Research consultancy – AI for Impact – Global Use Cases At GSMA Mobile for Development

Project Overview

The GSMA is looking to demonstrate the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies such as Big Data, IoT, drones and remote sensing in low and middle income countries (LMICs) where they can leverage good quality, contextual data and mobile operator partnerships for scale.

At GSMA, we have been observing a gradual implementation of AI and emerging technologies by the organisations, that we directly support through grant funding and technical assistance. These innovators are looking to scale their solutions and future proof business models by using AI and other emerging technologies that generate rich data. Appropriately implemented (i.e. with the right privacy and ethical considerations), these technologies offer significant opportunities.

The GSMA Mobile for Development team is now looking to increase its support to innovators in low- and middle-income countries as they develop more intelligent, data driven and scalable digital solutions that are powered by AI and other emerging technologies. As part of this effort, we are looking for a research firm to conduct rapid, action-oriented research to identify and assess use cases and specific examples of impact-driven digital solutions that leverage AI and emerging technologies in LMICs. This research should help us to obtain a comprehensive overview of the ecosystem in LMICs and to prioritise relevant opportunities for the GSMA and its partners. The GSMA is particularly interested in understanding where the mobile industry (mobile operators) can add the most value in impact-driven digital innovations that leverage AI and emerging technologies.

Research questions

The supplier is expected to provide an analytical output that answers the key research questions as outlined below:

1. What are the examples of impact-driven digital solutions that are using AI in conjunction with mobile technologies generating data (e.g. Mobile Big Data, IoT, drones)?
2. What are the examples of impact-driven digital solutions that are using AI in conjunction with other emerging technologies that are not mobile technologies (e.g. blockchain, remote sensing)?
3. How can mobile operators add value to impact-drive AI/emerging tech innovations in LMICs? (e.g. mobile operator partnerships, additionality of mobile technologies/mobile derived data)?
4. What is the additional value (e.g. scalability, business efficiency, service improvements) that AI and emerging technologies bring to impact-led digital solutions?
5. How is the use of emerging technologies helping solution providers to achieve scale? What other benefits (business efficiency, service improvements) do they bring to innovators?
6. What are the key challenges (technology, operations, business-related) in using a combination of emerging technologies for impact-led digital solutions?
7. What kind of support do service providers require to deploy these innovations?
8. What examples and best practices exist in the effective use of emerging technologies by service providers?
9. Which countries are witnessing greater adoption of impact-driven digital solutions that are using AI in conjunction with other emerging technologies? What are the key enabling factors at country-level?
10. What sectors are experiencing greater activity, and why?

Methodology

The research supplier is expected to undertake qualitative research, both primary and secondary, including literature review and semi-structured interviews of identified service providers across the regions of interest.

After agreeing with GSMA key criteria for selection and prioritisation of initiatives, secondary research, in conjunction with 5-10 key informant interviews (KIIs), should provide an understanding of the current use of AI and other emerging technologies for impact-led solutions across the regions of interest. Secondary research should serve to map out key solutions and providers.

Having identified key use cases and solutions, the supplier is expected to conduct interviews with all prioritised service providers, and where relevant with key partners. To provide, as much as possible, a comprehensive view across sectors and geographies, the supplier is expected to produce a minimum of thirty case studies.

It is expected that the project will be kicked off on 7th August 2024 and completed by 14th February 2025.