Esoko
Encyclopedia
Esoko is an agricultural market information platform. It is a response to the explosive growth of cellular services in Africa
. Managed on the web and delivered via mobile, individuals, agri-business, government and projects use Esoko to collect and send out market data using simple text messaging. The Esoko platform provides automatic and personalized price alerts, buy and sell offers, bulk SMS
messaging, stock counts and SMS
polling.
A private initiative based in Accra
, Ghana
, Esoko was built and is supported by a team of over 60 local developers and support staff. Along with the technology, Esoko has a partner support program focused on capacity building and financial sustainability, with an emphasis on market data enumeration and business development services.
, and in partnership with FoodNet in Uganda. Focused on agricultural marketing
it provided current market data via SMS
and the web to stakeholders within the agriculture and trade sectors in developing countries.
In 2005 TradeNet signed a three year agreement with USAID's MISTOWA program to adapt the product and make it available to their target beneficiaries (MISTOWA's mission was to increase regional trade in West Africa
by 20%). Esoko was described as 'a simple sort of eBay for agricultural products across a dozen countries in West Africa'.
In April of 2009 TradeNet rebranded as Esoko, switching to a new platform with a broader set of tools. The name Esoko originated from the Swahili name Soko which means Market; the 'e' representing 'electronic'. The eSoko name was also an idea brought from the eRwanda Project in Rwanda where they have a different version of eSoko, owned by the Ministry of Agriculture (www.esoko.gov.rw). In 2008, the eRwanda Project granted permission to TradeNet to use the name Esoko.
Currently Esoko is active in 16 countries through different partnership agreements; both public sector agricultural projects and Esoko country resellers and franchises.
, Soros Economic Development Fund
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Managed on the web and delivered via mobile, individuals, agri-business, government and projects use Esoko to collect and send out market data using simple text messaging. The Esoko platform provides automatic and personalized price alerts, buy and sell offers, bulk SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
messaging, stock counts and SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
polling.
A private initiative based in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Esoko was built and is supported by a team of over 60 local developers and support staff. Along with the technology, Esoko has a partner support program focused on capacity building and financial sustainability, with an emphasis on market data enumeration and business development services.
History
Esoko began as TradeNet in 2005 with the encouragement of the UN's FAOFão
Fão is a town in Esposende Municipality in Portugal....
, and in partnership with FoodNet in Uganda. Focused on agricultural marketing
Agricultural marketing
Agricultural marketing covers the services involved in moving an agricultural product from the farm to the consumer. Numerous interconnected activities are involved in doing this, such as planning production, growing and harvesting, grading, packing, transport, storage, agro- and food processing,...
it provided current market data via SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
and the web to stakeholders within the agriculture and trade sectors in developing countries.
In 2005 TradeNet signed a three year agreement with USAID's MISTOWA program to adapt the product and make it available to their target beneficiaries (MISTOWA's mission was to increase regional trade in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
by 20%). Esoko was described as 'a simple sort of eBay for agricultural products across a dozen countries in West Africa'.
In April of 2009 TradeNet rebranded as Esoko, switching to a new platform with a broader set of tools. The name Esoko originated from the Swahili name Soko which means Market; the 'e' representing 'electronic'. The eSoko name was also an idea brought from the eRwanda Project in Rwanda where they have a different version of eSoko, owned by the Ministry of Agriculture (www.esoko.gov.rw). In 2008, the eRwanda Project granted permission to TradeNet to use the name Esoko.
Currently Esoko is active in 16 countries through different partnership agreements; both public sector agricultural projects and Esoko country resellers and franchises.
Investors
Mark Davies (founder), Jim Forster, International Finance CorporationInternational Finance Corporation
The International Finance Corporation promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries.IFC is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States....
, Soros Economic Development Fund
Partners
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MTN MTN may refer to:* MTN Group, a major South Africa-based mobile telephone network operator active in many African and Middle Eastern countries* Maritime Telecommunications Network, a mobile phone network that operates on sea vessels like cruise liners... |
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Further reading
- In African agriculture, information is power, National Geographic Sept 2011
- From Pilot to Franchise: Esoko Arms Farmers with Information, 2010
- FARA; Innovative Farmer Advisory Systems, 2009
- Texting TradeNet: What's the price of Soya Beans? Daily Graphic Ghana, Sept 9, 2008
- The Spread of Mobiles in Africa, Economist Jan 2007
External links
- www.esoko.com The Esoko Service
- Esoko Voices A blog of profiles and opinions from the field
- Esoko's Channel on YouTube Video interviews (incl. profiles by CNN and USAID)