The digital revolution in the 20th century brought a host of sweeping changes to the way populations live and work. Among them is the importance of data in addressing global challenges, such as poverty. Data provides the basis for informed decision-making and bridges the gaps to solutions for those most impoverished.

Data in low-income countries is typically collected through in-person household surveys that are on paper, extensive, often costly and infrequent. Organizations throughout Africa are partnering on projects that strive to change that. Here are four projects fighting poverty with data in Africa.

Open Data in Sierra Leone’s Mining Communities

Mining communities in the West African country of Sierra Leone are vulnerable to extreme poverty. The diamond mining industry in Sierra Leone generates hundreds of millions of dollars; however, there is a lack of transparency regarding the allocation of these funds. Evidence suggests that a significant portion rarely returns to local communities, highlighting issues such as a lack of oversight in the sector and inadequate compensation for the labor involved.

In 2022, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) launched the Disclosure to Development “D2D” Sierra Leone Project to tackle the lack of data surrounding mining revenue flows. The project seeks to address this issue by forming partnerships with local government agencies and engaging local individuals interested in data collection. The IFC aims to utilize the collected data to create markets and opportunities for the local community.

Boosting Data Accumulation in Kenya

In 2007, the World Bank collaborated with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) to improve data collection to bolster development. In 2019, they improved data collection efforts from a 15-year gap between population reports to a quarterly gap. This included technical assistance to create an online archive for the government, transitioning over from pen and paper. KNBS also implemented several surveys to ascertain updated labor and poverty statistics quarterly.

The frequent dissemination of results also boosted the Kenyan economy by providing more frequent and reliable financial metrics for figures such as GDP. Although the data collection project concluded in 2020, the World Bank reported in Nairobi in 2023 that the Kenyan government is actively working to ensure that the benefits of the partnership’s progress are equally distributed among the poor and vulnerable populations.

Data Collection Framework in Madagascar

Data and Evidence to End Extreme Poverty, a consortium of universities and governmental organizations, developed Measurement Indicators for Resilience Analysis (MIRA) as part of their central mission in fighting poverty with data in Africa. MIRA is a data collection framework that collaborates with community members who take surveys via mobile applications. The data collected measure factors such as the persistence of natural disasters and statistics contributing to a household’s resilience.

This gathered data is then provided to relief organizations serving the populations most affected. Using low-cost, platform-based systems and relying on “enumerators,” who are locals from within the community of focus, the data is updated monthly. This frequent updating ensures the availability of actionable information for communities and organizations seeking to provide support.

Multilateral Data Project in Mozambique

In 2022, the African Development Bank (AFDB) and the World Bank’s Geo-Enabling Initiative extended membership of their Remote Appraisal Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation (RASME) project to Mozambique (the sixth African country to join). With Mozambique’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, the program launched with the capability for both online and offline usage in remote areas using satellite and smartphones.

RASME allows for more timely and accurate monitoring of multilateral AFDB initiatives in Mozambique, focusing on wide-ranging sectors to help the population. These include “agriculture, transportation, water, sanitation, energy, communications, mining and finance.” Beyond helping the populations in these areas, the partnership has resulted in more than a billion U.S. dollars of investment into Mozambique.

Final Remark

As the digital revolution continues to progress, the necessity for timely and accurate data collection to increase solutions and aid for the areas that are most in need cannot be under-appraised. From protecting local populations to creating multilateral economic opportunities, data collection can have positive impacts on countries that need it most.

– Ava Johnson
Photo: Flickr