Bulk SMS for NGOs and non-profit organizations
Reach communities and field teams wherever they are. DARSMS gives NGOs, CBOs and development programmes in Tanzania a reliable, low-cost way to mobilise beneficiaries and coordinate staff by SMS.
Why NGOs use SMS
In rural areas, SMS is often the only digital channel that reaches everyone. It works on basic phones, needs no data bundle and arrives even where internet coverage is weak, which makes it ideal for community mobilisation and awareness campaigns.
Programme teams import beneficiary lists from Excel, group them by district, ward or project, and send targeted messages in Kiswahili. Delivery reports show which messages reached each number, which helps with monitoring and donor reporting.
Field coordinators use scheduled SMS for training reminders and meeting notices, while M&E teams use the delivery data to see how many beneficiaries each campaign reached.
What you can send
- Awareness and public health campaigns to communities.
- Beneficiary registration confirmations and reminders.
- Field team scheduling and coordination.
- Training and community meeting invitations.
- Emergency and safety alerts.
- Donor and volunteer updates, thank-you messages and appeals.
Example messages
Ndugu mwanakikundi, mkutano wa mafunzo ya kilimo bora utafanyika Alhamisi saa 4 asubuhi, ofisi ya kijiji Mvomero. Tafadhali hudhuria.
133 characters
Free malaria testing this Saturday 8:00-16:00 at Bagamoyo Health Centre. Bring your family. For details call 0741 000 000.
122 characters
How DARSMS helps NGOs
Reach basic phones
SMS needs no smartphone or data bundle, so it reaches beneficiaries in areas with limited internet access.
Reports for M&E
Delivery reports per recipient support monitoring and evaluation, and help you report reach to donors.
Predictable costs
Prepaid credits with no monthly fees make it easy to budget SMS as a programme line item.
Frequently asked questions
Can we target beneficiaries by district or project?
Yes. Import beneficiaries into separate contact groups, for example by district, ward or project, and send each campaign only to the relevant groups.
Can we get delivery data for donor reports?
Yes. Delivery reports show whether each message was delivered, failed or is pending, and campaign reports summarise the results.
How do we pay for SMS credits?
Credits are bought in advance with mobile money from the dashboard. You can request a VAT (EFD) receipt for your accounts.
Related solutions
Start reaching your audience by SMS today
Registration is free and includes 5 SMS credits to test. Buy more credits with mobile money whenever you need them.