ACT - Activist Communications Tool

FROM: Teresa Crawford

What NEED does this meet?
Activists around the world have an overwhelming need to process, package and disseminate information to engage, insprire and motivate supporters, allies and other activists. Existing tools are not easily adapted to integrate SMS, blog, e-mail and fax to support information campaigns. ACT would build an adaptable, scalable platform that integrates these tools and make them useful for activists.

What is the APPROACH?
The tool integrates two currently widely used tools – e-mail and fax - and two under utilized but potentially powerful tools – SMS and blog – into one low resource, easily used software tool that will help organizations streamline and maximize the impact of their information campaigns. ACT would be a completely client managed solution that depends on existing external blog, SMS, fax servers and services with the costs paid by the activist.

What are the BENEFITS to people?
Using ACT activists will be able to better manage their campaigns and improve the quality of the relationship they have with their constituents, supporters and other activists. It also lessens the information overload and decreases activists reliance on outside consultants and technical support to harness ICTs for their campaigns. The anticipated outcome is the increased likelihood that individuals, organizations, networks and movements campaign goals are achieved more quickly and on a larger scale.

What is the COMPETITION?
There are no exisiting Open Source services such as this and only a handful of expensive proprietary systems.

What BUDGET & LOGISTICS are required?
A team already exists of developers and designers in New York, San Francisco, Amsterdam and Sofia, Bulgaria who are prepared to develop the tool. Non profit technology assistance providers in Central and Eastern Europe, Sub Saharan Africa and the Balkans are ready to roll out the tool. Total cost is 150,000 USD.