Southern Innovator as a Knowledge and Learning Tool | November 2017

Why even bother printing (on paper) Southern Innovator as a magazine? "What about the trees and we live in the digital age!", some might say.

There is evidence and science supporting the need to always publish Southern Innovator in print as well as online. First, a study of the World Bank's online publications came to a shocking conclusion: A survey in 2014 found a third of World Bank publications are never downloaded, 40 per cent were downloaded just 100 times, and only 13 per cent were downloaded more than 250 times in their lifetime (The Washington Post). As The Washington Post pointed out, these are publicly funded publications with the intention of contributing to policy debates and providing solutions to the world's problems. So, if nobody is reading them, or just a handful are, that actually does matter if you care about positive change in the world.

Secondly, a Norwegian study in 2014 from the Stavanger University (part of Europe-wide research into the impact of digitisation on the reading experience), found "... that paper readers did report higher on measures having to do with empathy and transportation and immersion, and narrative coherence, than iPad readers," according to lead researcher Anne Mangen (The Guardian).

An earlier study the researchers did also found "students who read texts in print scored significantly better on the reading comprehension test than students who read the texts digitally" and that "Studies with students, for instance, have shown that they often prefer to read on paper", continued Mangen in The Guardian.   

Another issue is Internet shutdowns, outages and censorship. All of these have been on the increase, especially in Africa (africanews.com). To put it simply, you cannot electronically shutdown a piece of paper. 

Design to show and teach.

Innovations Summary.

Innovations Summary.

A fast-changing world.

Knowledge Summary.

Knowledge Summary.

Being a Southern Innovator: An Urban Guide.

Turning Waste into Wealth: A Southern Innovator's Guide.

Managing the workflow: Getting things done.

© southerninnovator.com 2017

© David South Consulting 2017

Southern Innovator on the UNOSSC Website | November 2017

Southern Innovator among the South-South publications available from the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).

Southern Innovator among the South-South publications available from the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).

All five issues of Southern Innovator available from the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).

© southerninnovator.com 2017

© David South Consulting 2017

Southern Innovator Scale-up | 2017

Pitch + Vision

Team Biographies

Funding Phases

Phase 1

Design Specifications for Southern Innovator Magazine 1.0

Southern Innovator (2007-2017)

Editor-in-Chief: Cosmas Gitta

Editor and Writer: David South

Consultant: David South

Magazine

Editor-in-Chief: Cosmas Gitta

Editor and Writer: David South

Consultant: David South

Managing Editor: Audette Bruce

Copy Editor: Barbara Brewka

Circulation Manager: Amanda Armoogam

Published: 2011 to 2015

Electronic issues: ISSN 2222-9280

Issue 3: ISSN 2227-0523  

Issue 4: ISBN 978-0-9920217-0-2

Issue 5: ISBN 978-0-9920217-1-9

Font: Akkurat

Format: 60 pages full colour

Paper: Paper from responsible sources www.fsc.org and Nordic Ecolabelled Printer 141825

Energy: 100% renewable sources

Produced according to the UN Global Compact unglobalcompact.org

Countries: Canada/Iceland/United Kingdom/USA

Development Team (2010-2011)

Editor-in-Chief: Cosmas Gitta

Editor and Writer: David South

Managing Editor: Audette Bruce

Copy Editor: Barbara Brewka

Graphic Designer and Illustrator: Sólveig Rolfsdóttir 

Design and Layout: Sólveig Rolfsdóttir and Eva Hronn Gudnadóttir

Commissioned by: United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)

Contracted by: United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) unops.org

Implemented by: David South Consulting (United Nations Global Marketplace Vendor 375229) and solla.net

Website (www.southerninnovator.org)

Archive: www.southerninnovator.com 

Launched: 2011 

Location: New York, New York, USA

Web Design: Carina Figurasin

Content: David South

E-Newsletter (2006-2014)

Launched: 2006

Location: New York, New York, USA

Editor-in-Chief: Cosmas Gitta

Researcher and Writer: David South

Consultant: David South

Social Media and Social Sharing (2007-present)

Location: London, UK

Head: David South

Phase 2

High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, Nineteenth Session, New York, 16-19 May 2016.

In 2016, the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation urged the UNOSSC to re-start funding the publication of Southern Innovator Magazine and the influential e-newsletter Development Challenges, South-South Solutions.

