Upgrading of Monitoring and Evaluation Information System for AMREF in Kenya

Fellow's Name:

Benard Muchoki

Fellows Track: 

Health Informatics 

AMREF has in the past made efforts to put in place a functional information system aimed at standardizing information collection, processing, storage and reporting on project activities through a Quarterly Planning and Reporting (QPR) database system (2000) and the AMREF Kenya Country Office Projects Database (KPD) (2007). KPD is currently in use but has been found to have functional limitations which challenge its effective implementation throughout the organization.
This project focused on upgrading the former M&E Information Application by developing a web based application that effectively addresses limitations identified in the former M&E Information Application. The goal of the project was to enhance data management for decision making and the general purpose was to enhance data capture and reporting of AMREF Kenya Country Office (KCO) projects activities and results. The objective of the project was to improve system usability through redesigning of the former existing M&E information system; to develop reporting structures designed to meet various organizational requirements; to develop appropriate user guides for the upgraded system; to improve access to newly generated knowledge products and to enhance user skills in utilizing the system through training. The current system has so far helped in improving operational efficiency, improving ease of access leading to increased system usage, as well as benefit the organization by standardizing data collection and reporting processes within intervention projects and consequently provide adequate, timely and up to date information for decision making.
The project was developed using the Waterfall model. This is a phased approach to building a system dividing systems development into formal stages where the outputs from one phase serve as the initial inputs for the following phase. During each phase, additional information is usually gathered or developed, combined with the inputs, and used to produce the deliverable for that phase.