Reaching the Last Mile with Digital Services through partnership
In March 2020, UNCDF announced a partnership with mobile network operators Airtel Uganda and MTN Uganda, to increase mobile phone penetration, improve network coverage and develop relevant and affordable products for rural communities in the North and West Nile Regions of Uganda. UNCDF also partnered with agri-techs, Ensibuuko Tech Limited and MobiPay Agrosys Limited, to create a network of digital community entrepreneurs (lead farmers) aimed at increasing last mile distribution of digital related services and products such as phones, off-grid energy solutions, digital accounts, farming inputs, and electronic airtime.
The partnership was announced at a regional launch of the Inclusive Digital Economy Programme that was held in Arua district in Northern Uganda. Read More here.
The Regional Launch in the News
Promoting Startups that are Mitigating Impacts of COVID -19
The entrepreneurship and startup sector has particularly felt the hard impact of COVID-19. However, many startups have risen to the occasion, shifting their working modules to meet current demands in finding innovative digital solutions to continue to ensure that their customer base is satisfied. UNCDF together with Startup Uganda sought out three such companies over the course of one month. Together, we used a detailed media awareness plan to inform the public of the services offered by these startups and assisted them in their search for potential collaborators and partners. Below are the companies we highlighted:
- Famunera, an online platform for farmer inputs
- Rocket Health, a licensed and registered clinic, laboratory and pharmacy, offering telemedicine healthcare services
- Xente, a FinTech in e-commerce.
From our extended communication efforts on social media and through TV and radio interviews, the services provided by these businesses have reached the appropriate audiences and all three startups have reported growth in not only their social media numbers but also in their overall bottom line growth.
COVID-19 Impact: Ensuring Digital Inclusion is the 'New Normal'
The COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the importance the UNCDF strategy on 'Leaving No One Behind in the Digital Era'. The need to stay at home and minimize human interaction has now more than even presented new socioeconomic challenges in our communities. This brings into focus the potential of digital solutions such as telecommuting, e-learning, e-commerce and e-health to bridge the gaps. UNCDF has been leading discussions on how digital can address some of the challenges in key sectors including education, health, agriculture and finance. Below are some of the discussions on how SMEs can leverage digital technologies to stay afloat during and post COVID-19.
Blog: Harnessing the Power of Digital Solutions for Health and Education during and post COVID-19 in Uganda
Across the African continent as the COVID-19 narrative shifts from the ongoing public health crisis to resilience and economic recovery, partners in critical sectors like health and education must begin to focus on consolidating the digital innovations in place for improved service delivery in the post COVID-19 era. Read More
UNCDF and SafeBoda, with Support from SIDA, Launch E-Commerce Platform for Home Delivery Services amid COVID-19
UNCDF with support from Sida, and SafeBoda Uganda on April 29 2020 announced a partnership to provide an e-commerce platform that connects market vendors to customers during the COVID-19 lockdown and beyond. Targeting an initial 800 market vendors, this e-commerce platform connects market vendors to households that need a range of supplies by using the preexisting reliable SafeBoda transport service.
This platform provides market vendors access to the SafeBoda app, where they can sell their goods while maintaining the livelihoods of the 18,000 SafeBoda riders whose source of income had been affected by the ban on public transport. The partnership also leverages SafeBoda’s riders and user base to share vital information and safety practices about COVID-19. A projected average of 50,000 customers is expected to be reached daily with food and goods delivery. Read the announcement and blog on this partnership.
Partnership Announcement in the News
Digital Financial Inclusion: Financial Literacy Training Toolkit for Refugees
On 4 June 2020, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and PHB launched a financial literacy training toolkit customized to meet the needs and realities of refugees and refugee hosting communities in Uganda. Financial Literacy Training aims to improve resilience and self-reliance of refugees and ensure that they are better equipped to make sound financial decisions, effectively interact with financial service providers and achieve their financial goals. This toolkit was created using a human-centered design approach and uses a delivery mechanism that is relevant to their daily lives and livelihoods. Access the toolkit here.
Stakeholder Consultation on the Inclusive Digital Economy Score Card (IDES)
On 4 and 5 June 2020, UNCDF organised a working session with government counterparts to present the Inclusive Digital Economy Score Card (IDES) and receive their feedback with the view of enabling government partners to get an in-depth understanding of the tool, share their feedback on the usability of the tool and the accessibility of the different types of data needed to feed into it.
The IDES is a policy tool that supports national governments in setting priorities that drive the digital transformation of a country while reducing the digital divide.
Supporting an Open Payment Ecosystem through Active Engagement
There is no doubt about the role of Open API’s in driving innovation in the digital economy. In this spirit, UNCDF together with Stanbic Bank Uganda – the first bank in Uganda that is considering opening its APIs to innovators - held a stakeholder discussion on 17 June 2020 to deliberate on the following:
- What use cases make sense for a bank in Uganda to open up to innovators?
- What might be some of the opportunities for innovators to leverage bank APIs?
- What requirements would you like Stanbic Bank to consider for users as they think about opening their APIs?
Virtual ICT Sector Working Group (SWG) Meeting
On 18 and 19 June 2020, the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance and UNCDF convened an ICT Sector Working Group (SWG) virtual meeting for the purpose of collective planning with specific focus on Uganda's digital transformation agenda. The sector working group harnesses the experiences of government ministries, departments and agencies, the private sector, development partners, civil society and academia to ensure coordinated implementation of ICT programmes and projects.
The Digital Team is Growing
Meet the newest members of the UNCDF team that is driving the Inclusive Digital Economy programme in Uganda
Martha joins the Inclusive Digital Economy team as a Results Management Consultant. She brings 16 years of experience in designing, implementing and managing the measurement function of programmes and projects, in the private and public sectors including academia. Connect with Martha via LinkedIn.
Isaac is a marketing and sales professional with over 15 years of experience. He has worked in various capacities in roles focused on financially empowering underserved groups like women, youth, refugees and migrant groups through mobile money. Connect with Isaac via LinkedIn.
Stay in touch. Write to us at uganda.digital@uncdf.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.