Crowdsourcing in and for the UN System

Joseph GaylordITU Telecom World Young Innovators Competition

C CONSULTANT NOT CONSIDERED ITU STAFF

VIEWS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF THE ITU OR OTHER UN BODIES

ITU Crowdsourcing Projects

• Summer 2013- BYND2015 Global Youth Summit• Fall 2013- SG Dialogues and Global Programme

for Youth• Spring 2014- Young Innovators Competition• Summer 2014- Youth Resolution• Spring 2015- Cocreate.itu.int

Summer-Fall 2013• Crowdsourced input on

the post-2015 development agenda

• 3000+ young people• First crowdsourced UN

Declaration• SG Dialogues and GPY

then followed up

• Competition for young social entrepreneurs• Moved to a crowdsourcing platform• Built a more collaborative community • Improved our users access to resources and

added value beyond competition

COCREATE.ITU.INT

• Democratization of the process and improved openness and transparency

• Helping to build a community and mobilize networks on major issues

2 Main Benefits

Democratization

• Always a goal of UN reform• Crowdsourcing gives individuals a voice• More representative, less political • Inverts the development conversation

Inverting the ConversationTraditional Development Crowdsourced Development

Experts Experts

Community Community

Community Mobilization• Major UN priority• UN has tremendous convening power• Draws on a broad base of expertise and

resources• Makes connections• Invests your community in your work

Relationships and Networks

Relationships and Networks

Relationships and Networks

Bad Reasons To Crowdsource• It’s cheaper than hiring experts– You have to bring value back to your people

• It’s a faster or easier process– Processing this much data is NOT

• It’s the new big thing– Have a good reason to use it

• We need to show support for our ideas– This isn’t about you and your ideas

Tips to Succeed

• Let go of the control to some extent• Let your users lead your process• They are probably having the

conversation already. So go where they are and leverage existing networks

Tips to Succeed

Tips to Succeed• Give back• Obsess over the motivation of and

benefit to your participants• Make sure to show gratitude and respect• Don’t poison the well

Tips to Succeed• Use your profile• We’re the United Nations• Use your connections for promotion

• Be honest and open about the process• Show the progress you’re making• Use your purpose for promotion

Thank You

Joseph GaylordJoseph.Gaylord@itu.int

@jgaylord87Photo Credits:ITU & UN Flickr Accounts, Personal Records