THE GAMBIA EXPERIENCE PLACE: ADDIS ABABA PRESENTER : MR. MOMODOU LAMIN FADIA GAMBIA BUREAU OF STATISTICS (GBOS) DATE : 13 TH OCTOBER 2015 Consumer & Producer Price Data Collection Using Mobile Technologies

Introduction The Gambia is privilege to be chosen as a pilot country for West Africa on the mobile technology for data collection. The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) as an implementing partner, worked with the University of The Gambia TRI, to successfully implement this pilot project on “Mobile Data Collection Techniques”. CPI & PPI are the most frequently collected data by GBoS at the moment, hence the rationale for choosing it for this pilot project to enhance timely & quality data production.

Objectives  Use Mobile devices to collect statistical data  Work closely with TRI for the implementation and possible future collaboration.  Rollout the use of mobile technologies for data collection in future censuses and surveys.  Sensitize stakeholders of the intention of use of mobile technology for future data collections.  Eventual Migration and graduation from traditional use of paper for data collection

Scope 1.Importance of CPI & PPI 2.Key Milestones Stakeholder’s workshop and project kick-off meeting Software Development Training of data collectors Data Collection Server Infrastructure Upgrade Mobile Devices and Accessories 3. Lessons Learnt 4. Strength and weakness of the technology 5. Opportunity and threats of the technology 6. Way Forward 7. Conclusion

Importance of CPI & PPI  Institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Programme (WFP), World Bank (WB), and Food Agricultural Programme (FAO), UNICEF, UNHCR, Diplomatic Missions and the private sector notably the commercials banks, national institutions such as Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, use CPI regularly.  The Central Bank of The Gambia for example monitors the impact of money supply and changes in exchange rate on CPI. The Ministry of Trade monitors the prices of certain commodities on a weekly basis while Ministry of Agriculture collects prices of food items on regular basis

Key Milestones 1. Conducted stakeholder workshop and project kick- off meeting. 2. Developed Android application and web interface platform for Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI). 3. Conducted Training for field workers. 4. Conducted price data collection field work. 5. Upgraded Server Infrastructure. 6. Reports completed and submitted to ECA.

Data Collection  Data was collected for 207 items.  The data collection covered 28 different market centres spread across all regions in the country.  Data Collected from the field is synchronized to the cloud server.  The Cloud and Local server are synced on a regular interval.  Discussion on using national cloud on going

Lessons Learned  Data production duration is shorten with the use of the mobile data collection  The new data collection method implemented by the GBoS has met the required objectives  GBoS can replicate the technology developed to collect and integrate data for other surveys in a way that strengthens the data collection method.  There were few occasions during the data collection process where it was difficult to synchronize data to the main server due to weak GSM signal strength.

Strength and Weakness of the Technology Strength  It is cost effective, fast and convenient.  Turn around result duration shorter.  Use of inbuilt GPS and time stamps for location and time tracking. Weakness  Resistance to change  Longer duration for developing and learning the technology  Devices can be misplaced

Opportunity and Challenges of the Technology Opportunity  Reduce inefficiency and enhance services  Use technology as an enabler for timely data production.  Conduct more data collection annually Challenges  Trust in data collectors  Data security  Fear of redundancy (Editing, Data Entry and Coding)

Way Forward  Develop more applications to accommodate other surveys.  TRI to conduct academic research on the introduction of mobile technology for data collection in The Gambia; and findings be published for wider consumption  Greater collaboration be established between GBoS and TRI for post implementation review.  GBoS to encourage regular Training of Trainer short courses (TOT) on the efficient use of mobile data collection.

Conclusion The use of mobile devices for data collection is the way forward. GBoS will push to adapt the technology gradually into data collection process. The use of the technology will help the NSO enhance its data production capability Collaboration with TRI for effective implementation is crucial for ensuring continuity

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