3. Bymid-2013 more Africans will
have a mobile phone
subscription than access to an
improved water source
(Foster et al., 2012a)

4. In Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya
 After installing digital monitoring
systems coverage rates in urban areas
were significantly revised.
 Before: coverage rates were being reported at
around 90% (across these three countries).
 After: rates were reported at solely 47%
(GIZ 2009)

5.  Cape-Town based
Focus: ICT & WASH services
1. Advice
2. Training
3. Software
“ very interested not just in the technology, but
how and why it gets used “

6.  2 day workshop@ 40 people
co-hosted by SeeSaw and the
University of Cape Town
 explored ICT-related trends and challenges in
both the WASH & health sectors.

7.  11/2 day training course
 @ 20 people
 ICT-related trends and
challenges
 Discussed potential use of
ICT in delegated regulation

9.  linear and closed flow of information

10.  new ICT tools allow radical changes

11. Simplified ‘service’
triangle
Stakeholders directly involved in service provision Indirect stakeholders
Governmental Providers
authorities
NGOs
Donors
Financiers
Households
(Sattler & Schaub-Jones, 2012)

12. ’
ce
rvi
d ‘se
f ie
p li
S im n g le
c
ire
Ind
tria
i on
vis
pro
rvi
ce e rs
se vid
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olv
y inv
ctl
d ire
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old
eh
ak t al
St en
nm s
ver ritie
Go utho
a
s
old
eh
us
Ho

13. ’
ce
Govt, Regulators, Donors, NGOs
rvi
d ‘se
f ie
p li
S im n g le
c
ire
Ind
Providers
tria
i on
vis
pro
rvi
ce e rs
se vid
ed
in Pr o
olv
y inv
ctl
d ire
e rs
old
eh
ak t al
St en
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ver ritie
Go utho
a
s
Customers
old
eh
us
Ho

15. .
 what information to collect?
 from whom and how often ?
.... rather than ‘no data available’
A new issue?
 too much information,
 lack of relevant information

16. Too often the tools & the ability to collect
data in a different way is the focus
Not sufficient attention to:
1. what the data gets used for
2. how the provision of data can actually change
the dynamics of the situation
3. how reliable the data is
4. who will continue to provide it once
novelty value has worn off.

17. Agent-based systems (i.e. staff)
Crowd-sourced systems
(i.e. public)
Automated monitoring (e.g. via
mobile networks)

18.  Challenges with crowd-sourcing
• Vested interests remain
• Not all are literate
• Not all tech ‘just works’
• Distrust of the system can lead to low
participation
• “Seeing is believing”

19. USSD
SMS
Voice
Internetportals
Android phones & apps
Automatic sending
etc ...

20. 1998 Google founded
2004 Facebook launched
2007 M-Pesa created
2008 More people access
internet on cellphones than PCs
2008 First android phone ships
2010 iPad launched

21.  Before asking
What system?
come a range of other questions that
people making decisions about using ICT
need to ask

22. Will ICT change underlying
behaviours? Is it expected to?
Why will users provide reliable
information to the system? Are
there incentives?
What is the full 'cost' of
the system
(time, effort, $$$) and
where do these
resources come from?
When is the
info needed? What system
How often is it is appropriate
sent? to local
conditions?
Hierarchy of
What system is
questions to ask in
developing a new appropriate to local
What
ICT system
conditions? system is
(SeeSaw, 2013)
appropriat

23. Key lessons

24. Can pay for itself quite quickly
• efficiency gains
• costs saved
Yet design system to local context
• just transplanting a system from one
context to a new environment is generally
troublesome.

25. 1) Understanding the system
2) Asking direct stakeholders what
- information they currently get &
- what information they need

26. Only then see whether ICT systems
can generate
- additional
- better or
- faster information
(and get it to where it is needed)
+ suit existing working patterns

27.  Must integrate with existing government
systems.
 There is a great risk of fragmentation
(Too many organisations piloting new ICT systems put in
place technologies or processes that cannot easily be
absorbed into existing government systems - or worse
still, undermine these).

28. More data (on its own)
=
Better Results

29. Technology itself is rarely the issue
Widely available or easily developed
Crucial to make technology demand-
oriented and fit-for-purpose.
Make data entry as simple as possible
Do not overburden participants
in any system

30. Above all pay close attention to
the incentives of key stakeholders
• those that need to adopt the system,
• those whose inaction can block it &
• those who will resist change altogether.