Africa Communication and Information Platform (ACIP) for Health and Economic Action

1 Africa Communication and Information Platform (ACIP) for Health and Economic Action Mr. Oliver Chinganya, Director, Africa Centre for Statistics 23 June 2020 COVID-19

# 2 Covid-19 has a devastating impact across the entire Socio-Economic environment in the countries There are now more than 300,000 infections across the continent. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus is expected to result in a health crisis which will cause an economic crisis resulting in a societal crisis Africa is already experiencing the overwhelming economic & social impact of responding to the virus. COVID-19 COVID-19

3 BACKGROUND This initiative is aimed at enhancing the capability of governments across the African continent to communicate and interact with the citizenry in mitigating and managing the impacts of Covid-19 . The epidemic has already demonstrated impact beyond health, as there has already been notable socio- economic impacts necessitating urgent, effective and efficient intervention. The Africa Communication and Information Platform (ACIP) for Health and Economic Action for COVID-19 responsewill complement the existing work or in planning by different governments and private sector. The platform has three major components: 1) 2) A massive online digital data set covering public information on health, economy, livelihood and food security. An Artificial Intelligence engine that explores, identifies and displays trends, information and insights and the answers to key questions which can determine where health interventions should be made, and how economic resources should be deployed, from thousands of sources including social media, including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. Provides an inbound (USSD & IVR) communication tool (with customizable content for each country), which allows governments to conduct needs assessments (Health, Food, and Economic) as well as measuring the efficacy of current COVID 19 communication, and supplements and complement population screening (through a self screener accessible to any citizen with a mobile device, including basic device users). 3) The true power of the platform is its ability to integrate both online broadband and mobile narrowband information, as well as facilitating collaboration across Mobile network operators to serve the people that live in the country. COVID-19

4 Africa Communication and Information Platform (ACIP) for Health and Economic Action Multilateral & Development Organizations USSD/IVR National Covid Task Force, Ministries of Finance & Health USSD/IVR Coordination Coordination Centre Centre Steps 1: Decision Making 2: Coordination 3: Data Collection 4: Analysis & Visualization 5: Decision Making 6: Coordination 7: Communication & Information GRID3 Information & Communication for Action Data Collection Analytics Coordination Decision-Making Coordination COVID-19

5 Economic & Health Platform Initiative . . . Platform Communication and Information for action. Supports the broadest information gathering and communication Information: Information gathering, both broadband online from social media, as well as narrowband from Mobile USSD &IVR Communication Targeted communication via USSD and IVR menu for health & other information Decision Making: Analysis and recommendation tool for government taskforces on Covid-19, inter-ministerial bodies, regional organizations and authorized PPP's. . . . . for the use of National COVID Task Forces, MOH & MOF COVID-19

# 6 Digital Technology Reach in Africa African Population Total: 1.341 billion (100%) Mobile Total: 603 million (45%) 3G/Smartphone Total: 308 million (23%) Both Digital & Narrowband Channels must be used to reach 600+ million people COVID-19

7 The Mobile USSD & IVR Platform will deliver . . . Industry collaboration to build fit-for-purpose solution Free USSD and IVR platforms for information gathering and communication Free outbound SMS to drive awareness and communication of initiatives API Access to Platform for information integration with online channels COVID-19

8 Initial Mobile Operator Partners Cover 36 African Countries 1. Benin 1. Democratic Republic of Congo 1. Chad 1. Botswana 2. Cameroon 2. Congo Brazzaville 2. Burkina Faso 2. Egypt (w/Vodafone) 3. Congo Brazzaville 3. Democratic Republic of Congo 3. Cameroon 3. Ghana 4. Cote d Ivoire 4. Gabon 4. Central Africa Republic 4. Kenya (w/Safaricom) 5. eSwatini 5. Kenya 5. Cote d Ivoire 5. Lesotho 6. Ghana 6. Madagascar 6. Democratic Republic of Congo 6. Mozambique 7. Guinea Bissau 7. Malawi 7. Guinea Bissau 7. South Africa 8. Guinea Conakry 8. Niger 8. Guinea Conakry 8. Tanzania 9. Liberia 9. Nigeria 9. Liberia 10. Nigeria 10.Rwanda 10.Madagascar 11. Rwanda 11.Seychelles 11.Mali 12. South Africa 12.Tanzania 12.Morocco 13. South Sudan 13.Uganda 13.Senegal 14. Sudan 14.Zambia 14.Sierra Leone 15. Uganda 15.Tunisia 16. Zambia *Operator participation is subject to regulatory approval. Other countries such as Comoros, Burundi, Ethiopia, Seychelles, Togo & Zimbabwe have been invited to join. COVID-19

9 What exactly is ECA requesting from Government & Regulators Letter of Approval to Mobile Operators, authorizing the necessary requirements to support this COVID-19 specific initiative: 1. Unified toll-free SMS code 2. Single nationwide, multi-operator USSD string 3. Free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service 4. Authority to collect information 5. Authority to transmit information for processing, analytics and insights COVID-19

10 IN COUNTRY LAUNCH PROCESS Proof of Concept Test (Complete) Deployment by Mobile Operator Design (Complete) Regulatory Approval COVID-19

11 THANK YOU! , COVID-19