Indigo Trust Supports FrontlineSMS:Radio

The Indigo Trust is a grant making foundation that funds technology-driven projects to bring about social change, largely in African countries. In keeping with the Trust’s focus on innovation, transparency and citizen empowerment, they have been supporting FrontlineSMS:Radio to develop and deploy a tailored version of FrontlineSMS software optimised for radio DJs. This new software will assist radio stations to harness the power of audience interaction via text message.

We asked Dr Loren Treisman from the Indigo Trust about her interest in the project and its relevance to the work of the Trust. “We have chosen to support FrontlineSMS:Radio for a number of reasons. Firstly, we respect FrontlineSMS’s overall idea and approach,” she said, “Something as simple as mass sending, receiving and analysis of SMS data can support such a wide range of development interventions, as is evident in some of its current uses.”

Through the allocation of core funding, the :Radio project has been able to take-off as its own entity, build a brand and maintain regular communication with radio stations. The relationship with stations on the ground has directly influenced the way the new software has been designed so that it will understand the requests for functionality and respond to radio stations’ feedback. The Indigo Trust is also supporting some of the radio stations which are part of the project directly. Loren said, “To date, we have piloted this approach with Pamoja FM in Kibera slum in Nairobi Kenya, which I was fortunate enough to visit in January this year. I was inspired by the dedication of their team and what they were managing to achieve in difficult conditions.”

The Indigo Trust’s ethos is stated on their website, stating “We believe that access to information for all empowers people to change their own lives and communities,” and they are renowned for working with projects which are directly responsive to the communities which they support. Regarding the development of the :Radio software, Loren stressed that “It pleases us to see that FrontlineSMS works closely with NGOs to build capacity and work only with organisations which have expressed interest in their projects; ensuring that organisations are dedicated to the use of this powerful tool. We also like their iterative approach to software development, which ensures that the software is tailored to the needs of end users.”

Representing one sector specific customisation of the core FrontlineSMS software, Loren explained the significance of the :Radio project to Indigo’s work, “We were particularly interested in the Radio platform as we believe that community radio stations can improve democratic transparency and civil participation by giving people in marginalised communities accurate information about issues which affect them and giving them a voice.”

Concerning expectations for the benefits of the software, Loren believes it is fundamental “to maximise reach and empower communities and stations to have two-way communications,” and that tools like FrontlineSMS Radio can “enable more effective dialogue, conduct opinion polls, capture real time responses and ultimately gives residents a say in issues which impact upon their lives, including governance and service provision.”

Dr. Loren Treisman

Loren is the Trust Executive for the Indigo Trust and holds a PhD in breast cancer research from Cambridge University. Since completing her studies, Loren has pursued a challenging and varied career.  She has managed and developed strategies and consulted on a variety of development projects in East Africa , overseeing the complete project cycle.  Her focus has included, education, youth empowerment, public health, the environment, human rights, ICT and a variety of other issues.