diff --git a/apps/cic-notify/cic_notify/runnable/tasker.py b/apps/cic-notify/cic_notify/runnable/tasker.py
index 453044f0..90417c7e 100644
--- a/apps/cic-notify/cic_notify/runnable/tasker.py
+++ b/apps/cic-notify/cic_notify/runnable/tasker.py
@@ -87,10 +87,18 @@ for key in config.store.keys():
         module = importlib.import_module(config.store[key])
         if key == 'TASKS_AFRICASTALKING':
             africastalking_notifier = module.AfricasTalkingNotifier
+
+            api_sender_id = config.get('AFRICASTALKING_API_SENDER_ID')
+            logg.debug(f'SENDER ID VALUE IS: {api_sender_id}')
+
+            if not api_sender_id:
+                api_sender_id = None
+                logg.debug(f'SENDER ID RESOLVED TO NONE: {api_sender_id}')
+
             africastalking_notifier.initialize(
                 config.get('AFRICASTALKING_API_USERNAME'),
                 config.get('AFRICASTALKING_API_KEY'),
-                config.get('AFRICASTALKING_API_SENDER_ID')
+                api_sender_id
             )
 
 
diff --git a/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/phone_number.py b/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/phone_number.py
index 34bd3655..7556709f 100644
--- a/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/phone_number.py
+++ b/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/phone_number.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def get_user_by_phone_number(phone_number: str) -> Optional[Account]:
     :rtype: Account|None
     """
     # consider adding region to user's metadata
-    phone_number = process_phone_number(phone_number=phone_number, region='KE')
+    phone_number = process_phone_number(phone_number=phone_number, region=E164Format.region)
     user = Account.session.query(Account).filter_by(phone_number=phone_number).first()
     return user