Local Chapter Lagos, Nigeria Chapter
Coordinated byNigeria ,
Status: Completed
Project Duration: 08 Jun 2023 - 10 Jul 2023
Open Source resources available from this project
Project background.
In Nigeria and across Africa, there is a growing need for robust support systems that can effectively address critical societal issues such as domestic violence, mental health concerns, career guidance, and emergency assistance. To address this pressing need, this project proposes the development of LISTNER, an innovative AI-powered life assistance chatbot that will be integrated with NGOs. The objective is to create a comprehensive support network and improve services throughout Nigeria and the African continent. LISTNER will serve as a reliable and easily accessible resource for individuals facing a wide range of challenges, including domestic violence victims, individuals experiencing depression, survivors of sexual assault, and those seeking career guidance.
In addition to its integration with NGOs, LISTNER will also function independently, extending its assistance beyond its immediate system. The chatbot will possess the capability to escalate assistance for victims to the nearest and most reachable NGOs in their vicinity, even if they are not utilizing the chatbot within their own system. This ensures that individuals in need can receive timely and appropriate support, regardless of their interaction with the chatbot. By integrating LISTNER with existing NGOs and enabling it to reach out to nearby resources, the project aims to create a comprehensive support system that transcends individual platforms and fosters collaboration among various assistance providers.
Through the integration of AI technology, LISTNER will leverage its capabilities in natural language processing, sentiment analysis, and intent recognition to understand and address user needs effectively. It will provide personalized guidance, resources, and emergency contacts, while also curating valuable conversation data for reporting and analysis purposes. This data-driven approach will contribute to evidence-based decision-making, enabling NGOs and policymakers to allocate resources more efficiently and tailor their interventions to the specific needs of the population.
Overall, the proposed LISTNER project seeks to revolutionize the provision of support services in Nigeria and across Africa by harnessing the power of AI and chatbot technology. By combining seamless integration with NGOs and the ability to extend assistance beyond its own system, LISTNER aims to create a holistic and accessible support system that empowers individuals, enhances collaboration among assistance providers, and ultimately improves the well-being of communities across the continent.
The problem.
In Nigeria and Africa, many individuals face significant challenges in accessing appropriate support services for various issues affecting their well-being. NGOs play a crucial role in providing assistance, but they often encounter resource and infrastructure limitations, leading to inefficiencies in handling the increasing demand. Moreover, there are instances where individuals in need are unable to reach the NGOs for timely assistance. There is a pressing need to establish a comprehensive support system that addresses these challenges and ensures the availability of assistance from nearby NGOs, irrespective of whether individuals are utilizing the chatbot. Collecting and analyzing data related to these issues is essential for effective policy-making and resource allocation. Therefore, the proposed solution aims to bridge these gaps by leveraging AI and chatbot technology to create a scalable, accessible, and data-driven support system that not only assists individuals directly but also facilitates the escalation of assistance to the nearest and most reachable NGOs, even for those not utilizing the chatbot in their system.
Project goals.
Project plan.
Week 1
Week 1: Project Initiation and Planning
– Conduct a project kickoff meeting to discuss the project goals, objectives, and deliverables.
– Define the project scope and create a detailed project plan, including tasks, timelines, and resource allocation.
– Identify and assign roles and responsibilities to team members.
– Set up communication channels for effective collaboration.Week 2
Week 2: Chatbot Development
– Develop the backend infrastructure of the chatbot using Flask, integrating with the chosen messaging platform (WhatsApp or Telegram API).
Integrate OpenAI GPT or a similar NLP API for natural language understanding and response generation.
– Implement sentiment analysis API to extract emotional insights from conversations.Week 3
Week 3: User Interface Design
Design and develop a user-friendly interface for the chatbot, ensuring compatibility across various devices and platforms. Focus on usability, accessibility, and user privacy, adhering to relevant regulations and guidelines.
Week 4
Week 4: Data Collection and Analysis
Implement a robust data collection mechanism within the chatbot to capture user conversations while ensuring anonymity and privacy. Set up a data storage system to securely store user information and conversation history. Begin analyzing the collected data using data science techniques to derive insights and patterns.
Week 5
Week 5: NGO Integration
Identify and establish partnerships with NGOs in Nigeria and African countries. Customize the chatbot’s functionalities to align with the specific needs of each NGO. Develop an API for LISTNER to enable seamless integration with NGO websites and platforms.
Week 6
Week 6: API Integration
Develop an API for LISTNER to facilitate integration with other NGO websites, platforms, and applications. Define protocols and endpoints for seamless communication and data exchange. Ensure security measures are in place to protect user data and maintain privacy.
Week 7
Week 7: Testing, Deployment, and Documentation
Conduct comprehensive testing to ensure the chatbot functions as intended and delivers the desired results. Deploy the LISTNER chatbot and API integration to production environments. Document the project, including the development process, system architecture, and user guides for future reference.
Week 8
Week 7: Testing, Deployment, and Documentation
Conduct comprehensive testing to ensure the chatbot functions as intended and delivers the desired results. Deploy the LISTNER chatbot and API integration to production environments. Document the project, including the development process, system architecture, and user guides for future reference.
Learning outcomes.
– Technical Proficiency: Through the development and implementation of the LISTNER chatbot project, team members will gain expertise in various technical domains, including natural language processing (NLP), chatbot development, API integration, web frameworks (such as Flask), and data analysis. They will acquire hands-on experience in utilizing these technologies to build an innovative solution that addresses real-world challenges.
– Project Management Skills: The project will allow team members to enhance their project management abilities. They will learn to effectively plan, organize, and execute tasks within a specified timeline, allocate resources efficiently, and adapt to changing requirements. Collaboration and coordination skills will also be honed as team members work together towards a common goal.
– Domain Knowledge: As part of the project, team members will delve into the specific domains of domestic violence, mental health, career guidance, and emergency assistance. They will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals in these areas and the importance of providing appropriate support. This knowledge will enable them to develop a more empathetic and context-aware chatbot solution.
– Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with NGOs, users, and other stakeholders will enhance the team’s communication and interpersonal skills. They will learn how to effectively communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, understand user needs and requirements, and establish strong partnerships with NGOs. This experience will foster effective collaboration and ensure the project’s alignment with the needs of the target audience.
– Ethical Considerations: As the project involves sensitive topics like domestic violence, mental health, and sexual assault, team members will develop an understanding of the ethical implications and responsibilities associated with handling such data and providing support. They will learn about user privacy, data security, and confidentiality, ensuring the chatbot adheres to ethical guidelines and regulations.
– Problem-Solving and Innovation: The LISTNER chatbot project will present team members with unique challenges that require innovative problem-solving approaches. They will learn to think critically, analyze complex issues, and propose creative solutions to enhance the chatbot’s functionality, user experience, and impact. This experience will foster a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation.
– Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity: Given Nigeria and Africa’s diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, team members will develop cultural sensitivity and inclusivity skills. They will understand the importance of accommodating different languages, cultural norms, and user preferences within the chatbot’s design. This will ensure that the solution caters to a wide range of users and promotes inclusivity.
