By: Mohamed Sahr mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
Harnessing the potential to collect project-related data in digital formats through supervision, monitoring and evaluation at hard-to-reach areas, Africa Development Bank has supported Information and Communication Technology growth project on Wednesday 25th October 2023 at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown.
Marking the commencement of the workshop, Halima Hashi, Country Manager of Africa Development Bank said from the past COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world, they saw the need to be more innovative and transformative in the discharge of project implementation in digital formats especially in remote areas. She added that the innovative approach remains key in revolutionizing the monitoring and evaluation of development projects in the region as well as implementing systematic solution and building capacity among pilot teams.
Madam Hashi mentioned that Remote Appraisal, Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation (RASME) plays formidable role with regards to its technical and unwavering support to enrich ICT ecosystem for effective and efficient data collection. “The Africa Development Bank’s Corporate Information and Technology Department coordinates the deployment of RASME by systematically rolling it out across Africa countries of which Sierra Leone is now part of the RASME community,” Madam Hashi said.
She emphasized that RASME’s efforts focus on building the necessary capacity for implementing its methodology, and technological forum within the ultimate context of each project in the field.
Dodo Gaspard, Specialist of Remote Appraisal, Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation (RASME) said the project aims to solve the monitoring and evaluation system in far-reaching areas across the country. He stated that RASME enhances the transparency and accuracy of M&E and increase the accountability of third-party monitoring with real-time safety guidelines and portfolio mapping for coordination across projects and partners.
Gaspard furthered that the choice of Information and Communication Technology priorities is the readily available solution, centralizes all collected data, provides data in various formats, allows systematic recording and collects granular geo-tagged data that automatically feeds into interactive dashboards and web maps. ‘’The World Bank, United Nations agencies and other humanitarian organizations use a tool called KoBo Tool Box for the remote supervision of their projects,’’ RASME Specialist said.
He added that the KoBo Tool Box would provide 360 degree monitoring and supervision of the project; emphasizing that the tool shows both inputs and outputs results in an event of implementation with relevant focus on typical deployment process in Sierra Leone.
Morie Momoh, Deputy Financial Secretary of Ministry of Finance thanked the Africa Development Bank for supporting Information and Communication Technology developmental initiative in the country particularly streamlining innovation related to new technologies. He said the Ministry of Finance has over the years enjoyed the sustainable and smooth corporation with the Africa Development Bank in all levels.
He affirmed that the training serves as a manifestation to strengthen the already existing corporation between the Government of Sierra Leone and Africa Development Bank (ADB).
‘’Your presence classically demonstrates interest in this initiative for effective and efficient implementation of development projects in the country,’’ Momoh said.