UNICEF’s Tap Project: Noble Controversy

The recent and innovative launch of UNICEF’s Smartphone app, “Tap project”, has not gone unnoticed over the last few weeks. In a time of excessive dependence on our mobile phones, the idea of disconnecting ourselves from technology for a certain time in exchange for the supply of clean water to sub-Saharan countries seems to have inspired a wave of benefic feeling amongst developed countries.

The simplistic idea of collecting funds via the donation of time, not money, seems to have attracted widespread attention and generated enthusiasm amongst citizens over an innovative new donation mechanism — an idea that perhaps would have been left by the wayside without the UNICEF brand name, which seems to instill an unprecedented confidence over its intentions. This exciting and adaptive project has mediated awareness of an issue which most people morally support yet are still reluctant to contribute to financially by combining a humanitarian contribution with an interactive personal challenge.

Nevertheless, there are also some critics to this initiative, who recognise that the project does raise awareness in regards to the 1,400 children who die every day from diseases directly related to unsafe water. Their claim, however, is that it is morally unacceptable that the provision of a vital need like water is deemed to be dependent on the usage that one wishes to make of a smartphone app. In fact, Tap Project gives its users the power to decide on how much water they want to kindly donate –though it is not even their water. As a result of such trivialization this humanitarian platform is arguably undermined by the condescending nature of this project. As UNICEF state, “water is life” and anyone (?) would argue that life cannot be subject to a frivolous app. Neither should water.

On the one hand, the practically sure increase of provided quantities of water; and on the other hand the “tap” control given to individuals. Divided opinions over whether this project offers a solution or rather an ethical problem invite to a reflection over what is and what ought to be.