M & E Working Group Meeting:M & E Working Group Meeting: New Technology Applications in M & E New Technology Applications in M & E

Wireless Data Entry & Wireless Data Wireless Data Entry & Wireless Data Transmission from Mobile Devices to WebTransmission from Mobile Devices to Web

Virginia Lamprecht, USAID David C. Cantor, Macro International

ARC Albania 2004 Child Survival ARC Albania 2004 Child Survival / Flex Fund Project Area/ Flex Fund Project Area

Project AreaProject Area::

Diber Prefecture, AlbaniaDiber Prefecture, Albania

Beneficiary Population:Beneficiary Population:

WRA (15-49) 55,417WRA (15-49) 55,417MRA (15-59) 68,717MRA (15-59) 68,717Children <5 19,950Children <5 19,950

Flex Fund QuestionnaireFlex Fund QuestionnaireFlex Fund questionnaire borrowed

from DHS and KPC questionnairesThe Baseline Questionnaire had 11

sections and 215 fieldsMany Boolean fieldsApproximately 50 calculated fieldsFF Interviews took between 10 – 30

minutes

TrainingTraining

Paper and Electronic Paper and Electronic QuestionnairesQuestionnaires

Additional Functionality using Additional Functionality using Handhelds for Surveys or M & EHandhelds for Surveys or M & E

• Sampling Information can be preloaded from Excel Spreadsheet for data management

• Intervals between events can be calculated in months from pop-up calendar dates entered

• GPS enabled handhelds can capture GIS coordinates directly into the data form

• Voice Recording (audio notes) can be associated and saved with each questionnaire record

•Pictures can be included in Data Entry Form

• Post interview HTML data check template used to improve data quality

Rugged Terrain - 4 Wheel Drive Rugged Terrain - 4 Wheel Drive Vehicles Needed for FieldworkVehicles Needed for Fieldwork

Mapping the VillageMapping the Village

Locating the Households within the Locating the Households within the VillageVillage

Data Collection on Data Collection on HandheldsHandhelds30 Cluster Sample (10 per District)3 Districts3 Teams per District9 Pocket PC’s6 Days of Field Work660 Targeted RespondentsData backed up nightly onto SD

cardsData copied back to master

database upon return to HQ

Data SynchronizationData Synchronization

Pocket PC Battery RechargePocket PC Battery Recharge

Evaluation of Handheld Evaluation of Handheld PilotPilot

Response Rate and Data Quality Comparable

Supervisors and Interviewers Enthusiastic

Users not intimidated by TechnologyElimination of Office Entry from Paper

Saved Time and MoneyCleaned Data set produced in 3-4 days

Feasibility of Adding Wireless Feasibility of Adding Wireless TransmissionTransmission

Potential Benefits◦Texting collected form data back to

central server requires no web connection, only phone connection

◦Two way transmission allows program changes to be dispatched back to each Smartphone

◦Ongoing Monitoring Activities can be tracked in Real Time

◦Speed - Rugged Terrain, Political Boundaries, Avoided

General Trends Since 2004 General Trends Since 2004 Flex Fund Mobile Data Flex Fund Mobile Data

Collection PilotCollection PilotStandalone PDAs less commonMove to integrated Smart Phones50% of the global population now

has cell phonesExponential growth of Text

MessagingGrowth in Windows Mobile and

Palm OS type SmartPhones

Trends in Cell Phone Use in Trends in Cell Phone Use in AfricaAfrica

May, 2007: 200 Million SubscribersMay, 2008: 282 Million Subscribers*Africa has only 35 million fixed phone

linesMobile operators will invest $50 Billlion in

Sub-Saharan Africa in the next 5 years resulting in 90% potential coverage

Bandwidth, Govt. Policy, taxes, licensing fees, regulatory issues could slow growth

•According to GSMA, Global Trade Body for the Mobile Industry, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

Transmit Completed Cases to Web Transmit Completed Cases to Web Server and Program Updates Back to Server and Program Updates Back to

Mobile DevicesMobile Devices

WEB SERVER

Smart Phone DemoSmart Phone DemoData Entry on the SmartphoneSent (Texted) to ServerView Server activity back at Macro

HQServer receives new data dispatches

and transmits back any new program updates

Server passes data directly into a web (Access/SQL) database

Aggregated updated report data (or mapped data) can then be viewed via the web