SDN week Feb. 23, 2012 David Michaud, Senior WSS specialist, LCSUW SIASAR: An information system to support sustainable services in Central America

Structure of the Presentation The Context The Process The Concept The Platform The Lessons

Context

NOT a citizen’s monitoring or accountability system… Motivation Self-sustaining water or sanitation systems are rare Very little information to determine where needs lie and what priorities should guide sector policy Problem with existing information systems Developed and implemented outside the sector’s institutional framework Usually managed by a few “chosen ones”, no data sharing Information not of value for day-to-day operators Generally focused on the investment part

Process

Product of continuous interaction with the three countries, 5 donors, and 10 agencies Highly participative process Four successive workshops (moving from technical to ICT) Programmers from the Bank and three countries Two piloting stages (first with in paper form) Focused on conceptual model rather than technology platform Currently in alpha phase, testing

Concept

Vision To provide updated, complete and reliable information about rural WSS services… … enabling actors to identify needs, set priorities, plan and program interventions, monitor and evaluate progress, and coordinate decision making in sector… … thereby improving the coverage, quality and sustainability of these services.

Community Service Provider System TA provider Community Service Provider System TA provider Lead agency Lead agency Other Govt agencies NGOs Donors, MDBs etc. Object of information Enter and update information Valida te information Consult and use information Academia, CSOs Other actors DATA COLLECTION AND VALIDATION

Population Construction date Tariff level Etc. Basic data Coverage Cost recovery Service quality Etc. Indicators Performance of Service Provider Condition of water system Sustainable coverage in community Performance ranking A (very good) -> B -> C -> D (poor) INFORMATION FLOW

Platform

Technological Platform A database Hosted in each country, or in the cloud MySQL A web interface with five modules Administration Data input Indicators Reports Maps A mobile interface (android) for smartphones and tablets Automatic data upload GPS capability

Lessons

Looking back Technology is cool… but should not come in the way of solid concept Working with three clients and 10 agencies was complex – will it pay off? Sector and ICT crowds speak a different language Sharing data doesn’t come so naturally – confidence building! The proof is in the pudding… so keep posted!

David Michaud senior WSS specialist LCSUW / The World Bank