Success of Soft Launch of FoodConnect Directory and Database
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms He Ting Ru’s inquiry regarding the enrollment figures and success metrics for the FoodConnect directory and database since its soft launch in February 2022. Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that the directory currently lists 25 organisations, while the database tracks food support for approximately 500 households across four organisations. He noted that 14 additional organisations have expressed interest in onboarding the database to provide a consolidated view of food support for better coordination. These platforms are designed to create a data-driven charity food sector, allowing organisations to optimise resources and ensure beneficiaries receive the appropriate assistance. Success will be evaluated by tracking participation and system utilisation over time to achieve a net reduction in duplicative support and food wastage.
Transcript
17 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in relation to the soft launch of the FoodConnect directory and database (a) how many households are currently signed up to it; (b) how many community groups are currently registered with the database; and (c) how is the success of the initiative to be measured.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Charity Food Workgroup (CFWG) soft launched the FoodConnect Directory and Database in February 2022. The FoodConnect Directory is the first consolidated charity food directory in Singapore and enables social service agencies and families in need to search for food support organisations by location and dietary requirements. This way, families can be better matched to food support that best meets their needs. There are, currently, 25 organisations listed on the Directory, including seven new organisations which were onboarded after the soft launch.
The FoodConnect Database is a system that enables participating food charities, local food coordinators and social service agencies to have a consolidated view of the food support received by households. This enables them to make informed decisions on coordinating or right-siting food support. The Database, currently, contains food support data for around 500 households served by four food support organisations. Another 14 organisations have expressed interest in onboarding the Database.
The FoodConnect systems are the building blocks for a more data-driven and collaborative charity food sector, where beneficiaries can receive the right type and amount of food support, and food support organisations can optimise their resources. As FoodConnect has only been recently launched, we will, over time, track the number of organisations and groups that onboard and utilise these systems so that, on net, there is less duplicative support and food wastage.