Hi everyone, I’m Ashraf, the newest team member in the GSMA mAgri programme. I joined the GSMA very recently as a Technical Programme Consultant for the mFarmer initiative from Bangladesh, and I’ll be providing feasibility assessments and technical consultancy support for mobile operators developing technical solutions for agriculture value added services (VAS).
Previously, I was a New Media Consultant for different local and international organizations in Bangladesh. I’ve also worked for BBC Media Action and Grameenphone (Telenor Bangladesh) and have had the chance to play a central role in an award-winning project called ‘BBC Janala’, which provides English language lessons through mobile phones, television, web, print and CD for people in Bangladesh. I also managed a techno-VAS team for Grameenphone.
When I was offered the opportunity to work for the GSMA, I took it immediately because I think it is a great way to share my experience with mobile VAS and it will give me the opportunity for cross country knowledge sharing and diverse work experience. I am particularly interested in the techno-business side of mobile VAS development for the BoP (Base of the Pyramid) because I think this is just the beginning and this particular area needs to be explored more. Unlike many other VAS, mAgri deals solely with this group of target audiences.
While working in the field of mobile VAS, I got the unique chance to gather some experiences to support the development of mobile VAS, which involves both profit and non-profit organisations starting from MNOs, content providers, technology providers to market researchers, among others.
I’m looking forward to writing about the technical side of mobile VAS and in the meantime, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.