This document discusses PMIR (Price Monitoring using Interactive-Voice Response) Technology, which uses automated phone calls to grocers to monitor food prices across Pakistan. The objectives are to provide a predictive food price monitoring mechanism and enable practitioners to predict food access issues. Interactive Voice Response technology allows grocers to respond to audio questions by phone in local languages about food prices. The system aims to systematically monitor consumer prices, maximize coverage at low cost without training or specialized equipment requirements, and generate analyses of food accessibility.

1. PMIR (Price Monitoring using( g g
Interactive-Voice Response)
TechnologyTechnology
A Mechanism of Automated Phone Calls to a
Grocers’ Network for Monitoring the
Accessibility Issues
Fawad RazaFawad Raza
Spatial Analyst WFP PakistanSpatial Analyst WFP PakistanSpatial Analyst, WFP PakistanSpatial Analyst, WFP Pakistan
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2. FOOD SECURITYFOOD SECURITY
AVAILABILITYAVAILABILITY ACCESSACCESS UTILIZATIONUTILIZATION
• Production
• Distribution
• Affordability
• Allocation
• Nutritional Value
• Social Value
• Exchange • Preference • Food Safety

3. GovernmentGovernment--Driven Price MonitoringDriven Price Monitoring
Selected
set of
markets
Official
controlled
prices
Irrespective of
Food Insecurity
Status

4. Around 6 billion cell phone
users in the world UN
Telecom Agency Report

5. Data collection using mobile phonesData collection using mobile phones
• Requirement of a particular type of handset
• Installed with a particular software on client sideInstalled with a particular software on client side
• Training requirement for responders
Less convenient for untrained/ illiterate responders• Less convenient for untrained/ illiterate responders

6. Objectives of PMIRObjectives of PMIR
Provide a predictive food
price monitoring
h i t blmechanism to enables
food security
practitioners to predictpractitioners to predict
food access issues
across the countryacross the country.

7. Interactive Voice Response (IVR)Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

8. PMIR ImperativesPMIR Imperatives
• Establishment of an initial network of volunteer grocers.
• Setting up of a PMIR Server Machine containing the priceg p g p
database and allied software.
• Designing of an interactive and self-explanatory set of
audio questions for the grocers preferably in local
language.
F l ti ti h i f ti• Formulating a reporting mechanism for generating
automated analyses regarding various elements of food
accessibility.access b ty
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9. Advantages of PMIRAdvantages of PMIR
• Systematic evidence-base on consumer prices.
• Maximize the coverage of Price MonitoringMaximize the coverage of Price Monitoring .
• Simple technology (no particular requirement at
client sideclient side.
• Cost efficiency
PMIRPMIR--resembling mechanism can be used forresembling mechanism can be used for
i il th i i ti t ll d tii il th i i ti t ll d ti i di dsimilar other imaginative controlled tiesimilar other imaginative controlled tie--ins or crowdins or crowd
sourcing applications.sourcing applications.
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10. THANK YOU
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