[2010] Mobiles4Dev is a research study commissioned by UNICEF to help understand the global mobile telephony landscape as it relates to advancing development, and as an area of significant future opportunities.

The report gives an overview of the impact of mobiles on socio-economic development and how they can facilitate equity-based programming. It also highlights key trends in the sector, including mobile telephone and Internet usage, and common themes in mobile operators’ business strategy and corporate social responsibility.

Evidence from 14 country studies (Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Kosovo, Lao PDR, Malawi, Mongolia, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Uganda, Zambia) suggest that mobile tools can provide cost effective interventions, overcome bottlenecks to services, and enable communities to maximize the impact of available resources.