Phase 3

Back Issues 

Impact 

Testimonials 

"What a tremendous magazine your team has produced! It's a terrific tour de force of what is interesting, cutting edge and relevant in the global mobile/ICT space... Really looking forward to what you produce in issues #2 and #3. This is great, engaging, relevant and topical stuff." Rose Shuman, Founder & CEO, Open Mind and Question Box

"Question Box was featured in Southern Innovator, a new publication of UNDP that profiles some of the most innovative ideas coming out of the global South. We were pleased to see many friends in the sector profiled as well, such as Ushahidi, Medic Mobile, and TxtEagle. Take a look at the magazine, as it is a great primer on ICT and mobile innovation from around the globe." Question Box News. 

"Looks great. Congratulations. It’s Brill’s Content for the 21st century!" Conan Tobias, Managing Editor, Canadian Business

What they are saying about SI on Twitter: From @CapacityPlus Nice job RT @ActevisCGroup: RT @UNDP: Great looking informative @SouthSouth1 mag on South-South Innovation; @UNDP Great looking informative @SouthSouth1 mag on South-South Innovation; @JeannineLemaire Graphically beautiful & informative @UNDP Southern Innovator mag on South-South Innov. 

And on Pinterest:

Peggy Lee • 1 year ago 

"Beautiful, inspiring magazine from UNDP on South-South innovation. Heart is pumping adrenaline and admiration just reading it"

“@SouthSouth1 is one of the best sources out there for news and info on #solutions to #SouthSouth challenges.” Adam Rogers, Assistant Director, Regional Representative, Europe, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)

"I liked your latest Southern innovator! Always inspiring." Joana Breidenbach, betterplace.org, Berlin, Germany

"Thank you David - Your insight into the issues facing us a[s] [a] "global Village" is made real in the detail of your article - 10 out of 10 from the moladi team." Moladi, South Africa (http://www.moladi.net/index.htm)

Documents

 

We accept payments and donations here: https://www.paypal.me/davidsouthconsulting

© southerninnovator.com 2017

© David South Consulting 2017

Southern Innovator and Development Challenges, South-South Solutions | UNOSSC Client

Since 2007, DS Consulting has been working with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) in UNDP (formerly the United Nations Development Programme’s Special Unit for South-South Cooperation), tracking the most exciting event of our times: the rise of the global South as an economic powerhouse. Learn more about South-South cooperation from Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South%E2%80%93South_cooperation.

On top of documenting the trends and new players shaping this fast-changing world, DS Consulting worked on developing Southern Innovator, launched in May 2011. Southern Innovator (ISSN 2222-9280) is designed by Icelandic graphic designer Sólveig Rolfsdóttir and is intended to showcase innovation-led ways people across the global South are making money and fighting poverty. It is being distributed around the world and online.

“As a communicator, UNOSSC uses a variety of tools to promote, advocate for and share information on South-South cooperation. These tools, which have enabled partners to take leadership and ownership roles, show results and claim credibility, include the annual United Nations Day for SSC, exhibitions at the GSSD Expo [Global South-South Development Expo], Southern Innovator, the quarterly multi-agency “South-South in Action” and the Creative Economy Report.” Compilation of Case Studies on Management of South-South and Triangular Cooperation, March 2015, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Strategic framework of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, 2014-2017

In 2013, the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Office for Project Services had this to say:

"In providing secretariat services to the High-level Committee, UNOSSC will provide Member States with evidence-based research and analysis on trends, opportunities and challenges to South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation through reports prepared in collaboration with other United Nations organizations, including the annual reports of the Secretary-General on the state of South-South cooperation, biennial reports to the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, policy briefs, public statements, advocacy e-newsletters, the Southern Innovator magazine and many other publications on South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, as resources permit."

View the PDF of the Strategic Framework for South-South Cooperation here: http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/cooperation/en/south_south/docs/unossc_strategic_framework_2014-2017.pdf

Two e-book compilations are also available showing key documents and artwork from the magazine since 2011.

Southern Innovator Magazine from 2012 to 2014: A compilation of documents from the magazine's recent years

Southern Innovator Magazine from 2012 to 2014: A compilation of documents from the magazine's recent years 

Southern Innovator Magazine from 2011 to 2012: A compilation of documents from the magazine's early years 

From 1997 to 1999 I headed the UN's Communications Office in Mongolia. This was a time of great change and crisis in the country. In 1998, I wrote an update on the unfolding political crisis. Mongolia Update - Coverage of 1998 Political Changes can be downloaded here. Some highlights from this briefing include an introduction to the new prime minister (and now current president) and an explanation of the turbulent forces behind Asia's newest democracy. A lively account of this time is Wild East: Travels in the New Mongolia by Jill Lawless. For a thorough account of Mongolia's transition experience, try reading Modern Mongolia: From Khans to Commissars to Capitalists by Morris Rossabi.

