Updated on June 24, 2024

·

Created on May 23, 2017

U-Report

Open-source

U-report is a free SMS social monitoring tool and real-time information system for community participation

Developed By
  1. UNICEF
Tested By
  • UNICEF
Content Partners
Unknown

Author

Product Description

U-report is a free SMS social monitoring tool and real-time information system for community participation, designed to strengthen community-led development, citizen engagement, and positive change.

SMS polls and alerts are sent out to U-reporters and real-time response information is collected. Results and ideas are shared back with the community. Issues polled include among others health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, youth unemployment, HIV/AIDS, disease outbreaks; social welfare sectors. Data received can be disaggregated by age, gender, States, LGAs, Wards and settlements in real time. Registration is voluntary with SMS free to the users across all networks.

U-Report relies on volunteer community members serving as “U-Reporters” on a free entry, free exit basis to provide information on issues in their communities.

Target SDGs

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Community, Public Sector Agencies, NGOs

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

UNICEF. U-report has been deployed in 35 countries since May 2017 and has more than 3 million active users. U-report is based on RapidSMS, a mobile polling open source software initially created by UNICEF's Innovation Unit in 2007.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include FrontlineSMS and Magpi.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Code available here

Intellectural Property Type

Open-source

User Provision Model

Direct download from a github code repository.

Distributions to Date Status

U-report has been deployed in 35 countries since May 2017 and has more than 3 million active users.

Telecommunication service required (Y/N)

Yes

Level of connection service needed

2G for end user, fixed internet for system administrators

Device(s) required

Mobile phone for end user, basic server for system administrators

Permanent network connectivity required (Y/N/Other)

Yes

Two way communication (Y/N)

Yes

Usage rate (%)

unknown

Literacy support (Y/N)

Yes

Languages available

English

Operating system and version

Not specified

Power requirements (Uninterrupted power supply (UPS), ocassional power supply [minimum time required], other)

Occasional power supply for end users, uninterrupted power supply for system administrators

Additonal features required

None

Design Specifications

U-Report is based off of RapidSMS which polls to provide polling for large number of users. U-Report adds a visualization layer to aggregate poll results exposed in as JSON in the polling app. The user sends a text messages that is associated with his location, so the info is computed both regarding polling input and location.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

This product is an opensource software. The user who deploys it will be in charge of its support.

Replacement Components

N/A

Lifecycle

N/A

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

N/A

Vetted Performance Status

N/A

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

N/A

Academic Research and References

Muhammad Imran, Patrick Meier, Carlos Castillo, Andre Lesa, and Manuel Garcia Herranz. 2016. Enabling Digital Health by Automatic Classification of Short Messages. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Digital Health Conference (DH ’16). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 61-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/2896338.2896364

Otto, Kate; Shekar, Meera; Herbst, Christopher H.; Mohammed, Rianna. 2015. Information and Communication Technologies for Health Systems Strengthening : Opportunities, Criteria for Success, and Innovation for Africa and Beyond. Health, Nutrition, and Population Discussion Paper;. World Bank, Washington, DC. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/21710 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO

Schiano, A. Chebly, J. and Ruiz, F. Sustainable Development as a Path to Peacebuilding: Finding Common Ground to Counter the Extremist Narrative. 18 Whitehead J. Dipl. & Int’l Rel. 25 (2017)

Ureport: Ureport Deployment Repository for Ureport.Ug. n.d. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://github.com/unicefuganda/ureport

Raharja, Anton. n.d. “PlaySMS FOSS Project.” Playsms.Org. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://playsms.org/

“FrontlineSMS.” n.d. FrontlineSMS. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.frontlinesms.com

“Messaging When It Matters.” n.d. Telerivet.Com. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.telerivet.com

“The Best Mobile Data Collection Software.” n.d. Magpi. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.magpi.com

“Goal 10.” n.d. Sdgs.Un.Org. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal10

“Goal 16.” n.d. Sdgs.Un.Org. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal16

“RapidSMS: A Free and Open Source SMS Framework.” n.d. RapidSMS: A Free and Open Source SMS Framework. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.rapidsms.org/

Compliance with regulations

N/A

Evaluation methods

N/A

Other Information

U-report has been used in communities in the latest africa ebola outbreak for citizens to provide information about their local context and, in return, provides information back to them that they can use to work for change locally. The tool was used to increase awareness of local needs, one of the most important issues in the Ebola transmission.

Leave a Reply

Explore similar solutions

Agriculture

June 20, 2024

Premise Data

Read Solution

Implemented by

Premise

Agriculture

June 22, 2024

Powerhive

Read Solution

Implemented by

Powerhive

Agriculture

June 13, 2024

Mapbox

Read Solution

Implemented by

Mapbox

Agriculture

June 30, 2024

Echo Mobile

Read Solution

Implemented by

Echo Mobile

Agriculture

June 9, 2024

Mobistation (DigiSchool)

Read Solution

Implemented by

UNICEF

Agriculture

June 10, 2024

Future School

Read Solution

Implemented by

Future School

Agriculture

June 9, 2024

Kio Kit

Read Solution

Implemented by

BRCK

Agriculture

June 10, 2024

Eneza Education

Read Solution

Implemented by

Eneza Education

Agriculture

February 21, 2024

Equity in the Arts Toolkit

Read Solution

Implemented by

Kounkuey Design Initiative

Agriculture

June 26, 2024

Caminos de la Villa

Read Solution

Implemented by

ACIJ

All Solutions

Contribute to E4C's Library of Breakthrough Sustainable Development Technology Solutions

Suggest A Solution

Get more information about Solutions Library and its features.

Learn More

Have thoughts on how we can improve?

Give Us Feedback

Join a global community of changemakers.

Become A Member