2016 ICT4D Conference

In 2014 SCIAF were awarded a Big Lottery Fund (BLF) for a project in El Salvador and Nicaragua to improve food security and income of vulnerable rural people through sustainable food production. SCIAF works exclusively through partnership and the BLF grant is implemented by SCIAF through 5 local partners, 3 in El Sal and 2 in Nicaragua. At the outset SCIAF hired a consultant to assist in a partner led baseline to facilitate participatory design of baseline tools with partners and communities, facilitate data collection by the partners and from the baseline tools, design annual data collection tools. The approach aimed to promote participation and data ownership.
SCIAF together with the implementing partners and the consultant Rodolfo Valdez Morales came up with a system to collect data using both paper and open source software on the partners own phones, all data was entered on to a shared database held on desktops and collated on a private server. The database enabled those involved in the project to access analyzed data and project specific report in real time. Likewise a number of methods were used to train and troubleshoot with partners including workshops, field testing, video tutorials and skype meetings. The system was reviewed by SCIAF and partners and extended to a second project which uses only open source software on partners' phones to collect data. The project is funded by the European Union to promote young rural technicians promote sustainable communities through agro-ecology.