Mobile Technology in Development

In anticipation for Science, Technology and Innovation month in September, we would like to showcase how
USAID is using mobiles to accelerate development impact. We encourage you to submit you photo and story by
Monday, September 2nd. Please send submissions to m4d.usaid@gmail.com

A success story illustrates positive sustainable impact in people’s lives. More than a list of events or activities,
it describes a positive change and shows how that change benefits the people. A good success story uses
evidence from evaluation to show its value and impact.

First Person story focuses on one person who benefited from a USAID funded program. These stories include
a quote from and picture of the subject. The first two paragraphs need to showcase the challenge the person
encountered and the context of the USAID funded program.

Before submitting your photo and/or story, please review the guidelines below to help structure your writing
and submission. To submit a success story please provide a detailed overview of the
program/project/partnership, illustrated by a powerful photograph. Please fill in as many fields as you can.
Those marked with an * are required.

*Country of Story Kosovo

*Approx. Date of photo/story August 23, 2013

*Headline
Good headlines or titles are simple, jargon-free, and have impact; they summarize the story in a
nutshell; and include action verbs that bring the story to life. Your headline should include few
words. (See headline tips for more examples)

In Kosovo, USAID Pioneers Raw Milk Test Results via SMS

Subhead
Use the subhead to expand on the headline, humanize the story or highlight a key fact. (100 characters
maximum, including spaces and punctuation, see subhead tips for more examples)

Dairy Farmers Receive timely feedback on milk quality and dairy health.

Photograph
Your photograph will bring the story to life. The photo should be colorful, depict action, capture
people's attention, and feature a main character prominently. Please attach only a jpg and maintain at
least 300 dpi. We request all digital photos be shot with at least an 8-megapixel resolution. Generally,
the larger the file, the better the quality. Please attach photo within email with application submission.

Permission to Use Photograph

By submitting a photo and/or story, you or your organization grants USAID full reproduction rights to
the images, including use in official USAID print and online publications. If you or your organization
did not take the picture, USAID will assume the photographer and subjects in photo approved prior
permission. (Relinquishing USAID of any and all copyright infringement)

*Photographer's Name Andrew Bridges

Photographer's Organization Tetratech – ARD

*Photograph's Caption
Your caption or quote should briefly summarize what is occurring in the photograph. If possible Include
a name and then the what, when, and where in 8-15 words.

Dukagjin Dedaj displays a message reporting fat, protein, sugar and other parameters.

*The Story
You can write a success story about an entire program or part of a program that is particularly
noteworthy and significant. It may be about an innovation, a particular project or activity, or the positive
results of a partnership. The program may be complete or in an earlier stage of development but with
important accomplishments to describe. Continue by describing how USAID took action to improve the
situation, highlighting what USAID did or funded. Finally describe the end result or benefit. What
changed for the person or community? What was learned? What was received? What was the impact?
How did this make a difference in the community or country overall?

You could even write a success story several years after a program’s completion when you have collected
evidence of long-term impact. For a multi-year initiative, you may write a series of success stories that
describe significant but different changes that occur over the years.

Whatever you choose to write about, your story should demonstrate how USAID’s assistance created a
better place to live – for individuals, families, organizations, businesses, local governments and
communities. (Up to 1000 words)

Dukagjin Dedaj a dairy farmer for more than a decade started with a herd of 15 cows that grew into 52.
Dedaj’s always known his cows produce excellent quality milk. Today, thanks to USAID, the objective
proof is in his pocket.

Pulling out his cell phone, Dedaj showed off a message recently received from a state laboratory. It
concisely detailed how his raw milk measured against eight standardized parameters, including fat,
protein and sugar percentages. The message also graded Dedaj’s milk as “extra class.” That classification
allows Dedaj to command premium prices from the dairy processor that purchases the 720 liters of milk
his cows produce daily. It also earns him a government subvention earmarked to increase the domestic
supply of the highest grades of raw milk.

USAID, in partnership with local partners, established Kosovo’s national raw milk-sampling laboratory in
the mid-2000s. Samples are collected at the farm level on a biweekly basis. The samples are blinded,
meaning their origin remains unknown to the experts doing the actual testing. That eliminates bias.
Initially, results were shared with farmers by field officers. USAID then created a password-protected
website. More recently, USAID, working through its New Opportunities for Agriculture (NOA) project,
engaged a local IT company to develop the software needed to disseminate testing results by SMS. Now,
roughly 1,700 Kosovo dairy farmers receive their test results on their phones twice monthly.

“This is the biggest thing USAID has done for dairy farmers who understand its importance,” Dedaj said.

Dedaj receives testing results just days after his milk has been sampled. Purchasing dairies access the
same information, which the two parties then use to set a wholesale price for the raw milk.

“We no longer argue about quality—that’s a third party’s job to determine now. All we talk about is
price,” Dedaj said.

The results are also allowing Dedaj and other farmers to intervene more quickly should testing reveal any
deficiencies in their raw milk. For example, any decrease in the butterfat content in the milk Dedaj’s cows
produce prompts the farmer to adjust their feed regimen, perhaps by mixing in more soybean meal. On
a recent occasion, Dedaj received a message indicating his milk had slipped a grade, to first class.

“I immediately checked every cow—which had contributed to the slip? I had to find the reason,” Dedaj
said.

Testing revealed one of his cows had a single teat with mastitis. While the infection leads to
inflammation, it wouldn’t have been immediately apparent at such an early stage had Dedaj not been
alerted that something is wrong.

“It’s a miracle. I am sitting at home and a message shows up and tells me about the health of my cows,”
Dedaj said.

Pullout Quote
This should be a quote from an individual in the photo, or project implement clearly stating how USAID
has had an impact on their life. This quote should be approximately 10-20 words, or no more than 100
characters (including spaces and punctuation).

“It’s a miracle. I am sitting at home and a message shows up and tells me about the health of my
cows,” Dedaj said.

Background Information

USAID, through New Opportunities for Agriculture (NOA) a four-year program that started in January
2011 and ends in January 2015 focuses on creation of market linkages, increasing and diversifying
agricultural products, improving food quality and safety, increasing affordable and accessible credit, in
addition the activity supports the sector through small grants to farmers, agricultural enterprises and
association.

City or Region of Story Peja, Kosovo

*Submitted by: Please tell us whom we should contact regarding this story.

Name: Xheraldina Cernobregu Email: xcernobregu@usaid.gov

Phone: + 381 38 59592150; Cell: + 377 44 120 266