User-base Summaries¶

Context¶

This page outlines early-stage documentation and community insights gathered by the Accra hub as part of preparations for the upcoming in-person intensive. As a locally-grounded learning centre, the hub plays a key role in direct outreach, communication, and participant sign-ups for the event. Some prospective participants are already actively enrolling into the program, as shown in the growing table of sign-ups below (registering on register.prisma.events). While formal documentation may be limited at this stage, our approach is grounded in partnership trust and local knowledge. The user bases referenced here draw from a much broader pool of communities, with whom the hub have longstanding engagements with. We are confident that a sub-set of committed community members will join the co-design process as users and help develop locally relevant dApps during the event.

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Community Dialogue Strategy for Prisma and ARC: Engaging Stakeholders in West Legon, Accra¶

Introduction¶

Accra Resource Center (ARC), located in West Legon, Accra, is strategically surrounded by a vibrant community, including businesses, tertiary institutions, a hospital, a local community of low to middle-income residents, and tricycle operators. In partnership with Prisma, ARC aims to facilitate community dialogue that aligns with Prisma’s mission of regenerative development while addressing community needs through education and technological innovation.

This document outlines a strategic approach to engage diverse stakeholders, foster community alignment, and co-create impactful solutions, as part of the lead up to the action-learning journey intensive, scheduled for May 12th - 31st, 2025. With the exact product innovation we’re aiming for still to be decided, this document serves the purpose of detailing which communities will be part of the co-design process.

1. Groups we’re considering¶

To ensure comprehensive community sensing and solution development, it is essential to engage the following stakeholders:

1.1. Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs¶

Purpose: To understand economic challenges, employment opportunities, and technological needs for business growth.
Value Addition: Their participation ensures solutions that stimulate local commerce, enhance digital literacy, and promote sustainable business practices.
Engagement Strategy:
Organize business roundtables and networking events to discuss digital transformation and economic empowerment.
Facilitate workshops on digital marketing, financial literacy, and e-commerce platforms.

1.2. Tertiary Institutions (Students and Educators)¶

Purpose: To gain insights into educational gaps, digital literacy challenges, and innovation opportunities.
Value Addition: Engaging students and educators ensures solutions that bridge educational gaps, foster entrepreneurship, and promote digital inclusion.
Engagement Strategy:
Host hackathons and innovation challenges to co-create digital learning solutions.
Collaborate with institutions on research projects and community service initiatives.

1.3. ***Healthcare Providers (Local Hospital)¶

Purpose: To identify public health needs, digital health opportunities, and resource constraints.
Value Addition: Their involvement ensures health solutions are community-centric, improving accessibility and healthcare outcomes.
Engagement Strategy:
Organize health innovation workshops focusing on telemedicine and community health awareness.
Collaborate on digital health campaigns targeting preventive healthcare and health education.

1.4. **Local Community Members (Low to Middle Income)¶

Purpose: To understand community challenges, social needs, and aspirations, particularly in education, employment, and health.
Value Addition: Their participation ensures culturally relevant solutions that address real-world challenges.
Engagement Strategy:
Conduct community dialogues in local meeting spaces using culturally sensitive communication methods.
Involve community leaders and elders to build trust and encourage inclusive participation.

1.5. Tricycle Operators and Informal Sector Workers¶

Purpose: To understand the transportation and logistics ecosystem, economic challenges, and potential for digital inclusion.
Value Addition: Their insights support solutions for sustainable urban mobility, financial inclusion, and digital empowerment.
Engagement Strategy:
Host focus groups with tricycle operators to explore digital payment systems and mobility solutions.
Collaborate on community-led projects for waste management and urban sustainability.

2. Needs to Address: Sensing and Co-Creation¶

To ensure community-driven solutions, it is crucial to conduct deep community sensing and co-creation through the following methods:

2.1. Community Sensing and Needs Identification¶

Objective: To understand community challenges, aspirations, and contextual needs, particularly in education, health, and employment.
Methodology:
Participatory Listening Sessions: Conduct sessions within local community centers to capture grassroots perspectives.
Focus Groups: Segment by demographics (e.g., youth, women, informal workers) to gather tailored insights.
Community Surveys: Use digital and offline surveys to reach a broader audience for quantitative data collection.

2.2. Resource Identification and Mapping¶

Objective: To identify existing community assets, skills, and potential for collaboration.
Methodology:
Community Resource Mapping: Collaborative workshops to map community assets (e.g., educational institutions, healthcare facilities, local businesses).
Skill Inventory: Cataloging community skills for capacity building and employment opportunities.
Stakeholder Network Analysis: Identifying influential community figures and organizations for strategic alliances.

2.3. Collaborative Solution Development¶

Objective: To co-create impactful solutions leveraging community insights and technological innovation.
Methodology:
Co-Creation Workshops: Facilitated sessions where community members ideate and prototype solutions with tech developers.
Design Thinking Labs: Multi-stakeholder labs for iterative solution design and feedback.
Feedback Loops: Establishing continuous feedback systems to refine solutions based on community input.

3. Community Alignment and Engagement¶

To foster meaningful participation and long-term engagement, the strategy focuses on building community alignment through trust, relevance, and empowerment:

3.1. Value Proposition and Motivation¶

Why They Would Participate:
Tangible Benefits: Improved education, employment opportunities, healthcare accessibility, and economic empowerment.
Skills and Knowledge: Access to digital literacy programs, leadership training, and entrepreneurial resources.
Community Empowerment: Inclusion in decision-making processes, fostering ownership and social empowerment.

3.2. Ensuring Inclusivity and Representation¶

Objective: To amplify marginalized voices and ensure equitable representation.
Strategy:
Targeted Outreach: Engage community leaders, religious organizations, and local influencers for inclusive participation.
Inclusive Dialogue Formats: Utilize storytelling, culturally sensitive communication, and local languages.
Feedback Integration: Establish systems for continuous community feedback to ensure relevant solutions.

3.3. Capacity Building and Empowerment¶

Objective: To empower community members with skills, leadership, and tools for sustainable development.
Strategy:
Workshops and Training: Digital literacy, leadership development, and entrepreneurial skill-building programs.
Mentorship Programs: Partnering with local and global experts for continuous learning.
Resource Access: Providing digital tools and resources to enable community-driven innovation.

4. App Ideas and Prototyping Directions¶

To facilitate community engagement and solution development, the following app concepts can be prototyped:

4.1. Community Feedback Platform¶

Objective: To enable transparent and continuous dialogue between community members and stakeholders.
Features:
Real-time surveys and polls for community feedback.
Interactive mapping of community needs and resources.
Discussion forums moderated by community leaders.

4.2. Local Resource Mapping Tool¶

Objective: To enhance resource visibility and optimize utilization.
Features:
Geotagging community assets, including educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and local businesses.
Skill-sharing network to connect community talent with opportunities.
Collaborative planning tools for community initiatives.

4.3. Digital Learning and Mentorship Platform¶

Objective: To bridge educational gaps and promote digital literacy.
Features:
E-learning modules on digital skills, entrepreneurship, and vocational training.
Mentorship network connecting students with professionals and educators.
Community knowledge-sharing platform for continuous learning.

4.4. Tricycle Operations and Mobility Platform¶

Objective: To enhance urban mobility and digital financial inclusion for tricycle operators.
Features:
Digital payment systems for fare collection and financial inclusion.
Fleet management tools for efficient operations and route optimization.
Community reporting for safety and urban mobility challenges.

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