WinMiaki Smart ID Solution (SiS)

• Problems: Vulnerable groups are not able to apply/register for an ID in a way that protects people’s health especially in COVID situation and the integrity of the ID system. Without this proper service and benefits can't be ensured.
• Solution: We are proposing a digital authentication which is accessible and user-friendly for marginalized and vulnerable populations to facilitate remote access to services and benefits. We think of USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) channel of mobile phone technology for ID generation and service delivery. So no need of internet/ smart phone at user end. Simply feature phone is enough. And it can be upgraded to Digital App version anytime, if require to give access to mass people.
• If ID can be generated and maintained, even there is no smart phone/ internet, the user can access service through USSD channel as that is accessible wherever mobile network is available.

Problem: Vulnerable groups are not able to apply/register for an ID in a way that protects people’s health especially in COVID situation and the integrity of the ID system. Without this proper service and benefits can't be disseminated to these people.

Scale: Locally then it can be replicated globally.

Number of people affected: 30%-35% of population of Bangladesh. 63 mil people.

Factors contributing to problem: less access to proper internet connectivity in remote areas where marginal people lives. And also the buying and maintenance cost of smart device which would be required for App based ID service. Tech literacy is also a contributor to the problem.

Target population: remote rural farmers who has very low tech literacy and smart device and good internet access.

Understanding needs: we plan to execute several in-depth survey and FGD to understand their need.

Engaging the user: Our solution will be based on UX modality. So we will engage them in every course of UX activities to grab the best out of it.

How: We plan to implement a smart-phone and internet free ID solution to remote farmers. They can use this service through normal feature phone through USSD channel. They can register through local Govt office initially, and ask for services afterwards through USSD's menu system. Several menus items will be there so that user can ask for any kind of services. Information delivery will be through SMS in native Bangla language, so that even low literate farmer can understand what to do. Govt services will be patched up with this system to handle the queries the user made through the service channel. During registration each of the user will be given an unique ID against their mobile number and location code (geo-code) so that they can be identified easily without any fail.

Our solution covers both the dimensions. We will use mobile number against geo-code to register the user, without physical contact. The data will be kept in secured server in cloud with back-ups so no issue of data loss. and hence the service will be handed over to Govt its integrity will be well-maintained. Our target population can't use smart-device due to cost and internet is not that much smooth there. But mobile network is all over Bangladesh and good in strength. That's why we propose to use USSD channel to register the user and provisioning the service delivery.

Innovation is meant to deploy existing technology/ model in an innovative way to bring out a general and needful solution. Our proposal is based on existing mobile technology's USSD service channel, which is a two-way interactive system to seek information maintaining the system integrity and individual's security and secrecy. Smart mobile is costly to buy and maintain, and internet is not that much available in remote rural locality. But Bangladesh is well-covered with 4G mobile network set-up by three mobile companies. The USSD channel we propose is very basic technology even with normal feature phones. Our target population already has feature phone almost in all families (90%). And they already know how to use USSD based services. So, using the USSD channel is much easier and beneficial to deploy our solution. More of that, using USSD channel doesn't imply any extra cost to user. Only if they ask for any info that will be delivered through SMS (in native language) and only then it will cost them a very little amount (USD 0.0018 per SMS).

We are proposing to use mobile network's USSD channel as registration and service deliver medium. It is very basic technology mobile companies are using form the beginning, basically for mobile balance top-up. Next on, this is used to cater menu driven service to customers, when there was no smart phone and internet. And in past few decades the users are used to use the technology for their need. Its cost is zero while you browse trough its menu. When any information is required from any particular menu, it is delivered through SMS plain roman character. And now, in course of development, SMS can be sent in native Bangla language which is easy to understand, especially by marginal, vulnerable population. You can have bunch of documentation and successful service example through USSD in google. Here is one for your kind reference:

https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/USSD

How: people will be using very basic USSD technology of mobile operators to register themselves and access the service provision. ID will be given against the mobile number (which is unique) along with geo-code for location tagging. Combining these two will create an identifiable ID for easy tracking, as well as secured with safeguarding the personal secrecy. After registration only the user can access its services as an OTP (One Time Password) will be delivered to user's registered mobile to authenticate if the user themselves are asking for the service or not. That will ensure fraud attempt of service request other than the registered user. USSD system will be back-linked with cloud server to cater the registration data with integrity and security, looped back to Govt system to deliver services asked by the users through this USSD channel.

Why: Govt services are there. But they are not readily available for marginal people due to bureaucratic and manual process at local offices. If this ID can be integrated, which is easy to use and zero cost to browse (with a very little cost of information through SMS, if asked by the user) this population can easily access services which they require. Suppose in a flood condition, the user can seek help through this USSD system and local Govt can know the need. Or, user need to access several Safety Net program run by Govt which is not easily accessible by remote population. That can be done through this ID system. So, there are numerous benefit user can enjoy, and Govt can deploy through this system. Other private entity or INGO can also take advantage of this system, if required. Once the platform is there it can be used in various cases.

