Mobile data collection in relief operations -- Haiyan Typhoon

Experience Feedback

French Red Cross - ERU relief

Arturo Garcia Fernandez

[email protected]

Raphael Bonnaud

[email protected]

Post Distribution Monitoring using mobile phones

Context



Haiyan super Typhoon:

 14 million people affected, 

4.1 million displaced



IFRC deployment of FACT and ERUs:

 French Red Cross ERU relief deployed in Ormoc, to date * :    16265 HH covered and 64570 NFI distributed 77 localities (Barangay) covered * As of 31 st January 2014

Mobile data collection – Arturo Garcia Fernandez, Raphaël Bonnaud

Challenge



Conduct a comprehensive Post Distribution Monitoring with:

 limited resources ( already allocated to distribution )  and several constraints…

Mobile data collection – Arturo Garcia Fernandez, Raphaël Bonnaud

Constraints

FACT Relief

Representativeness:

Conduct at least 800 interviewed

Access:

Difficult weather condition (TD leading to floods and landslides AmRC BelgiumRC FRC

Scope:

A consolidated tool for 3 ERU + FACT

Capacity:

Limited local capacity for data collection, entry and cleaning

Time:

First results under 1 week!

Mobile data collection – Arturo Garcia Fernandez, Raphaël Bonnaud

Solution

Use of Mobile Tech!

Smartphone:

Purchased locally for 69 USD

Mobile data collection – Arturo Garcia Fernandez, Raphaël Bonnaud Software:

Mobile data collection software opensource

ODK in 4 steps!

1 2 Create the Monitoring Tool 3 Design forms (xls or xml) 4 Load into mobile and collect data Aggregate and analyse See detailed procedure in annexe

Mobile data collection – Arturo Garcia Fernandez, Raphaël Bonnaud

Results

 System deployed in less than 2 days  more than 250 questionnaires  see database example :   Preliminary results available in 7 days! See report See report:

Mobile data collection – Arturo Garcia Fernandez, Raphaël Bonnaud

What went well?

     The system was easy to use for enumerators: they were comfortable with using Smartphone; the PRCs volunteers loved it!

Integrated error control: typing errors and use of “Hints” in the questionnaire resulted in consistent questionnaire filling with few error (almost no data cleaning!) Easy data handling: direct connexion phone-PC for data upload Flexible: the questionnaire was modified according to the needs No paper!

Mobile data collection – Arturo Garcia Fernandez, Raphaël Bonnaud

What went less well?

     The system was not well shared with other ERU relief (American and Benelux Red Cross) – some technical support would have been required The questionnaire had too many text questions rendering the analysis more complex The system was not tested enough before being deployed; some data were lost on the first day The translation into Tagalog led to some inconstancies in the database Random selection of respondant

Mobile data collection – Arturo Garcia Fernandez, Raphaël Bonnaud

What can be improved?

    Pre-defined standards questionnaire (already converted to mobile compatible forms) might speed up the system deployment Sharing the system across ERUs Train ERU/FACT to use the mobile technology Better integrate the database within the reporting system

Mobile data collection – Arturo Garcia Fernandez, Raphaël Bonnaud

Recommandation

  Create, within the ERU roster, a pool of people with sound knowledge in assessment, monitoring and mobile data collection to:  Provide remote support to team deployed in the field     Develop a assessment/monitoring system for ERU (the system can easly be deployed for FRC delegation Be deployed when required to provide on-site technical assistance Train ERU roster in using the technology Explore other potential applications:    Assessment/Ticketing: it can easily be linked to MEGA V.

stock control in a BHC for instance.

FACT assessment “Spread the word” so that it becomes a standard monitoring tool for IFRC ERUs

Annexes

Arturo Garcia Fernandez

[email protected]

Raphael Bonnaud

[email protected]

Detailed procedure build the system

1 • Preparation of a standard questionnaire: • common to the 3 Relief ERU (Benelux, American & French).

2 • Conversion of the questionnaire to a mobile

compatible version (Word to .xml)

• via ODK; loaded into the phones with Windows Explorer!

3 • Training of the enumerators : • Post Distribution Monitoring technics • Use of smartphones/survey app.

Detailed procedure

deploy and collect

4 • Survey teams deploy to the desired locality 5 • Questionnaires Upload (from phone to computer) • Using only Windows Explorer (drag and drop)!

6 • Transfer questionnaires into Excel (database) : • Using ODK Briefcase free software

Detailed procedure

Aggregate and analyze

7 • Consolidate all Excel files into one 8 • Create monitoring report and

conclusions