Uganda SMS Fish Price Information System

In Uganda, Ms. Ciepiela devised innovative but affordable ways to accelerate access to and utilization of technologies in the fisheries sector that would improve the competitiveness of small producers, processors, and exporters. In cooperation with MTN (Uganda’s major cellular service provider), SMS-Ads and Impact Associates (a Uganda software company and a small Ugandan consulting firm), launched a price information service delivered via cellular phone Short Messaging Service (SMS) to promote greater price transparency in the fisheries sector. Daily selling prices for fishers, collectors and processors for 10 landing sites on Lake Victoria will be available through SMS at any time of day. The pilot was successful and MTN subsequently negotiated a long term partnership with Grameen Foundation and local MFIs to extend availability of phones and service to rural women entrepreneurs. (2001-2002)

ICT Strategy

Bangladesh ICT Competitiveness Study

In Bangladesh, Ms. Ciepiela facilitated a working group of government, private sector, training organizations and associations to evaluate Bangladesh’s competitive positioning in outsourcing software development and identify market segments that it could realistically compete in. Based on the assessment, AISD principals designed a competitiveness market analysis and strategy development exercise for the working group, which was supported by USAID. (2002)

Jamaica Evaluation of Training and Capacity Building for ICT Export Competitiveness

Ms. Ciepiela served on an ICT assessment team for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Jamaica to evaluate training and human capacity development for growth of the ICT sector and competitiveness of data processing and software development exports. (2001)