Category : Best Innovation in SDG Inclusion
HONORABLE MENTION
Innovation Title : bdapps – The National App Store of Bangladesh
Organization : Robi Axiata Limited
Background
In a nation of 165 million grappling for opportunities, bdapps was born out of the vision to mobilize different communities to come together, bringing the Digital Vision of Bangladesh to life. With this in mind, Robi Axiata Limited sought to put to work the strongest tool in its kit- its vast telecom network. Using the API Hub of bdapps along with Robi network, anybody can create an app, begin its distribution and generate a steady revenue stream. Not only is this economically promising, but it encourages more people to join the digital workforce and use this platform to support their respective communities, solve social challenges and rise as a community champion and NextGen digital leader.
Objectives
The objectives Bdapps wanted to achieve with their community engagement campaign were:
■ Mitigate the gap in digital skills.
■ Create a monetization model for the app developers of.
■ Bangladesh Offer alternative employment or earning opportunities for the youth of the country.
■ Reach out to as many educational institutions in all corners of the country for a truly nationwide impact.
■ Increase female participation in bdapps as well as in the overall ICT workforce.
■ Accelerate the creation of NextGen community leaders.
The Idea
The core idea at the center of bdapps is to encourage the monetization of digital apps and services, making it possible for people to enter the digital workplace while targeting different segments such as university students, young female graduates, freelancers and even homemakers. This approach enabled Robi to take targeted action as per each segment’s needs; meanwhile bdapps offered them the building blocks for their own personal and professional growth in the digital sector.
Execution
bdapps, being a Telco-based API hub, enables anybody to join the platform, build an app and start monetizing it right away. Being a wonderfully simple digital platform, it reached out to all the different communities and wanted to impact to begin their journey. bdapps launched the largest campus ambassador program in Bangladesh to bring on students from remote and obscure institutions to secure their future here. The She Squad Program, targeted towards females, served not onto to increase their participation in the digital workforce, but also encouraged stay-at-home mothers and homemakers to pave their own paths towards financial independence.
Value Addition
Bangladesh is teeming with talented youth struggling to find their footing in a competitive workforce. Despite having brilliant ideas, they are unable to craft a sustainable go-to-market that supports their own livelihoods. bdapps enables them to bring their such ideas to life, properly monetize them, creating a sustainable revenue stream.
Result and Impact
Till date, bdapps has a cumulative of 25000 Developers, 45000 Applications and 13500 Female Developers. Meanwhile, through the various community-centric programs, bdapps is also working on nurturing a generation of leaders. bdapps Campus Ambassador Program is exemplary in terms of nationwide impact- with 100+ Campus Ambassadors from universities all over Bangladesh. bdapps She Squad Program has increased female participation in bdapps by 133% in an effort to encourage more women to join the digital workforce. Each of these people whom it is proud to recognize as bdapps Developers are earning an average of 30000 Taka/Month as revenue generated from their apps. Moreover, instead of just focusing on central Dhaka, bdapps has quickly expanded its operations to other regions including Chattagram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal.