Inadequate tools for humanitarian efficiency and accountability
Posted by benjamin in Uncategorized, tags: accountability, computers, development, ICT4D, technologyI recently wrote a blog post for a TechChange course called Tech Tools and Skills for Emergencies. I wrote about the lack of humanitarian tools that for operational efficiency and organizational accountability. So here it is…
Inadequate tools for humanitarian efficiency and accountability
Originally posted on 26 September 2011
The topic of organizational efficiency and accountability is one area that has not been covered through this course. The humanitarian community is faced with the challenges of increased programmatic needs and limited funding while faced greater calls for accountability from donors and beneficiaries. While the course has evaluated several technology tools that improve the effectiveness of humanitarian response (Ushahidi, FrontlineSMS, GIS, etc.), there are inadequate technology tools that address the efficiency and accountability of organizations responding to emergencies.
Efficiency is the “effective operation as measured by a comparison of production with cost” (link: M-W definition) . And humanitarian organizations operate in the realm of humanitarian action where the objectives are “to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity” (link: Global Humanitarian Assistance). Yet for traditional non-profit charitable organizations, overhead costs (non-program or non-field costs) are typically the measuring sticks used to determine efficiency instead of measuring the cost of beneficiaries reached and impacted. Also, while there are numerous tools for improving support office efficiency (information portals, databases, Excel macros, etc), there are few tools that address operational inefficiencies in the field, where many activities are still disconnected or, worse yet, using pen-paper transcription!
Similarly, donors and beneficiary communities are increasingly focusing on accountability and quality management within humanitarian interventions. Humanitarian accountability centres around community feedback throughout humanitarian activities but delays in the feedback reporting loop means that emergency interventions may be finished before corrective action is applied. Also, accountability has been limited to reducing negative community feedback, but has not been expanded to increase transparency for project funding and implementation. Therefore, humanitarian organizations need access to technology tools that can better monitor and report their activities to both donors and beneficiaries.
An example of a technology tool that could be used to improve both organization efficiency and accountability is “Last Mile Mobile Solutions” (abbreviated as LMMS). Designed to improve organizational effectiveness, efficiency and accountability, it is a tool that could be instrumental in re-framing the use of information technology for humanitarian activities. In the hands of field staff, LMMS saves significant time and reduces redundancies and errors. For project managers, the system’s beneficiary management database and corresponding project tracking tools also provides real-time reporting of activities that can be immediately relayed to communities and donors. Although no one technology tool will be “the one tool to rule them all”, Last Mile Mobile Solutions provides an innovative answer to the sometimes overlooked area of humanitarian efficiency and accountability.
For a closer look at LMMS in the field, watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJIiCz_ULKM
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