MVAM Free Basics - WFP Remote Access Secure Services
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mVAM Free Basics
What is Free Basics?
• Initiative by Facebook that aims to bring free
internet to the 2/3 of the world’s population who
don’t have access to it
• Websites with basic content like: news, employment
opportunities, health, education and local
information are available for free with no data
charges
• No need to have a Facebook account to access it
• Available in 62 countries
Why Malawi?
• mVAM country since December 2015 - weekly
market price collection
• Food security situation
• two consecutive seasons were poor:
2015/16 was characterized by flooding, and
2016/17 saw prolonged and severe El Niño-
induced dryness that decimated maize
production.
• Free Basics In Malawi since May 2015
• 2 MNO providers support free basics:
• Telecom Network Malawi (TNM)
Maize prices (MWK/kg) in
• Airtel Malawi markets, 23–29 January 2017
mVAM Malawi: Za Pamsika Aim: share food prices in response to the El- Nino induced price volatility • Piloted November 2016 – using information from WFP mVAM’s weekly market price collections • Three Sections: • Maize and beans prices • Market News • Have your say
mVAM Malawi: Za Pamsika URL: http://mvammalawi.molo.site/
Malawi and mobile internet
• Increasing coverage – Percentage of mobile subscribers
of total population in Malawi
including 4G Source: World Bank WDI
• WFP & NGOs use mobile 40
money 35
30
25
TNM: 20
• 1.6 million internet 15
subscribers 10
• Facebook bundles – 30,000 weekly 5
• Whatsapp bundles – 70,000 weekly 0
1990 2000 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Qualitative study • Interviews conducted with traders and members of the public in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Chikwawa districts (rural & urban)
Preliminary Results
Low literacy levels & English
language knowledge
reduced
• Website is available in both
English and Chichewa
• Chichewa version has a reduced
amount of text to target
populations with lower literacy
levels
Preliminary Results Commodity prices are a useful type of information to be shared for both traders and the general population - Traders – a cheaper way of setting prices - General population – budgeting and going to the best market
Preliminary Results Whilst a high population have internet-enabled phones, many people are unaware or don’t know how to use it - Chance for partnership with other NGOs/IOs - Education on internet literacy
Preliminary Results Very few people have heard of Free Basics - Only 1 person interviewed (he’d heard about it via the radio) More needs to be done in terms of advertising - Radio - Bulk SMS - Social networks
The way forward: Malawi Increase Advertising: • Bookmark site – TNM & Airtel • Adverts on Facebook • TNM & Airtel – bulk SMS adverts • Explore different communications tools – community groups, radio adverts, Handover to the Malawi country office: • Focal point be hired • Partner with ICT4D groups • Work with communication department to raise awareness External Research report as part of mVAM review by independent academic
Content Management System
Content Management System
Insights and Analytics Average users: 150-250 views per day & bias towards young men
Challenges: Are we reaching the right people? • Income • Mobile penetration • Infrastructure • Gender • Age
The way forward: Phase 2- 2017
Nigeria Kenya
Democratic
Republic of Congo Malawi
Source: GSMA Mobile Economy Africa 2016The way forward: Phase 3- 2018+
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