2010年-世界发展银行全球_Development_Marketplace____A_Sillicon_Valley_for_Development_3页_271kb

Development Marketplace Summary

Core Content

The Development Marketplace is a pioneering initiative launched by the World Bank in 1999, aimed at fostering innovation in international development. The program was designed to open up the Bank's innovation process to the global community, allowing grassroots organizations, experts, and innovators from around the world to submit ideas for potential funding and support. This approach marked a significant shift from the Bank's previous internally-focused innovation efforts.

Main Views

• Innovation as a Driver of Change: The author argues that innovation is essential for development and that the World Bank must embrace it as part of its mandate. The program was initially met with skepticism, but over time, it has proven to be a valuable mechanism for identifying and supporting impactful innovations.

• Openness and Transparency: The Development Marketplace leveraged the power of openness to bring together diverse participants, including community leaders, scientists, and legal experts. This openness is now seen as a cultural norm, driven by technological advancements that have made information sharing easier and more widespread.

• Diversity of Ideas: The program's success was attributed to the diversity of participants, which allowed for the emergence of novel and radical ideas. This aligns with the concept that individuals at the margins of social networks may be more likely to introduce disruptive innovations.

• Role of the World Bank in Innovation: While the Bank's primary role is to support development through financing, it can also act as a catalyst for innovation by creating an environment that encourages experimentation and the adoption of new ideas.

Key Information

• Initial Skepticism: When the Development Marketplace was first proposed, many within the World Bank were skeptical about its effectiveness and questioned whether it was appropriate for the Bank to be involved in innovation.

• First Competition (2000): The first Development Marketplace competition attracted a significant number of proposals, despite the initial doubts. The author humorously notes that they ended up receiving 1,138 proposals from over 100 countries, which was more than the original estimate of 400.

• Impact of Technology: The document highlights how technology has transformed the way ideas are shared and developed. It has enabled exponential growth in connectivity, making it easier for innovations to emerge, be tested, and implemented at a faster pace than ever before.

• Future Challenges: The author suggests that the World Bank should move beyond competitions and create a supportive ecosystem for innovation. This includes fostering a culture of design thinking, taking an analytical lead in understanding the sources and conditions of innovation, and encouraging more continuous and collaborative approaches to development.

Conclusion

The Development Marketplace has demonstrated the potential of open innovation in the context of international development. It has not only challenged traditional approaches but also laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and dynamic process of idea generation and implementation. The program's legacy is evident in the growing recognition of innovation as a critical component of development, and the World Bank is increasingly seen as a leader in this field.

References

• Granovetter, Mark. "The Impact of Social Structure on Economic Outcomes." Journal of Economic Perspectives, Winter 2004.
• Tapscott, Don. Grown up Digital. 2009 McGraw-Hill.
• Pew Internet & American Life Project. The Future of the Internet—III. 2008.
• Zinnes, Clifford F. Tournament Approaches to Policy Reform. Brookings Institution Press, 2009.