The idea

Our idea is to use wikis to facilitate communication and collaboration between non-governmental organizations, civic groups, donors, and other development actors in order to encourage the sharing of information and better inform policymakers.

What social need does it address?

In the last decade, there has been a rapid proliferation of non-governmental organisations — in some countries there are hundreds, all working toward similar goals. Many of these organisations have complementary goals, information could be used to achieve better results in respective program areas or at the very least to eliminate redundancy.

What’s new about it?

It’s a new application of an old idea. NGOs have previously organised under umbrella organisations, but there is an implied hierarchy and coordination is still difficult. With a wiki, everyone is on equal terms, and only as much information that is volunteered is provided.

What inspired you?

Jeffrey Sachs’ “Millennium Village” project— or, the idea that development is a holistic process with many different but necessary parts contributing to a single outcome. If that project is not scalable, how can we encourage collaboration among actors to achieve the same effect?

Idea submitted by Amanda Beck.

Amanda is studying International Politics and International Development at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.