Texting the UN: Making connections in Benin
Instant access
Health workers across Benin are dealing with the current outbreak of Lassa fever, while UN agencies are responding with outreach and treatment. Luckily there is an innovative new mechanism available to everyone involved: you can communicate directly with the UN, no matter who you are.
The UN is committed to accountability and transparency with government and development partners. It is also deeply committed to being open and accessible to the population. To further this, UN Benin launched an innovative project to engage with Beninese people.
Anyone in Benin can now send an SMS for free. If someone has feedback or questions about any UN programme, he or she can send a text. The text will be directed to an online monitoring platform of the United Nations Development Action Framework (UNDAF) and, depending on the issue, communicated to the appropriate UN entity.
What’s the point?
The online platform aims to be an innovative response to the need for transparency and mutual accountability between partners, as well as with beneficiaries, two essential aspects of efficient cooperation and sustainable development.
The UN in Benin develops its programming with the participation of its partners and beneficiaries. The online platform strives for real-time follow-up of UN interventions in Benin. We want to involve the population by the use of new technology.
The platform’s goal is real-time monitoring of UN Benin achievements, monitoring UNDAF results indicators, disseminating information through email and SMS to the Beninese Government and development partners; and the involvement of the population in UN interventions through SMS.
Spreading the word
People will SMS only if they know about it, and understand its uses. UN Benin launched a communication campaign to reach people and show them why they would benefit from having their voices heard, and how to go about it.
Community radio journalists were trained about UN interventions in Benin, the online monitoring platform, the toll free number, and the reason why population’s participation to the SMS’ consultation is important for the UN System. During the training, short radio broadcasts in different languages were produced. Now the partnerships with radio stations continues, as each regularly broadcasts news of UN activities and promotes the toll-free number – 132.
A meaningful dialogue
The online monitoring platform has exciting potential to make new connections among the UN in Benin, the Government, development partners, and the Beninese population.
The UN can use the platform to report on its financial and physical achievements, and provide updates on different indicators agreed upon with the Government. All information reported on the platform is approved by both the Government and the UN. The Government and development partners can send and receive emails as well as SMS on the platform updates. Most important, the real beneficiaries – the people of Benin – can learn, suggest, communicate, complain…however they wish to have their voices heard, through the magic of cellular technology.
