The international response to the ongoing famine in the Horn of Africa has been deemed too slow by a host of observers and some people on the ground. However, the relief effort is gradually improving. One indication of this improvement is the ingenious ways in which ICT is being used to bring attention to the disaster and enable people from around the world to contribute to the relief effort.

Here’s a round-up of some ways in which ICT is being used to aid the response.

• The launch of Kenya4Kenyans, an indigenous campaign built around an app which allows Kenyans (and others) to learn about the gravity of the famine gripping the region, and donate via mobile payment, enabled by m-pessa. It is user-friendly with only a couple of screens and few links to click. The reviews for this app suggests that it works well despite its very basic features.. Kenyans4Kenya is backed by m-pesa, Safaricom Foundation, KCB Foundation, Kenya Red Cross and Media Owners Association… an all Kenyan line-up. Learn more about Kenyans4Kenya here.

More about Kenya4Kenyans

• There has been a Twitterfest, too. Africans have been mobilizing like never before, asking for the international community to send aid, and even prescribing what kinds and where to send it. The International Business Times says more than twenty tweets per minute regarding the famine is being produced. The leading hashtags are #HornOfAfrica, #Famine, #Drought, #Somalia, #Kenya and #Ethiopia.

• The World Food Program’s (WFP’s) social media initiative, WeFeedback, which allows you to donate in a fun and meaningful way, has also taken off tremendously. Learn more about WeFeedback here.

• 40 Hour Famine 2.0 for iPhone/iPod Touch. This is World Vision Australia’s official famine iPhone application, a mobile companion to the 40 Hour Famine website. Here’s a detailed description provided by the developers “… allowing you to monitor your progress towards your 40 Hour Famine target, to access a secure iPhone formatted donation website so you can collect donations straight from your iPhone, and to mail your friends from the app, or let everyone know you’re doing the 40 Hour Famine on facebook, twitter and myspace. You can even access the 40 Hour Famine stories, videos and facts about the Global Food Crisis and the focus countries of the fundraiser.Our 40 Hour Famine goat helper will encourage you along the way, with important messages and encouragements leading up to, during and after the 40 Hour Famine weekend.It’s free, and it’s a great way to track your progress and fundraising in this year’s 40 Hour Famine.Our 40 Hour Famine goat helper will encourage you along the way, with important messages and encouragements leading up to, during and after the 40 Hour Famine weekend. It’s free, and it’s a great way to track your progress and fundraising in this year’s 40 Hour Famine.”