In the past 18 months, the challenge of getting vital information and resources to underserved communities has come under the spotlight more than ever before.
Many organizations have been turning to mobile technology to resolve both existing and new access challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. WhatsApp, for example, currently reaches around 2 billion people worldwide. And its use during the pandemic shows how it is seen as a key means for communication, with governments, nonprofits, and international organizations already sending over 4 billion messages about COVID-19 via the platform.
“If you look at some of the areas where we operate, WhatsApp has really good usage,” said Rich Bryson, chief strategy and marketing officer at reach52, a social enterprise that aims to improve access to essential health services in Kenya, as well as South and Southeast Asia. “Just as we’re going on the ground to where the communities are through community health workers and members of the communities, we can go to where they are online through WhatsApp.”
Social enterprises are getting help to create chat applications and chatbots. This June, 10 organizations, including Reach52, were selected to join the Chat for Impact Accelerator, receiving up to $50,000 in financial support and mentorship to build a WhatsApp messaging service.
Access this visual story and join Devex as we talk to some of the selected organizations about their journey to implement chatbots and messaging services.