Amplio Talking Book
MLC Vanguard | Created by Amplio Network
The Amplio Talking Book is an easy-to-use audio device that delivers hours of targeted, local language content to low-literate users in remote rural areas. Since 2007, Talking Books have reached over one million listeners, empowering adults and youth to learn new skills and knowledge to improve their livelihoods and lives.
1,283,477 Lives Impacted
Talking Book impact examples include:
MEDA’s GROW project used Talking Books to economically empower 23,000+ women farmers in northern Ghana to improve nutrition and food security by growing and selling soybeans.
For USAID’S Afya Timiza project in Kenya, community health volunteers used Talking Books to share quality health information with semi-nomadic pastoralist families, resulting in a 110% increase in the # of pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) visits.
In Zambia, VSO’s TALK project used Talking Books to engage and inform youth and their families in Samfya District about sexual and reproductive health and rights. The project reached 15,700, more than double the anticipated reach.
For a UNICEF Rwanda pilot at Mahama Camp, community health workers used 385 Talking Books to deliver health messages to 50,000 Burundian refugees, reaching 110% more households.
In 2020, Amplio, Ghana Health Service, and UNICEF ran a COVID-19 public health campaign in 8 vulnerable districts in Upper West Region. Community health workers used Talking Books to deliver health messages and maintain social distancing.
The Innovation
Over 1 billion people lack access to information because of poverty, illiteracy, and where they live. Women and girls face more barriers. The Amplio Talking Book bridges the knowledge gap. With Talking Books, you can deliver hours of targeted content, with multiple topics and playlists. Users can select and play messages on demand and record their feedback. A built-in speaker allows families and groups to listen and learn together. Depending on program design, a single device can serve 100 listeners or more.
Because Talking Books collect usage data and user feedback, you can monitor program engagement, identify issues and trends, and continually update content for greater impact. As a result, people gain new skills and knowledge to improve their lives.
The Talking Book is viewed as a trusted community resource—a safe, proven, dedicated device that doesn’t get lost or stolen. It runs on locally available batteries, without electricity or internet. Amplio’s technology platform includes an audio content manager, an app to update Talking Book content and collect data in the field, an interactive dashboard, user feedback processing tools, a learning portal, and more.
Implemented in
14 countries in East and West Africa, South Asia, and Latin America
Get in touch
Cliff Schmidt, Founder and Executive Director
About Amplio Network
Based in Seattle, Amplio is a nonprofit organization that creates inclusive technology-based solutions that development organizations use to deliver messages with relevant knowledge to the most remote and marginalized communities. Our solutions enable feedback loops, allowing stakeholders to participate and contribute. We partner with local and international development organization and government agencies to deliver programs across sectors, from agriculture and food security to education, global health, women's empowerment, and more. By providing access to information through safe, proven technology, we help people learn and adopt new knowledge, skills, and behaviors to improve their lives. Since 2007, Talking Books have reached over a million listeners in 14 countries.
