Citizen Feedback
African language technology
We support organizations to collect and understand feedback about issues that affect citizens to improve public service delivery and planning. We leverage AI technology to make it possible for people to give spoken feedback in multiple local languages, particularly for those who may not have other options for making their voices heard.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
SEMA Uganda
We help SEMA Uganda to deploy feedback devices outside hospital wards and police stations (pictured above). Previously, these devices only captured “happy” or “unhappy” emojis. Now, citizens can conveniently record voice feedback in their preferred Ugandan language and articulate their issues: for example, to report that the drugs they needed were out of stock.
Sunbird AI has developed the hardware and the language models which make it possible to transcribe, translate and anonymously summarise people’s spoken feedback. This information is relayed to the responsible authorities by SEMA.
TRAC FM
In Uganda, radio talk shows provide a crucial platform for citizens to voice their opinions, with millions tuning in weekly. TRAC FM, our partner, attracts 20,000 responses, via both text messages and phone calls, weekly and reaches millions of listeners. However, the manual processing of thousands of text messages and phone calls is resource-intensive.
By partnering with TRAC FM, Sunbird AI aims to revolutionize citizen engagement. Our AI-powered transcription and translation technology will convert feedback into applicable data, enabling a deeper understanding of public sentiment. This approach empowers structurally marginalized communities, including those with low literacy or limited internet access, to actively shape the future of their country.
We are working on methods of allowing people to vote and express their response to polls by voice, in their preferred language. This project promotes inclusive engagement, ensuring diverse voices from across Uganda are heard and represented in public discourse.
Uganda Ministry of ICT and National Guidance
Sunbird AI is proud to partner with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance in Uganda to support the Parish Development Model (PDM) initiative. The PDM aims to uplift rural communities by providing economic opportunities. However, language barriers, with many beneficiaries unable to speak English, hinder effective communication.
To address this challenge, Sunbird AI is providing advanced machine translation technology. By integrating our tools into the PDM information system, we facilitate communication between government officials and citizens. This ensures that information is accessible to all, and that feedback can be effectively gathered and understood.