--- title: FrontlineSMS (part 1) - the SMS Hub for NGOs description: FrontlineSMS (part 1) - the SMS Hub for NGOs image: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IMUvCxOp5TY/SO-H62kcauI/AAAAAAAAAac/SHvEWZGNFAY/s320/frontline_use.png --- [![](https://blog.masabi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/masabi%20186.png?width=150&name=masabi%20186.png "masabi 186.png")](http://www.masabi.com/) 10-Oct-2008 17:48:00 by [Giacomo Biggiero](https://blog.masabi.com/blog/author/giacomo-biggiero) # FrontlineSMS (part 1) - the SMS Hub for NGOs - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Recently we've been working with [kiwanja.net](http://www.kiwanja.net/), a mobile-focused specialist in anthropology, conservation and development founded by Ken Banks, chair of the W3C's [Mobile Web for Social Development Interest Group](http://www.w3.org/2008/MW4D/). Previously we've developed [Silverbackers](http://www.silverbackers.org/) for Ken, and over the last 12 months we've been developing [FrontlineSMS](http://www.frontlinesms.com/). FrontlineSMS is an SMS hub aimed at the not-for-profit sector. Setup costs are minimal - all that's required is a computer and a mobile phone. The desktop client can then send and receive SMS messages in bulk, and organise contacts. More advanced functionality is also available, which we'll be going into in future blog posts. The first public (beta) release was 6 months ago, and we've recently [hit 700 downloads](http://www.blogspot.kiwanja.net/2008/08/future-frontlinesms.html). As the map shows, usage has been widespread and varied. [![FrontlineSMS interactive usage map](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IMUvCxOp5TY/SO-H62kcauI/AAAAAAAAAac/SHvEWZGNFAY/s320/frontline_use.png "FrontlineSMS usage around the world.")](http://www.frontlinesms.com/who/) Here are some of the most high-profile uses so far: ## Malawi - Rural Healthcare In St. Gabriel's hospital in Namitete, Malawi, [Josh Nesbit](http://mobilesinmalawi.blogspot.com/) used FrontlineSMS to set up a system to co-ordinate volunteer health workers. The hospital's catchment area covers 250,000 people over 30,000 square miles, with only three medical officers employed by the hospital. Using FrontlineSMS, St. Gabriel's 600 volunteer Community Health Workers (CHWs) can now get quick access to information about drug doses, keep the hospital updated with the status of discharged patients and request further assistance. The hospital can also contact a CHW if one of their patients has missed an appointment. ## Afghanistan - Security Updates A major international aid organisation has been [using FrontlineSMS](http://www.blogspot.kiwanja.net/2008/08/frontlinesms-on-frontline.html) in Afghanistan to help keep their staff out of harm's way: "Drivers receive updates on traffic congestion, road blocks, police operations, VIP movements, local minor security incidents and anything else that might be useful as they travel. Senior staff receive SMS messages regarding larger security incidents that may require them to modify program activities for the short term. Incidents that influence activities in other areas are sent to the sub-office group. Finally we have an 'All Staff' category for those situations where we need to notify or account for everyone as quickly as possible" ## Zimbabwe - Election News Updates Zimbabwean human rights NGO [Kubatana](http://www.kubatana.net/) used FrontlineSMS to share information during that country's turbulent elections earlier this year. As well as helping to distribute updates on the latest developments in the presidential struggle, they used FrontlineSMS it to collect and share [opinions from their readership](http://kubatanablogs.net/kubatana/?p=474). For more info on FrontlineSMS in action, check out [this post](http://www.blogspot.kiwanja.net/2008/08/future-frontlinesms.html) on the [kiwanja.net blog](http://www.blogspot.kiwanja.net/index.htm). ### Written by [Giacomo Biggiero](https://blog.masabi.com/blog/author/giacomo-biggiero) [ ### San Joaquin Regional Transit District Launches Open Payments with Masabi, Delivering “A Faster, Easy Way to Pay” Across Stockton and the Central Valley Jul 2, 2026 ](https://blog.masabi.com/blog/san-joaquin-regional-transit-district-launches-open-payments-with-masabi-delivering-a-faster-easy-way-to-pay-across-stockton-and-the-central-valley) [ ### How SaaS Fare Collection Keeps Getting Faster at Scale Jun 30, 2026 ](https://blog.masabi.com/blog/how-saas-fare-collection-keeps-getting-faster-at-scale) [ ### Tap, Ride, Repeat: How Masabi Is Scaling Open Payments Across North America Jun 30, 2026 ](https://blog.masabi.com/blog/tap-ride-repeat-how-masabi-is-scaling-open-payments-across-north-america) ### Menu [Fare Payments as a Service](http://www.masabi.com/fare-payments-as-a-service/) [Justride Platform](http://www.masabi.com/justride-mobile-ticketing/) [Account Based Ticketing ](http://www.masabi.com/account-based-ticketing/) [Mobility as a Service](http://www.masabi.com/mobility-as-a-service/) [Mobile Ticketing ](http://www.masabi.com/mobile-ticketing/) [Contactless EMV](http://www.masabi.com/contactless-emv-ticketing/) [Blog](https://blog.masabi.com/blog) [Content ](http://www.masabi.com/resources/) [Careers ](http://www.masabi.com/we-are-hiring/) [Contact Us ](https://www.masabi.com/about/) [Request a Demo ](https://info.masabi.com/justridedemo) ### About Justride Masabi’s Justride is the leading Fare Payments platform for public transport. 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