Description of Session
Fishery employs 17% of Senegal’s workforce and provides 70% of the nation’s animal-based protein. About 90% of the country’s fish are caught by “artisanal” fishers whose earnings depend on weather patterns, market prices, access to capital and consumer demand. The Wireless Solutions for Fisheries in Senegal (WISE) initiative applied a user-centric approach to explore and understand individual and institutional user needs, develop user-need-responsive digital solution, test prototype with real-time intervention, deploy and improve the solution based on user needs and technology options. Fishermen and fish processors access WISE services via Android app or web-interface and key functionalities include: alert fishers when they cross restricted zones or international borderline; enable fishers to communicate exact locations with coastguard if stranded on the ocean; provide navigational information and weather forecasts; provide virtual marketplace to negotiate best prices for for fresh and processed fish; chart safe courses to and from fishing zones; access mobile money and financial services; and provide fish processing best practices and hygiene education in audio, video or text. Users interact with the mobile app via visual interface, voice commands, or artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot which was introduced to increase app usage. The AI-powered chatbot capabilities include natural language understanding, context recognition, and interactive learning. The project has targeted 200 local cooperatives serving over 5,200 fishermen and fish processors. Weekly market prices for fresh and processed fish collected by WISE app are shared with Senegal’s Food Security Commission for assessing food security situation and develop a national preparedness action plan for minimizing food shortages. A study involving 150 cooperatives using the WISE solution showed that fish processors achieved a ten-fold increase in their business, from 100 kilos to 1,000 kilos of fish/person/month; and fishermen increased their income by as much as $550/year.
