Precall: 4th International Conference on Mobile Communication for Development (M4D)

M4D is a growing academic field in the wider ICT-for-Development field. Driving the recognition for M4D is the Center for HumanIT at Karlstad University in Sweden that has organised 3 international biennial conferences in M4D. These occasions have brought practitioners, academics, techies and policy makers together firmly establishing the role of mobile devices but more specifically the mobile phone in development efforts.

The first conference was held at Karlstad University, in Karlstad Sweden in 2008. The second conference, in 2010, in Kampala, Uganda and the third was in New Delhi, India, February 2012. HumanIT in a bid to further the inclusiveness of the conference, has decided together with Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar to hold M4D2014 in Senegal, 8-9 April 2014. Acknowledging the underrepresentation of the Francophone, and West African audience at the previous conferences, the aim is to expand the knowledge of M4D with research, policy initiatives as well as development processes that have a mobile component from this region.

Important dates: Abstract submission deadline 1 October 2013; acceptance note 15 January 2014. Final papers due 15 February 2014. For more details on how to submit, participate and register, see conference website: www.m4d2014.com.