How Question Box Can Strengthen Your Government and Civil Society Initiatives - May 2012

Connect the World

Imagine this citizen could access the resources of the your program without leaving his village.

Direct access is possible

Question Box lets you build a hotline connection to any population – quickly and in a budget-conscious manner

How Question Box Works:

User pushes button, asks question in local language. Live Agent looks up information, translates answer into local language. Citizen served from place of residence. Valuable information gathered for Program on citizen needs. Agent is employee of your Program.

Creating a positive experience with responsive government and civil society

SOLAR Option, for off-grid

All Question Boxes use GSM mobile phone SIM card to make calls.

Why is a Question Box Hotline Useful?

• Your Program needs to know information from Citizens

• Citizens need to know information from your Program

CONNECT with 1 billion illiterateWorks in MOST SECTORS

HEALTH EDUCATION AGRICULTURE CLIMATE VOTING

Rural Development Department

Rural Citizens Report Needs to Department

Question Box

Department sends focused response to affected community

Example: Program needs information from Citizens

Example: Citizens need to know information from the Department

Agriculture Assistance ProgramQuestion

Box

Farmers Affected by Climate Change require support

Targeted expert advice

Reach Communities without Staff on Ground

QB

Central Office

QBQB

www.questionbox.org

Example Uses of Question Box

• Providing information about rural communities to your Program (surveys & citizen reporting)

• Citizens receive information regarding Rights and Programs – qualifying and enrolling

• Direct connection to Program Experts• Other affairs of interest to the Program

Question BoxConnecting Schools National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) – sponsored program to bring educational resources to underprivileged children in greater Pune.

Uganda

• In Uganda, we used community agents with mobile phones

• These agent circulated as the point person for the expert hotline.

• This model works in dispersed populations• Over time, the agents become educated about

the topics, pushing learning from experts into communities

KAMPALA, UGANDA

BUSHENYI, UGANDA

Uganda Question Box in Action

Organizational schematic for Question Box program in Uganda – Agriculture Hotline.

Question Box India

Crisis-Ready

Question Box IndiaCitizen

Reporters

Question Box India

Access for Everyone

Question Box Call Track Software

Keeps track of all calls, provides useful data on needs and Program work.

Who Administers the Hotline?3 Options:

• Government Ministry• Non-Governmental Organization• Question Box

What Question Box Provides:

• Set up & customize hotline system–Hardware–Software–Guides

• Train call agent personnel • If desired: Run the hotline service

Question Box Background

• Founded in 2007 as a US-registered 501(c)3 NGO

• Question Box featured in leading publications worldwide, including:– New York Times– Times of India– Deutsche Welle– BBC– UK Telegraph– Indian Express– Harvard Business Review online– UK Guardian– New Scientist

• Past project partners include National

Internet Exchange of India (NIXI); Europe Asia Business School; NIIT; Grameen Foundation on a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation project; & other organizations (orphanage, agriculture, health, etc.)

• Thousands (1000s) of Questions Answered

Question Box is a tool to: Research rural populations needs. Educate rural populations, and provide critical, requested Help.

Rose ShumanOpen Mind – Question Box1158 26th Street, #267Santa Monica, CA 90401 USA+1-323-389-5065rose@questionbox.orgwww.questionbox.org

Question Box can help your Program better serve difficult-to-reach citizens.