Considerations for the successful design & implementation of ICT systems in the WASH sector
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- 1. Bymid-2013 more Africans willhave a mobile phonesubscription
than access to animproved water source (Foster et al., 2012a)
- 2. InZambia, Tanzania and Kenya Afterinstalling digital
monitoringsystems coverage rates in urban areaswere significantly
revised. Before: coverage rates were being reported ataround 90%
(across these three countries). After: rates were reported at
solely 47%(GIZ 2009)
- 3. Cape-Townbased Focus: ICT & WASH
services1.Advice2.Training3.Software very interested not just in
the technology, buthow and why it gets used
- 4. 2 day workshop@ 40 peopleco-hosted by SeeSaw and
theUniversity of Cape Town explored ICT-related trends and
challenges inboth the WASH & health sectors.
- 5. 11/2 day training course @ 20 people ICT-relatedtrends
andchallenges Discussed potential use ofICT in delegated
regulation
- 6. linear and closed flow of information
- 7. new ICT tools allow radical changes
- 8. Simplified servicetriangleStakeholders directly involved in
service provision Indirect stakeholdersGovernmentalProviders
authorities NGOsDonors FinanciersHouseholds(Sattler &
Schaub-Jones, 2012)
- 9. ce rvid se f iep liS im n g le c ire Ind triai on vis
prorvicee rs sevid edin Pr oolv y inv ctl d iree rsold eh akt alSt
en nm sver ritieGo utho as old ehusHo
- 10. ceGovt, Regulators, Donors, NGOs rvi dsef ie p li S im n g
le c ire IndProviderstriai on vis prorvicee rs sevid edin Pr oolv y
inv ctl d iree rsold eh akt alSt en nm sver ritieGo utho as
Customers old ehusHo
- 11. . what information to collect? from whom and how often
?.... rather than no data availableA new issue? too much
information, lack of relevant information
- 12. Too often the tools & the ability to collect data in a
different way is the focusNot sufficient attention to:1. what the
data gets used for2. how the provision of data can actually change
the dynamics of the situation3. how reliable the data is4. who will
continue to provide it oncenovelty value has worn off.
- 13. Agent-basedsystems (i.e. staff)Crowd-sourcedsystems(i.e.
public)Automated monitoring (e.g. via mobile networks)
- 14. Challenges with crowd-sourcing Vested interests remain Not
all are literate Not all tech just works Distrust of the system can
lead to lowparticipation Seeing is believing
- 15. USSDSMSVoiceInternetportalsAndroid phones &
appsAutomatic sendingetc ...
- 16. 1998 Google founded2004 Facebook launched2007 M-Pesa
created2008More people access internet on cellphones than PCs2008
First android phone ships2010 iPad launched
- 17. Before askingWhat system? come a range of other questions
that people making decisions about using ICT need to ask
- 18. Will ICT change underlyingbehaviours? Is it expected to?
Why will users provide reliableinformation to the system? Are there
incentives? What is the full cost ofthe system(time, effort, $$$)
andwhere do these resources come from?When is the info needed?What
system How often is itis appropriate sent?to
localconditions?Hierarchy of What system isquestions to ask
indeveloping a new appropriate to local WhatICT
systemconditions?system is(SeeSaw, 2013) appropriat
- 19. Key lessons
- 20. Can pay for itself quite quickly efficiency gains costs
savedYet design system to local context just transplanting a system
from onecontext to a new environment is generallytroublesome.
- 21. 1) Understanding the system2) Asking direct stakeholders
what - information they currently get & - what information they
need
- 22. Only then see whether ICT systemscan generate- additional-
better or- faster information(and get it to where it is needed)+
suit existing working patterns
- 23. Must integrate with existing governmentsystems. There is a
great risk of fragmentation(Too many organisations piloting new ICT
systems put inplace technologies or processes that cannot easily
beabsorbed into existing government systems - or worsestill,
undermine these).
- 24. More data (on its own)= Better Results
- 25. Technologyitself is rarely the issueWidely available or
easily developedCrucial to make technology demand- oriented and
fit-for-purpose.Make data entry as simple as possibleDonot
overburden participantsin any system
- 26. Above all pay close attention tothe incentives of key
stakeholders those that need to adopt the system, those whose
inaction can block it & those who will resist change
altogether.