

www.isif.asia

Introducing ISIF Asia

With your support we have …

• helped many remote communities to benefit from Internet access and opportunities

• worked to maintain our accountability and transparency

• minimised overheads – more than 90 per cent of money goes to community project teams and funds mentoring and networking opportunities

• funded Internet-based solutions through 67 projects in 22 economies across Asia Pacific since 2009.

• fostered projects that showcase innovation, cooperation, and technical knowledge

• facilitated openness and sharing – all grant recipients’ technical reports are available under the Creative Commons license

• addressed gender-specific issues within our funding criteria

• gained global recognition for funded projects

• actively engaged partners and sponsors in all aspects of recipient selection, evaluation, and mentoring

• helped development communities to help themselves.

Small grants, big differences

ISIF Asia keeps its grants small because experience and evidence demonstrate that innovative and pragmatic outcomes – results that help communities with the most pressing development needs – are realized faster and more often than when very large sums of money are involved. Why is this?

When the stakes are lower, both sides of the funding process – recipients and donors – become usefully realistic and less risk averse. A small grant allows a community or organization to explore and experiment in a context where success and failure are both part of a learning experience.

Large grants require very significant project management and administrative work. They can raise intimidating expectations. They may encourage objectives that make for impressive reading in funding applications but can be unrealistic in practise.

Another advantage of small grants is that less intimidating funding opportunities attract new or unexpected communities and organizations that, rightly or wrongly, feel that they would not be considered for larger grants. As they learn about grant administration and build their financial and technical capacity to report, they gain confidence to seek other funding opportunities for larger budgets.

These are the reasons why ISIF Asia continues to pursue a small grants approach – one that is open to innovation and can accept and learn from real-world successes and failures.

Information Society Innovation Fund

Previous winners

Contact us

info@isif.asiaFind out more

www.isif.asia

/ISIF.asia@ISIF_Asia

We invite companies, governments, NGOs, and enlightened philanthropists to join us in our mission to help developing communities to help themselves.

PARTNERS

SPONSORS

GRANTS 2010 2013 2014 2015

Applications received 207 122 139 166

Grants allocated 8 10 12 4

Economies that received funding Australia/Timor Leste (1)Bhutan (1)India (2)Nepal (1)Sri Lanka (2)Vietnam (1)

India (1)Indonesia (1)Micronesia (1)Pakistan (1)Bangladesh (1)Philippines (2)Nepal (1)Myanmar (1)Malaysia (1)

Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand & Tuvalu (1)India (2)Cook Islands (1)Australia/Indonesia (1)Thailand (1)Malaysia/Indonesia (1)Malaysia (1)Micronesia (1)Vietnam (1)Cambodia (1)

New Zealand (1)India (1)Nepal (1) Bangladesh (1)

Organization types supported Academia (2)Civil society (2)Government (2)Private sector (1)

Academia (2)Civil society (6)Government (0)Private sector (2)

Academia (5)Civil society (6)Government (0)Private sector (1)

Academia (1)Civil society (2)Government (0)Private sector (1)

Average amount requested AUD 37,000 AUD 26077.40 AUD 28654.50 AUD 28000

Majority of funds requested for Equipment and salaries Equipment and salaries Equipment and salaries Equipment and salaries

Sustainability strategy 58% 72% 75% 80%

Average project duration 11.4 months 6.9 months 7.5 months 12.7 months

Organizational types that applied Academic 25%Government 7%Civil society 58%Private sector 10%

Academic 27% Government 16%Civil society 39%Private sector 17%

Academic 22%Civil Society 42%Government 11%Private sector 25%

Academia 24.69%Civil Society 40.74%Government 9.26%Private sector 25.31%

Team average size 3.6 3.27 2.87 3.27

Team gender composition Female 32%Male 68%

Female 33.1% Male 66.8%

Female 40%Male 60%

Female 33.1% Male 66.8%

Team local capacity Nationals 92%Foreigners 8%

Nationals 97%Foreigners 3%

Nationals 93%Foreigners 7%

Nationals 97%Foreigners 3%

Team qualifications 92% have at least 1 PhD team member. 92% have at least 1PhD team member 93% have at least 1 PhD team member 92% have at least 1PhD team member

