'WhatsApp for the Amazon' Cohort Announced, Harnessing Chat Technology & AI for Social & Environmental Impact in the Amazon
Turn.io has announced the nine LATAM-based organisations selected for the 'WhatsApp for the Amazon' initiative, an ambitious program designed in partnership with Meta and the Institute for Technology and Society (ITS). The initiative seeks to harness the power of digital interventions to foster social and environmental impact across the Amazon region, one of the world's most essential biomes.
Launched on November 25, 2024, the WhatsApp for the Amazon initiative aims to promote sustainable development practices and enhance social innovation through the application of scalable tech solutions. All nine participants will benefit from mentorship, technical support and a comprehensive 7-week acceleration programme led by Turn.io experts. They will also stand a chance to access funding of up to R$250,000 for the first selected finalist, R$150,000 for the second, and R$100,000 for the third, which will be announced at Demo Day.
Having received an overwhelming number of applications, the organisations selected as the final cohort are (in alphabetical order):
Earth Defenders Assistant enhances access to financing with voice commands, promoting participatory management and empowering local production chains
Forlex (LIVIA) bridges legal knowledge gaps in the Amazon, connecting remote populations to accessible rights information and legal education through WhatsApp.
GovTools captures georeferenced data to generate heat maps and alerts, streamlining environmental monitoring and response.
Ignitia LATAM delivers hyper-local, AI-powered weather and climate intelligence to Amazon farmers via WhatsApp, ensuring real-time alerts and climate-smart agricultural guidance.
InfoAmazonia integrates AI with WhatsApp for real-time, localized environmental journalism, empowering remote communities with accurate news.
Nossas will scale its existing use of WhatsApp as its main mobilisation tool within Amazônia de Pé, to carry out mass communications with activists and supporters.
SabiAI Mail uses a WhatsApp-based chatbot to combat environmental misinformation and connect communities with real-time insights from expert networks.
Sumauma (Amazon Climate Crisis Map) provides a real-time interactive map by gathering and verifying hyper-local reports of extreme weather and environmental crimes.
Wood Chat, through the Violeta virtual assistant, provides instant, accurate information on sustainable management and wood species to remote communities.
Lieze Langford, Head of Accelerators at Turn.io, remarked, “The diverse array of projects selected showcases the remarkable potential of digital technologies, including AI-enabled chat, to drive sustainable impact. We are excited to support these organisations as they transform innovative ideas into tangible solutions for preserving the Amazon's ecosystems and supporting its communities."
“This initiative exemplifies our commitment to leveraging technology, specifically AI-enabled chat solutions for positive social impact,” added Joao Gouvea, Head of LATAM at Turn.io. “We look forward to working with each of them to scale and advance the powerful work they are already doing."
Applications are now closed, but interested parties are encouraged to follow the progress of this transformative program through our website and social media channels.
"We understand the power of WhatsApp in Brazil when it comes to reach and accessibility. By integrating WhatsApp Business, our business tool, into this project, we aim to demonstrate the significant environmental and social impact we can generate when we combine technology, engaged organizations, and global challenges." says Daniela Scapin, Head of WhatsApp and Messaging Policy at Meta.
“Brazil has a huge potential for renewable energy, biodiversity and community networks. Using messaging and AI technologies to harness our green potential makes us closer to boosting the economy, while pursuing ambitious carbon emission targets.” says Fabro Steibel, executive director at ITS Rio.