Our solution is based on mobile technology's USSD channel. It can be easily integrated with existing ID system of Govt or any other entity through API (Application Programming Interface) which can be interacted in both way. Govt already has a platform called NID system, but deploying that nationwide is cost-consuming, time-sensitive and human effort is must. Through our proposed system ID can be generated through technology, without physical interaction. Later on this can be verified against Govt data to validate that. Once registered, user can seek service/ information through USSD channel. Upon type of need asked it can be delivered through SMS as notification or advisory, or through physical delivery (such as relief in flooding or cyclone incidents).

Our solution is based on mobile technology's USSD channel. It can be easily integrated with existing ID system of Govt or any other entity through API (Application Programming Interface) which can be interacted in both ways.  Every technological system has provision to use API to get/ send data over network/ connectivity. It has been used for several decades now. It will have well-described documentation and support hot-line to give support to integrate this service system in any other system where required. The user-end is USSD based. But the back-end system can easily be integrated to any system, anywhere in the world to get/ post data to/ from the system itself, with security token. Later, if this system needed to be integrated with any mobile App, that also can be done through the API model. It is based on open-source programming platform which can be highly customized to meet the client's requirement. So, scalability is there for sure.

Our system will provide API to integrate with other systems for data portability. The basic security will be there to maintain data integrity and security. So, each vendor will be treated as individual, and they can't look-in to other data. Proper authentication gateway will be there in API request to perform data fetching. Device locking system will be there to block any connection other than registered device mentioned by the clients during service registration. OTP will be used to authenticate device in case of mobile device. Each and every activity will be traced in the back-end system. Continuous monitoring will be there and alert system will be in-place to mitigate such activities. 

We are proposing to use the very basic technology- USSD. This is the age-old technology mobile operators are using, started with mobile balance top-up service. So, wherever is network (even one bar in network strength) exists this system will work. The USSD menu and service information will be in native language- Bangla. So, the user can at least understand what it is saying. Any feature phone can now interpret Unicode text. So, user with a very normal feature phone can see the service text and can use with ease.

As this is very new concept., none has been offered the solution, yet. 

In next five years almost 30% of population can be served.

Within next year we want to develop the system, deploy a pilot case and bring out the good result of it. Then we have plan to approach this system to Govt and other national/ international entity to deploy this as per their need, upon yearly service charging.

Within next five years: We want to scale up and reach at least 3-5 client who will be using this system for ID generation (of their own) and deliver a service system to remote populations.

The main barrier is financial. We have the know-hows, we have the public networking in place, but since it is new to implement and need a proper awareness among the users, we need a financial support. Other than this, Govt’s bureaucratic process can be a barrier implementing this idea at the root level. 

We plan to overcome this by asking grant funding from the Solve authority, and we will give some in-kind contribution to the effort. We may need to form a forum to give us support to implement this idea in mass level and for that we will form a collaborative forum with our partner media and national entity/ NGO/ INGO. This collaboration may help us to talk at policy level with Govt.

Win Miaki Ltd. has 14 permanent staff (Male-10, Female-4). Other than that, we also have roster based technical staff and external subject specific expert panel with agriculture and aquaculture background, who provide necessary support for our different programs and call center services in contractual basis.

WinMiaki’s (WML) Skill/ experience: A strong team consists of Experts and Specialists and highly experienced leaders from Agriculture background is working for developing high quality agricultural contents for the farmers to communicate innovative solutions over USSD, SMS, IVR or Voice Call. WML has strong network among the relevant stakeholders including agriculture research institutes, information services and business houses. WML has skilled farmer’s network through its NGO partner and good handshake with MNOs to deliver service to farmers through mobile. We do have farmer's network as well as technical platform to deliver mobile services. Combining these two we are sure to give the best result.

We mostly rely on our experience, learning, technological capacity, partnership with leading stakeholders and established network with farmers, and combining all these together we believe we can bring success.

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Our business model is to implement the solution, train the target population, aware them and bring in Govt collaboration in near future. We will establish the system and make people aware through the funding we are asking. We will have a profit margin from the system generated from the content the user will be asking through SMS notification. Later on we will approach with this platform to private entity, NGO/ INGO to use this for their own ID authentication system and help them to tag that with Govt's ID services. We plan to charge yearly basis for this and customize the service for the clients.

Sustainability plan: with the funding, after reaching the audience’s interest and after acquiring at least 30,000 individual user (through B2B approach) in our system in first year we have below plan to make the initiative sustainable through (but not limited to):

1. Introducing more user in our system which can secure more revenue from the venture.
2. We will engage Govt. departments (Department of Agriculture Extension, Food Security/ Food safety authority) into our scheme so that policy level support can be drawn out from the collaboration.

3. We will approach individual business entity with the platform as platform-as-a-service model.

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Direct labor: Appx. US$ 99,044.92

Supplies, equipment, assets. etc.: Appx. US$ 14,149.27

Travel and Per Diem: Appx. US$ 14,149.27

Other Direct Cost (rent, communications, etc.): Appx. US$ 17,686.59

Activity cost of the program: Appx. US$ 58,955.31

TOTAL: Appx. US$ 203,985.36

Funding is the main reason we are applying for. This kind of idea has to be proven first, and through our own limited budget it can't possible. But the idea has a potential if proven. That's why we need the funding.

Funding is the main source of such initiative. Neither Govt nor private entity would like to fund for proofing the idea. Here we need a support from Mission Billion Challenge.

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