Real time monitoring of rural sanitation at scale in Zambia using mobile-to-web technologies

UNICEF, in collaboration with Zambia’s Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH), developed an innovative real-time monitoring and evaluation system using a Mobile-to-Web (M2W) platform using low-cost mobile phones, trained Community Volunteers, and simple protocols for the monitoring and analysis of improved access to sanitation. The M2W system uses DHIS 2, an open source software, which analyses Volunteersdata in real-time, and provides flexible options for data representation as to be user-friendly and appropriate for various audiences. M2W was piloted in 2013, starting with 15 districts and scaling up to 29 rural districts by 2014, covering a population of 2,153,788. The framework has resulted in greater accountability, better data quality, and high cost efficiency per village targeted. Given its cost-effectiveness, the Government of Zambia has the potential to expand M2W into not only a national WASH management information system but also to incorporate indicators from other sectors, as well.