Funding sources Government funds and ICT4D grants Government funds and ICT4D grants Small grants, impact investors, donations Government funds and ICT4D grants

Geographical distribution of applications received

25 economies:Australia (3)Bangladesh (22)Bhutan (1)Cambodia (6)China (2)Fiji (2)India (37)Indonesia (3)Rep. of Korea (2)Laos (1)Malaysia (22)Maldives (1)Mongolia (3)Myanmar (3)Nepal (10)New Caledonia (1)New Zealand (1)Pakistan (21)Palau (1)Papua New Guinea (1)Philippines (12)Samoa (1)Sri Lanka (17)Thailand (3)Vietnam (8)Regional (1)

22 economies:Australia (2)Bangladesh (8)Cambodia (3)China (1)Micronesia (1)India (30)Indonesia (11)Japan (1)Laos (1)Malaysia (12)Mongolia (1)Myanmar (3)Nepal (4)New Zealand (2)Pakistan (8)Palau (1)Philippines (13)Singapore (1)Sri Lanka (12)Thailand (2)Vanuatu (1)Vietnam (4)

22 economies:Afghanistan (7)Australia (7)Bangladesh (14)Bhutan (1)Cambodia (1)New Zealand (1)India (44)Indonesia (12)Laos (2)Malaysia (8)Mongolia (1)Myanmar (3)Nepal (7)Pakistan (16)Papua New Guinea (1)Philippines (17)Solomon Islands (1)Sri Lanka (9)Thailand (3)Tonga (1)Vanuatu (3)Vietnam (4)Regional (3)

22 economies:Australia (2)Bangladesh (8)Cambodia (3)China (1)Micronesia (1)India (30)Indonesia (11)Japan (1)Laos (1)Malaysia (12)Mongolia (1)Myanmar (3)Nepal (4)New Zealand (2)Pakistan (8)Palau (1)Philippines (13)Singapore (1)Sri Lanka (12)Thailand (2)Vanuatu (1)Vietnam (4)

AWARDS 2012 2013 2014 2015

Applications received 32 24 93 78

Awards granted 5 5 5 5

Economies awarded Malaysia (2)Philippines (1)Bangladesh (1)Nepal (1)

Bangladesh (3)Indonesia (1)Malaysia (1)

Malaysia (1)Bangladesh (2)Philippines (1)Vanuatu (1)

3

Organizational types awarded Academia (1)Civil society (3)Government (0)Private sector (1)

Academia (3)Civil society (0)Government (0)Private sector (2)

Academia (1)Civil society (3)Government (0)Private sector (1)

Academia (0)Civil society (3)Government (0)Private sector (1)

Organizational types that applied Academia 38%Civil society 34% Government 3%Private sector 25%

Academia 25%Government 17%Civil society 33%Private sector 25%

Academia 15%Government 17%Civil society 28%Private sector 40%

Academia 13%Government 10%Civil society 24%Private sector 53%

Geographical distribution of applications received

13 economies:Bangladesh (2)China (1)India (4)Indonesia (2)Japan (1)Malaysia (7)Nepal (1)New Zealand (2)Pakistan (4)Philippines (5)Sri Lanka (1)Taiwan (1)Thailand (1)

9 economies:Bangladesh (4)India (4)Indonesia (3)Malaysia (3)Nepal (1)Pakistan (3)Philippines (3)Sri Lanka (2)Vanuatu (1)

15 economies:Australia (1)Bangladesh (10.6)Cambodia (1)China (1.6)India (9.6)Indonesia (9)Malaysia (7.6)Mongolia (1)Nepal (6.6)Pakistan (30)Philippines (9)Singapore (1.6)Sri Lanka (2)Vanuatu (1)Vietnam (5)

12 economies:Bangladesh (7)Cambodia (2)China (1) India (22)Indonesia (11)Malaysia (6)Nepal (7)Pakistan (7)Philippines (3)Singapore (2)Sri Lanka (9)Thailand (1)