Mobile data tools for improving information flow in WASH: Lessons from three field pilots

The application of information and communication technologies (ICT) to support the delivery of water and sanitation services is a growing area of interest in the WASH sector. To study how these tools might be incorporated into existing management structures, we conducted field pilots of a mobile phone based application for transmitting water quality data in three distinct water supply structures: a large provincial utility in Vietnam, rural NGO operations in Cambodia, and district health authorities in Mozambique. The use of the application improved the efficiency of information flows in all three settings, and increased data availability at upper administrative levels in Mozambique. Implementing and troubleshooting the application revealed unexpected weaknesses in local cellular networks, and the requirement for clear phone management procedures. The limited information technology support services within local institutions might favor external service providers to ensure the sustainability of mobile applications, but we noted reluctance to develop formal service relationships among participating institutions. Beneficial outcomes from the pilots included increased awareness among senior managers of monitoring activities and of water quality data, and greater reflection upon data requirements and reporting methods by water quality units within participating institutions. Introduction The potential for ICT tools to improve the quality and sustainability of water and sanitation services in low-resource settings is gaining increasing attention (Hutchings et al. 2012). This interest is driven by the often-successful application of digital tools in the health, agriculture and education sectors, and by the increasing availability and relative low cost of mobile phones. In Africa, for example, mobile phone penetration was approximately 65% in 2011 and is predicted to rise to over 85% by 2015 due to improved coverage and affordability (Biosca 2012). A randomized controlled trial in Kenya has shown that text1 The Aquaya Institute, 1004B O’Reilly Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94129 USA 2 The Aquaya Institute, 1004B O’Reilly Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94129 USA 3 iCOMMS, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa 4 iCOMMS, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa 5 The Aquaya Institute, 1004B O’Reilly Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94129 USA