The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a global economic recession which has resulted in a dramatic loss of livelihoods and income on a global scale. Given the outsized impact on food insecurity throughout Africa, the resulting drop in purchasing power among those who lost income has had a major impact especially for those populations that were already vulnerable. In particular, those in the informal economy are most affected.

In many parts of the developing countries around the world, community radio acts as a vehicle used to promote development at the grass-root level. Non-profit, civil societies, multinational companies, and citizens work with community radios on various social and economic issues ranging from poverty, agriculture, gender inequality, education, and marketing among others.

Emily Achieng Rayamo is both a retail trader and a social worker working with Pillars care farmers foundation in Migori. Emily comes from Suna eastward under Kakrao in Rayabhi village in Migori County, Kenya. The region is a large producer of sugarcane, sweet potatoes, maize, and beans. Emily’s primary source of income is retail trade in agricultural commodities including cereals and vegetables. She has had her business for four years.

Sauti and TruTrade together with medical experts Response-Med have developed and disseminated customized COVID-19 awareness and prevention materials including short animated clips and radio ads, specific to the agriculture supply chain actors in Uganda through Sauti and TruTrade digital platforms.

Sauti took the lead on increasing participation of women traders in select sectors through the expansion of its digitized platforms, specifically USSD/SMS and WhatsApp. The targeted project counties included Siaya, Makueni, Kilifi, Migori and Bungoma.