# Exploring the Risks of Green Crowdsourcing in South Africa: The Case of Dilivari
## 4 Results
### Connectivity Risks
In addition, frequent load shedding in South Africa is a risk that undermines the effective performance of the green crowdsourcing application. Most of the participants in the FGDs mentioned the risk to connectivity posed by power cuts. One participant in an FGD highlighted the impact of electricity cuts, saying that 'The major challenge in load shedding which has become rampant by Eskom times makes connectivity difficult. Furthermore, the participants will have challenges to operate during the load shedding periods especially in townships and rural areas'. Stakeholders suggested several strategies to address power cuts. The first group argued that building offline capability in the green crowdsourcing application is critical for the risk management of electricity cuts in South Africa. A participant argued that 'The suggestion of making the application to operate offline is a major strategy for improvement of the connectivity to meet the required conditions'. The participants were pessimistic about using the application offline if this involved the use of satellite, which would be equally expensive. One participant remarked 'The gentleman mentioned something about using the software offline. And is that going to be possible? Because if we're going to be using the normal network that everyone uses, I think it's going to be difficult when there is load shedding. So, are we going to be connected into a satellite network, which I think will be more expensive and it might exclude other people who might not afford the services and that can also please get clarity on that?'. There was an argument about collaboration as an approach to addressing the risks posed by power cuts. Partnership and collaboration between the various key players such as internet providers, government, Eskom and academia could find appropriate solutions for the effective management of the provision of electricity such as generators. A partnership between such stakeholders would be vital in bringing people together to improve green crowdsourcing. The delivery of a green crowdsourcing application could face enormous challenges in solving the Last-Mile Logistics in South Africa because of issues with smartphone penetration. This was highlighted during the FGDs. A participant argued that 'Smartphone penetration, it's a problem in Africa and South Africa so the last mile mainly in what I have experienced because my stores are in township last mile those guys don't have access to smart phones'. A lack of mobile phones makes the last-mile penetration of the supply chain very difficult when using green crowdsourcing applications. A concerted effort is needed to improve smartphone access in rural communities and townships. Furthermore, this participant suggested that in order to improve the performance of last-mile logistics in these rural areas, various key players in the industry would have to combine their efforts to increase mobile phone penetration: 'Emphasis has to be put in place on partnership and collaboration with the different industry players and stakeholders in improving access of mobile phones. I think it's a good initiative but I think it will need collaborating effort from all industries especially in that [it] has to do with impact and more impact will be in line with our township economy and so forth'. This would be critical in ensuring that people in townships and rural areas are in a position to use crowdsourcing applications. The study also established that high data costs affect the success of green crowdsourcing in South Africa. The participants in the PGDs identified high data costs as impeding participation in crowdsourcing by community members. Participation in crowdsourcing requires internet connectivity but costs prohibit individuals from participating in it, especially in townships and rural areas. One of the participants in an FGD challenged the researchers by questioning the logic of a project that required the use of the internet, yet with prohibitive data costs.