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Next-generation IT for project evaluation: Can Africa log in with mobile phones?

Next-generation IT for project evaluation: Can Africa log in with mobile phones?. Development and Energy in Africa: Regional Workshop Arusha, Tanzania 16 - 19 October, 2007. CAM framework for village data collection, processing and distribution.

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Next-generation IT for project evaluation: Can Africa log in with mobile phones?

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  1. Next-generation IT for project evaluation:Can Africa log in with mobile phones? Development and Energy in Africa: Regional Workshop Arusha, Tanzania 16 - 19 October, 2007 Energy Branch, UNEP

  2. CAM framework for village data collection, processing and distribution Energy Branch, UNEP

  3. The component technologies are available NOW…! • Data collected using mobile phones in the Epihandy and TRACnet systems are either: • Transmitted immediately if there is connectivity; or • Cached (saved) until the device has a connection to the Internet and can synchronize with a server. Ajedi-ka, a human rights organization based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, distributes mobile phonesto local teachers, elders and business leaders so that they can report incidents of children being drafted as soldiers. The phones make reporting faster and easier. TRACnet is an HIV/AIDS project in Rwanda developed in conjunction with Voxiva. Data on patients is entered into the system through the Internet, via voice, or using forms on mobile devices. Health workers across the developing world have started using mobile phones to monitor disease outbreaks in real time. Epihandy is a survey tool for mobile devices. It addresses errors related to manual data entry and lack of validation by putting the data collection in an electronic form Energy Branch, UNEP

  4. The hardware (mobile phone) is user-friendly, gender-neutral and spreading very fast Energy Branch, UNEP

  5. Matching software innovations make the CAM framework possible Document interaction is specified using CamShell – a programming language that allows software developers to add interactive audio, data entry, validation, processing, and networking instructions to paper documents The CAM client application, called the CAMBrowser, has already been implemented for Series 60 camera-equipped mobile phones. CAMBrowser is designed to process specially designed CAMForm documents. CAMForms contain visual codes - two-dimensional data glyphs containing up to 76-bits of data that can be decoded from a camera image. Energy Branch, UNEP

  6. Field worker using a CAMBrowser-equipped mobile phone to extract micro-finance data from a paper form in an Indian village. Energy Branch, UNEP

  7. Here’s a snapshot of a real CAMForm… Energy Branch, UNEP

  8. CAMBrowser – Mobile phone interaction Energy Branch, UNEP

  9. Captured data is transmitted to nearest server for processing and distribution Energy Branch, UNEP

  10. Data moving from a disconnected field worker to a server A B C E F H G Disconnected node H Connected node Internet server Potential path Successful path J I Source: DeRenzi et al, 2007 Energy Branch, UNEP

  11. So, for M+E, next generation IT systems… are technologically feasible, user-friendly and accessible; can facilitate participatory data collection and processing at village level for leap-frogging to… …dramatically improved quality, quantity and timeliness of data and information about development-focused energy interventions in Africa Energy Branch, UNEP

  12. How might NGIT work in practice for energy M+E? Customize existing CAM framework to match specific information needs for energy M+E (based on ‘standard’ set of indicators): Modify standard questionnaires for village data gathering by adding a barcode next to specific boxes or sections where the field worker needs to fill in numbers. Build a Development M+E CAMBrowser with embedded Energy Module Energy Branch, UNEP

  13. Here is a scenario of the system in action… The result is an electronic version of the completed village questionnaire, which is initially stored on the phone and later uploaded to a central server when the phone is near a mast. After filling out the modified forms, the field worker takes a picture of each barcode with a mobile phone. Software on the phone recognizes the barcode and a message appears on the screen, prompting field worker to enter the figures that have been entered in the section that corresponds to that barcode. Using either the audio or text approach, the person doing the data entry simply scrolls through the whole form, taking snapshots of the barcodes and entering data via the phone's keypad. Energy Branch, UNEP

  14. Advantages of an NGIT system for energy M+E It provides a cost-effective way to accessing household and community-level information routinely for monitoring and evaluation of projects. Additional information, such as photos, videos, scanned reports, and the like can be attached to the electronic form that was saved, and stored on the central server as well. Saving the information on a server makes accounting simpler as data can't easily be lost. Energy Branch, UNEP

  15. What’s so special about mobile phones? Mobility For the foreseeable future, most of the world's people will not be able to afford their own digital device. Compared to the PC, a mobile phone is likely to be the most affordable means of digitizing, storing and sharing information by rural users. And, like other resources, mobile devices will be shared by the family or community. Audio feedback Voice-based input can also improve the accessibility of the system for semi-literate and illiterate rural users. A microphone and speakers are integral parts of any mobile phone Numeric Keypad The numeric phone keypad is immediately familiar to millions of users in Africa. Moreover, signicantly more people are numerically literate then textually. Numeric input is accessible even for illiterate and semi-literate rural users “Small is beautiful” The user interface with small and discrete task spaces is more comprehensible to semi-literate rural users. It facilitates a sequence of mobile data entry tasks; presenting one task at a time reduces the potential for confusion or indecision on the part of novice or illiterate users. Camera Most medium to high-end mobile phones now come equipped with some kind of camera. Some may have several cameras, with high resolution and video capabilities. A camera can also be used to capture rich information and experiences without writing or typing. Energy Branch, UNEP

  16. An enterprise-based deployment model • Good quality information is in high demand by users willing to pay: • Local and national governments • Donors/multi – and bilateral agencies • International Finance Institutions • UN agencies Local Data Service Providers (LDSPs) can deliver basic data within multi-tiered structures – Village Town  World Energy Branch, UNEP

  17. How much will a village level system cost? Energy Branch, UNEP

  18. So, can Africa log into the Global Energy M+E system with mobile phones? NO! …if you’re thinking inside the BOX. A big YES!! …if you’re thinking OUTSIDE the BOX. Energy Branch, UNEP

  19. Thank you! Lawrence Agbemabiese Energy Branch, UNEP DTIE, Paris Telephone: +33 (01) 44 37 30 03 Email: lagbemabiese@unep.fr Blog: http://agbe.typepad.com Energy Branch, UNEP

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