m-maji(mmaji.wordpress.com)

Sunny Jeon, PhD Candidate, Political Science, StanfordJoshua Cohen, Professor of Law, Philosophy, and Political Science, StanfordEran Bendavid, Assistant Professor of Medicine, StanfordKatherine Hoffmann, MA, International Policy Studies, Stanford (now at IPA)Terry Winograd, Professor of Computer Science, Stanford

Sunny Jeon, PhD Candidate, Political Science, StanfordJoshua Cohen, Professor of Law, Philosophy, and Political Science, StanfordEran Bendavid, Assistant Professor of Medicine, StanfordKatherine Hoffmann, MA, International Policy Studies, Stanford (now at IPA)Terry Winograd, Professor of Computer Science, Stanford

Water in Kibera is scarce, costly, and contaminated.

Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya

Water in Kibera is scarce, costly, and contaminated.

Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya

• Population estimates range from 170,070 to 1 million. No formal water or sanitation provided—85% rely on vendors/kiosks.

• On good days, it takes just under an hour to find water. On bad days, the search can take all day.

• Water shortages hit approximately 4x a month, during which time price of water increases tenfold.

• Infant mortality in Kibera more than three times the average of Nairobi as a whole.

Kibera lacks consistent access to water,

but not to mobile phones…

Source: Jack and Suri (2009) Source: CCK, Operators’ returns

Phone Use in Kenya Average Mobile Tariffs per Minute

Kibera lacks consistent access to water,

but not to mobile phones…

Kibera lacks consistent access to water,

but not to mobile phones…

Source: M-Maji survey of 1,000 households in Kibera (February 2011)

Buyers

M-Maji

Vendors Welcome to M-Maji!

1. Request Water2. Sell Water3. Complain

OK < > Back

Use ubiquitous mobile technology to improve access to clean water

Buyers

M-Maji

Vendors Vendors Advertise

Use USSD to notify M-Maji of water availability, location, price, and quality.

Listings updated to reflect current information.

Welcome to M-Maji!

1. Request Water2. Sell Water3. Complain

OK < > Back

Buyers

M-Maji

Vendors Buyers Query

Use USSD to find the closest, cheapest, and cleanest water.

Water information verified by M-Maji staff on the ground.

Welcome to M-Maji!

1. Request Water2. Sell Water3. Complain

OK < > Back

Buyers

M-Maji

Vendors Buyers Rate

Buyers can provide feedback and file complaints about vendors who misrepresent water availability, price, or quality.

M-Maji maintains “vendor ratings” and alerts future buyers of any negative histories.

Welcome to M-Maji!

1. Request Water2. Sell Water3. Complain

OK < > Back

Buyers

M-Maji

VendorsBetter information will:

1. Reduce water search costs (time, money)

2. Improve clean water uptake

3. Encourage vendor accountability

suggestive evidence

• Mobile phones can reduce search costs and improve market efficiency (Aker 2010; Jensen 2007).

• Informing households of water contamination can improve clean water uptake (Jalan and Somanathan 2008; Luoto 2009; Madajewicz et al. 2007).

• The poor are willing to pay slightly more “with their feet” for clean water (Kremer et al. 2009).

M-Maji Pilot (2011-2012)

Welcome to M-Maji!

1. Request Water2. Sell Water3. Complain

OK < > Back

pilot area

• 6 month pilot in 5 villages (Gatwekera, Kambi Muru, Kisumu Ndogo, Makina, and Mashimoni).

• Led by Umande on the ground. Responsibilities include marketing M-Maji services and manually enroll vendors.

• Obtain user feedback and finalize design choices.

www.umande.org

M-Maji

M-Maji Pilot (2011-2012)

Welcome to M-Maji!

1. Request Water2. Sell Water3. Complain

OK < > Back

pilot area

• 6 month pilot in 5 villages (Gatwekera, Kambi Muru, Kisumu Ndogo, Makina, and Mashimoni).

• Led by Umande on the ground. Responsibilities include marketing M-Maji services and manually enroll vendors.

• Obtain user feedback and finalize design choices.

identifying landmarks

identifying landmarks

M-Maji Pilot (2011-2012)

Welcome to M-Maji!

1. Request Water2. Sell Water3. Complain

OK < > Back

• 6 month pilot in 5 villages (Gatwekera, Kambi Muru, Kisumu Ndogo, Makina, and Mashimoni).

• Led by Umande on the ground. Responsibilities include marketing M-Maji services and manually enroll vendors.

• Obtain user feedback and finalize design choices.

pilot area

M-Maji Pilot (2011-2012)

Welcome to M-Maji!

1. Request Water2. Sell Water3. Complain

OK < > Back

• Conduct randomized impact evaluation.

pilot area

Randomized Impact Evaluation

500 households recruitedVisited 3-5 times over 6 month period

Week 1: Baseline survey (household survey, water quality test, GPS/price survey)

Weeks 3-4: All households receive quality test results, water ed. course, and GPS/Price survey. Random selection encouraged to use M-Maji.

Weeks 12, 24: Return to examine changes in access to clean water and household water quality.

1. Lower Water Prices?

2. Lower Search Costs?

3. Household Water Quality?

M-Maji Pilot (2011-2012)

Welcome to M-Maji!

1. Request Water2. Sell Water3. Complain

OK < > Back

• Conduct randomized impact evaluation.

• M-Maji evaluated on:

pilot area

- Water prices- Search costs- Clean water uptake

1. Negotiate better contracts with local telecoms.

2. Obtain permission from water company to conduct quality tests.

3. Develop model for sustainability.

3 key challenges

3 Villages, 20,000 households

10% of households adopt M-Maji 1/week, 150 vendors use 3/week

9,800 USSD sessions/month and 8,000 SMS/month

On YU:

KSH 13,800 = $172/month

On SAFARICOM:

KSH 70,800 = $885/month

Both Networks: $363/month service charge

1. Negotiate better contracts with local telecoms.

2. Obtain permission from water company to conduct quality tests.

3. Develop model for sustainability.

3 key challenges

Special ThanksLeann Bankoski

Prof. Michele BarryAidah Binale

Prof. Joshua CohenProf. Ben Crow

Prof. Rob DainesProf. Larry Diamond

Erica EstradaWendy Ju

Sam Kitonyi

Kelvin Bai LugakaProf. Edward Miguel

Hilda MoraaSally MadsenCaleb Ogara

Josiah OmottoProf. Dan OrwaJackie Sargent

Prof. Peter WaiganjoProf. Terry Winograd

and our amazing collaborators at Umande Trust and the University of Nairobi

More details available at: http://mmaji.wordpress.com