Asia Foundation’s Mobile App in Nepal Delivers Covid-19 Updates to Returnee Migrants

Australian National University’s Development Policy Centre blog features a piece written by The Asia Foundation’s Nicola Nixon, Suswopna Rimal, and Pranaya Sthapit on the Foundation’s Shuvayatra app providing real-time Covid-19 updates for returnee migrants in Nepal.

In Nepal, The Asia Foundation is fortunate to be an active member of the country’s data ecosystem, which comprises the different actors who are demanding, receiving, supplying and using data. Together with our partners, we have been able to repurpose pre-existing program initiatives to make a contribution to the quality and flow of information within that ecosystem, with the aim of achieving optimal impact by dividing roles and competencies and avoiding duplication of effort. This is crucial at the best of times, and doubly so during a crisis…

During the past few weeks, the Foundation has used the Shuvayatra app to provide a vital information channel for returnee migrants and their families, providing them with rapid and accurate updates on COVID-19 in Nepal and the government’s unfolding response. By leveraging the user-base of Hamro Patro, a popular news service used by Nepalis abroad and their families at home, information disseminated on Shuvayatra is available to more than 5 million people.