Water For
People, a U.S.-based international development organization, has introduced a
visual, open-source mobile-based data monitoring and mapping tool called Field
Level Operations Watch (FLOW). This new mobile application baseline and
monitoring tool allows the organization to capture, report and analyze real-time
and historical data on water-point and sanitation-project status in developing
countries over time.
At the
touch of a button, community members, entrepreneurs, industry professionals,
partners, staff and volunteers can quickly report on the status of their
projects – showing the world that water is, in fact, flowing, or indicating
that the water system is not working properly. This rapid feedback of
information will help Water For people to understand the long-term status of
their work, build on programmatic strengths and proactively address weaknesses
so that investments truly can transform lives with sustainable services.
“It’s not
enough to install a water point and celebrate the number of people with access
to clean water on that particular day. We need to be accountable for the
projects we put in place and ensure that they are operating for at least 10
years,” says Ned Breslin, CEO, Water For People. “With FLOW, Water For People
will be better able to evaluate its work, share the results and work toward
more effective and sustainable programming. FLOW enables a faster response when
problems arise and gives a voice to community members on the ground.”
Utilizing
cutting-edge technology, including Android cell phone technology and Google
Earth, FLOW enables Water For People to demonstrate real data as soon as it’s reported.
This wide-spectrum view into the organization’s work should allow Water For
People to be flexible, and quickly respond when problems arise.
According
to the International Water and Sanitation Centre in the Netherlands, of the 600,000 to
800,000 hand pumps installed in Sub-Saharan Africa over the past 20 years,
approximately one-third failed prematurely, resulting in a wasted investment of
more than $1 billion. FLOW provides the technology needed to transparently and
accurately assess the status of programs to avoid future unsuccessful commitments.
Water For People will utilize FLOW to move toward its goal of measuring the
efficacy of programming results three, six and 10 years from the project
completion date.
Water
For People will immediately begin using FLOW to track thousands of water
projects around the world.