Chat for Impact Report 2024
The Chat for Impact Community is a global network of nonprofit organisations, social enterprises and funders. It promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing to develop scalable, evidence-based solutions using Chat and AI technologies. Each year, members share insights and data that highlight how these tools are developing and driving meaningful change.
In 2024, the Chat for Impact Community demonstrated the growing potential of Chat and AI to tackle systemic challenges, amplify social impact, and provide services and support to underserved populations worldwide.
Key Achievements
Health Initiatives
Organisations in various regions are using Chat and AI to bridge the gaps in health, making it easier for people to access healthcare, reduce stigma around sensitive health issues, and give individuals the information they need to make informed decisions about their health. Key areas include:
Youth Health Support: Chat solutions are providing culturally relevant, relatable health content that empowers young people to make informed decisions about their physical, sexual, and mental well-being.
Maternal & Infant Health: AI-powered maternal health services are offering resources and reminders to pregnant women, improving access to immunisations and early health interventions to directly address maternal and infant mortality in underserved areas.
Mental Health Support: The use of Chatbots that are private and available 24/7 are helping people in underserved communities manage anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts by reducing stigma and connecting them to vital resources.
Efficient Healthcare Access: Automated triage and appointment booking systems have made services more accessible.
Education & Skills Development Initiatives
Education plays a key role in transforming communities, and the Chat for Impact Community is helping ensure fairer access to quality learning and skill-building opportunities, these include:
Equitable Access to Education: Chat platforms are supporting early childhood education and foundational skills for children in rural and underserved areas. The inclusion of AI tools are being used to create personalised learning experiences by tailoring content to each child’s unique needs and challenges.
Supporting Learning Challenges: Organisations are bringing together parents, teachers, and therapists to offer accessible, research-backed support for children with behavioural or learning challenges.
Economic Empowerment Initiatives
Many organisations within the Chat for Impact Community are using Chat and AI to strengthen economic stability by helping small businesses grow, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating sustainable ways for people to earn a living.
Entrepreneurship Support: Chatbots on WhatsApp are providing micro-enterprises with coaching, training, and resources, helping entrepreneurs overcome barriers like lack of funding or access to formal training.
Enhancing Rural Livelihoods: Chat solutions are providing access to markets, digital tools, and business mentoring, creating new economic opportunities in underserved communities.
Empowering Women Through Digital Literacy: Programmes focused on improving digital and financial literacy for rural and peri-urban women are enabling them to access technology, expand market opportunities, and achieve financial independence using Chat, helping them start and grow micro-enterprises, boosting local economies and family well-being.
AI & Operational Efficiency
AI and chat-based technologies are helping to deliver services efficiently and streamline organisational operations in the field.
Real-Time Case Management: Chat platforms are helping frontline workers track gender-based violence cases and provide timely referrals.
AI-Driven Insights: Data-capture and predictive analytics are helping organisations identify trends, improve decision-making and allocate resources more effectively, scaling their impact.
The 2024 survey revealed the four key barriers organisations face when building and scaling chat-based services. However, these challenges are also driving innovation and adaptation within the Chat for Impact Community.
4 Key Barriers Faced by Organisations
Funding Constraints (52%)
Barrier - Many organisations struggle to secure long-term funding to develop
and maintain chat services.
Adaptation - New funding sources - Exploring new funding sources including the private sector companies, impact investors and philanthropic funders.
Technical Skills Gaps (29%)
Barrier - – Many organisations lack the expertise in creating and managing chat solutions, and integrating AI and large language models (LLMs).
Adaptation - Technical partners and training - Working with technology providers to build skills through training programs and sharing technical resources and expertise within the Community through workshops and open-source toolkits.
User Adoption (29%)
Barrier - Organisations face challenges in engaging users and expanding their services, particularly in communities with low digital literacy or limited access to technology.
Adaptation - User-focused design & grassroots partnerships - Tailoring content to align with local cultures and languages. Refining usability through feedback loops. Collaborating with grassroots organisations to build trust and raise awareness in target communities.
AI & LLM Integration (29%)
Barrier - Organisations are struggling with the challenges of implementing AI and large language models, such as addressing data privacy concerns and overcoming a lack of technical expertise.
Adaptation - Plug-and-play tools - for non-technical users as well as collaborating with AI service providers to create customised solutions.
#Keready, South Africa are providing a safe, engaging space for youth to discuss sensitive health issues, including mental health, pregnancy, and STDs.
Aquí Estoy Chat, Argentina have reached 50,000+ individuals with mental health support, addressing anxiety, depression, and relationship conflicts.
Craft Education have developed open-source chatbot conversations, expanding global access to behavioural therapy tools.
Hipocampus has achieved 10x growth in service delivery, driving measurable behavioural change.
The Heartlines have added four new South African languages, making their chat services more inclusive.
Nivi, India have doubled their onboarding rates using AI-driven prompts, significantly lowering marketing costs.
Tech Herfrica, Nigeria have trained 2,000+ rural women in digital entrepreneurship, helping many generate income.
Rocket Learning has introduced automated worksheet correction, improving learning outcomes via chat.
How Turn.io is Powering the Chat for Impact Community
Turn.io enables millions of life-improving conversations across the Global South. We help organisations scale access to trusted information, empathetic support, and essential services & resources through our chat platform and Chat for Impact community. To date Turn.io has enabled:
Looking Ahead to 2025
Turn.io and the Chat for Impact Community will focus on:
Closing funding gaps to sustain impact-driven chat services.
Strengthening technical skills through training and open-source tools.
Expanding collaboration via networking platforms for AI and chat solution experts.
Improving AI accessibility with simplified API integrations.
Scaling real-world applications, predominantly in health, education, and economic development.
Become a Partner
If you love what Turn.io is doing and you’d like to support the future of Chat for Impact, here’s how you can help
Funding & Resources – Provide financial and technical support for our Chat for Impact Accelerator programmes or our partners
Business Model Support – Mentor organisations to build sustainable, revenue-generating models.
Research & Impact Analysis – Help measure and improve effectiveness.
Capacity Building – Offer training in AI, behaviour change, and chatbot development.
Join us on WhatsApp & LinkedIn and participate in our monthly Town Hall discussions.
Learn More & Partner With Us
