About us

Molotech was founded in November 2003 in Cape Town, South Africa, by professionals from the non-profit, government and commercial sectors.

Mission Statement

Molotech is a section 21 not-for-profit company that supports the effective use of information and communication technology (ICT) for development by providing ICT-enablement services to local civil society organisations, educational institutions and government.

Vision

Molotech envisions an information society where the appropriate use of ICT furthers development, where people are empowered and not marginalised by technology.

The Civil Society Declaration to the World Summit on the Information Society is a comprehensive statement on the use of ICTs in development to which we subscribe. The first two paragraphs are as follows:

At the heart of our vision of information and communications societies is the human being. The dignity and rights of all peoples and each person must be promoted, respected, protected and affirmed. Redressing the inexcusable gulf between levels of development and between opulence and extreme poverty must therefore be our prime concern.

We are committed to building information and communication societies that are people-centred, inclusive and equitable. Societies in which everyone can freely create, access, utilise, share and disseminate information and knowledge, so that individuals, communities and peoples are empowered to improve their quality of life and to achieve their full potential. Societies founded on the principles of social, political, and economic justice, and peoples’ full participation and empowerment, and thus societies that truly address the key development challenges facing the world today. Societies that pursue the objectives of sustainable development, democracy, and gender equality, for the attainment of a more peaceful, just, egalitarian and thus sustainable world, premised on the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

What we Do

We undertake projects where ICT is an enabling tool in the promotion of equal opportunities in developing world situations. This includes the following services:

If there is scope to deliver an existing ICT application to local parties, we will endeavour to assist through training, awareness raising or any other form of support.

Project Criteria

We only take on projects that are funded and ICT-related. Our flagship project is the Digital Hero Book.

Target Audience

Project beneficiaries may be constituents of any of these organisations.

Who we Are

Molotech has the following Directors of the Board:

Board Members are:

Where we Work

Our focus is on ICT in for development in South Africa. Many South African solutions and projects can be applied to other African and developing countries.

How we are Supported

Molotech is supported through fee-based project work, grants, individual donations and in-kind contributions. If you would like to offer support please contact us.

Operating Principles

Molotech is independent of any government or political ideology, or religious creed. Our work is guided by the common desire of our members and supporters to find practical, technology-driven solutions to development challenges.

We endeavour to operate in an ethical and environmentally aware manner, and support local suppliers and products where possible.

Values Statement

To achieve its vision, Molotech recognises and upholds the following values:

  1. We recognise that the benefits of ICT for development (ICT4D) projects are diverse and can include financial or social benefits. Thus when applied appropriately, ICTs can reap a social return on investment.
  2. Where possible, we support the use of open source software (OSS).
  3. We actively endeavour to share knowledge and project lessons, and therefore publish all our work as open content under a creative commons licence.
  4. We favour projects and initiatives that are replicable and sustainable.
  5. Where possible we support local services and products.
  6. We endeavour to be transparent and accountable in all operations.
  7. We seek to cooperate, rather than compete, with established service providers, other non-profit organisations and individuals working in the ICT for development space.