Authors: Muhammad Yakubu Yakubu
Abstract: The proliferation of mobile applications in Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) has delivered critical social and health benefits across low-resource settings. However, these digital solutions often impose hidden environmental costs including high energy consumption, accelerated device obsolescence, and electronic waste that undermine their long-term sustainability and equity. This paper introduces and empirically validates the Environmental Mobile App Impact Assessment (EMAIA), a novel framework designed to measure and mitigate the sustainability impacts of ICT4D (Information and Communication Technology for Development) applications. Through a comprehensive case study of Nigeria's RedRose One app used by 128 frontline health workers in Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention campaigns we demonstrate EMAIA’s practical utility across five key dimensions: Energy Consumption, Device Lifecycle, Network Utilization, E-Waste Contribution, and Carbon Emissions. Survey results reveal a significant environmental and user burden: 77.3% of workers report excessive battery drain, 60.2% were compelled to upgrade devices specifically for app compatibility, 70.3% face high data costs, and 49.2% have disposed of devices due to compatibility issues. These indicators culminate in a poor overall EMAIA score of 1.90/5.00, highlighting a critical disconnect between the app’s public health objective and its unsustainable operational footprint. Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses further underscores user priorities, with 62% of suggestions advocating for robust offline functionality and 41% requesting broader compatibility with older and low-specification devices. The study establishes that environmental sustainability in ICT4D is not a peripheral concern but is intrinsically linked to equity, accessibility, and long-term viability. By making environmental impacts measurable and actionable, the EMAIA framework provides developers, practitioners, and policymakers with an essential tool to align digital innovation with the Sustainable Development Goals. We argue for the mandatory integration of such assessments into the ICT4D project lifecycle to ensure that technological progress delivers social benefits without imposing ecological costs or financial burdens on the communities it aims to serve.