Curated content is now also online. This includes:

Mongolia Crisis 1997 to 1999 Resources

GOSH Child Health Portal 2001 to 2003 Resources

 

© David South Consulting 2017

Update on Monday, March 9, 2020 at 3:56AM by David South

The stories featured in the United Nations e-newsletter Development Challenges, South-South Solutions (2006-2014) have been cited in many books and papers. One example is Autonomous Systems in the Intelligence Community: Many Possibilities and Challenges by Jenny R. Holzer, PhD, and Franklin L. Moses, PhD in Studies in Intelligence Vol 59, No. 1 (Extracts, March 2015). Read the full article here: https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-59-no-1/pdfs/Studies-Extracts.pdf

Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Unclassified).

Autonomous Systems in the Intelligence Community: Many Possibilities and Challenges by Jenny R. Holzer, PhD, and Franklin L. Moses, PhD in Studies in Intelligence Vol 59, No. 1 (Extracts, March 2015).

Autonomous Systems in the Intelligence Community: Many Possibilities and Challenges by Jenny R. Holzer, PhD, and Franklin L. Moses, PhD in Studies in Intelligence Vol 59, No. 1 (Extracts, March 2015).

Getting Read Matters: International Development Publications | 11 June 2016

 

As the Internet has grown, those working in development have responded in kind by broadening access to what they write: publishing online is now routine. There are many platforms out there encouraging transparent publishing - www.archive.org, www.scribd.com, www.slideshare.net, www.academia.edu, www.books.google.com, etc. - making it easy to share.

For decades, international development organizations have run vast publishing and research programmes. But prior to the Internet, it was just not possible to access this material and the knowledge and data within without a trip to the library or a UN HQ. The Internet has made it much easier to find out what is out there but there is still the thorny issue of "is anyone reading this stuff?". One survey unearthed a problem: many publications were being read by a very small audience, or nobody at all.

A survey in 2014 of the World Bank's publications, for example, produced a shocking result: it found a third of their publications are never downloaded, 40 per cent were downloaded just 100 times, and only 13 per cent were downloaded more than 250 times in their lifetime (The Washington Post). As The Washington Post pointed out, these are publicly funded publications with the intention of contributing to policy debates and providing solutions to the world's problems. So, if nobody is reading them, or just a handful are, that actually does matter if you care about positive change in the world.

We pride ourselves on creating publications that actually get read. It is risky: when you inspire people, they may just act on what you write. The gatekeepers of development knowledge have developed many ways to uninspire people: they bury documents in jargon and obfuscation, they don't bother telling anyone about a publication, they charge people who can least afford to pay for the publication first-world, dollar prices. Or, as has happened more and more these days, they contact Google to try and get publications obliterated from search engines, so nobody can find them in the first place.

We draw on experience gleaned from working with complex organizations staffed by highly educated people doing complicated things. This has included working on the UN's communications during a severe crisis in late 1990s Mongolia, transforming online access to child health resources for the UK's NHS, and championing innovation across the global South.

The Scribd platform is used by many public bodies to archive documents. It is as good a place as any to make a comparison. So, how do our various resources compare when it comes to communicating on the topics of innovation/innovators, human development and the global South?

How has Southern Innovator's first five issues faired on Scribd?:

And if we search using the words 'global South innovator', we can compare Southern Innovator with other publications and see how many views each has had:

In 1997 I worked as the Managing Editor for the first Mongolian Human Development Report while serving as Head of Communications for the UN in Mongolia. Read more about this project here: http://www.davidsouthconsulting.com/case-studies/human-development-report-mongolia-1997.html. It still attracts readers all these years later.

 

Southern Innovator has become one of the most viewed resources on Scribd for UNDP and innovators, human development and innovators, and global South and innovators.

Southern Innovator Impact Summary 1: http://www.slideshare.net/DavidSouth1/handout-flyer-finalaug14cropmarks

Southern Innovator Impact Summary 2: http://www.slideshare.net/DavidSouth1/si-impact-summaryjan2014final