About SMS in Action

If you find our Ushahidi Crowdmap helpful please visit us at our companion web site SMSinAction.net for more content and information.

What is the purpose of this map?

This map is intended as a resource to locate the wide range of SMS-based system deployments providing information or services to  underserved individuals or populations around the world.  It is provided as a service to those within the SMS community to supplement other sources of information that may be available on the Internet. However, it is not a complete compendium of all SMS-based solutions.  As our own research identifies on-going SMS-based systems and services we will attempt to add them to our database from publicly available information. However, to be successful, this map depends on the participation of the SMS community. It is a work in progress and will evolve over time as needs and circumstances dictate.

Posting Guidelines

We encourage both existing and on-going pilot SMS system deployments to post to our map. Deployments should be in actual operation and not simply in the planning or proposal stage. To be of value, we believe those systems actually operational will be best able to provide the insights and lessons learned from actual implementation and operation of an SMS-based system.

This site is open to both commercial and non-commercial SMS system operators wishing to post information about their deployment.  The site is not intended to be used for marketing purposes, nor as a venue to seek financing or funding for your SMS system.  However, if you have a web site or additional source that individuals may go to for more information about your operation you are encouraged to provide a web address, email or other public contact information in your posting.

If you wish to make public a website or your contact information please include the web address, email or telephone number in the "Description" box on the report form.  We will not publish or make available your contact information unless specifically requested by you to do so.  Reports submitted to this site will not appear on the map until reviewed and approved by admin staff.

SMS Deployment Categories

SMS system deployments have been categorized as described below.  We have tried to provide a range of categories to encompass a wide variety of SMS services.  Additional subcategories are included to address more specific SMS applications. We reserve the right to add or redefine categories over time if the need arises. When posting a report it is possible to select more than one category - for example checkboxes for Other/Human Rights and Governance/Conflict/Post Conflict could both be selected. The SMS solution deployments have been categorized as follows:

    • Agriculture/Fishing: This category is designated for SMS-based systems dedicated to supporting agriculture, farming and the fishing activities. Subcategories include Ag/Fishing Advice & Info (for services such as providing "how-to" information, advice or answers to questions, weather forecasts and alerts, or market price information) as well as Ag/Fishing Markets - Buy/Sell/Trade (SMS-based systems to sell, purchase or exchange agricultural or fishing products, goods and services). Many SMS-based services to the Agriculture/Fishing communities provide BOTH information and advice as well as opportunities to buy and sell products. In such cases both categories may be selected when classifying the deployment.

    • Medical/Health Services: Medical or health services utilizing SMS-based systems.  Subcategories include Public Health/Disease (i.e. immunizations, disease prevention and control and sanitation), Ante/Post Natal Care, Emergency Medicine (i.e. emergency or urgent care), and Other Medical/Health for those services not otherwise classified.

    • Emergency/Disaster Services:  SMS-based systems intended to help prevent or respond to emergencies or natural disasters. Examples include natural disasters or humanitarian emergencies such as earthquakes, flooding, severe weather, etc.

    • Banking/Finance and Economic Development: SMS-based programs relating to banking, economic development, job creation, markets, job opportunities and business. Subcategories include Banking & Finance (including SMS system deployments supporting services such as mobile banking, mobile credit, microfinance, micro-insurance and money/credit transfer), Business, Jobs & Employment, Conservation and Tourism, and Other.

    • Information & Media:  SMS-based services for providing or receiving information of general public interest on demand or by subscription such as weather alerts and warnings, polls and surveys, media feedback/integration. Programs providing agricultural information should be placed under the Agriculture/Fishing

    • Education:  Includes text message based learning systems, education management and information, and other programs related to education and learning.

    • Governance:  SMS-based information or services provided from or to local, regional or national government. May include activities such as public service announcements, anti-corruption or election monitoring. Subcategories include Election Related, Conflict/Post-Conflict and Other Governance related SMS deployments.

    • Other:  SMS system deployments not addressed by any other category. Subcategories include Safety & Security, Human Rights, Gender & Children, Legal, Research & Data Collection, and any Other unclassified deployments.

This map and the information contained herein has been created by and will be administered by volunteers. As a crowdsourced map, the SMS-based systems presented here are submitted by members of the SMS community themselves or from publicly available information uncovered in our own research. Individuals posting to this site are responsible for the timeliness and accuracy of their information.  The listing or presentation here of an SMS-based deployment is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement of any given operation.