The SMARTerWASH project was a project performed in Ghana by IRC, CWSA, Akvo and SkyFox Limited. The project built on DiMES and the national monitoring framework for Ghana published by CWSA. The project strengthened the national ICT infrastructure by linking different ICT systems for monitoring (CWSA’s DiMES, Akvo’s FLOW and SkyFox’ SMS-based system for tracking functionality and ordering spare parts) and by ensuring interoperability of the systems. The project tested data collection at scale: data for 131 districts (out of 216) were gathered collecting data from 23.000 handpumps and nearly a thousand piped schemes. The data are available through fact sheets and an atlas that is accessible online. There is, mostly anecdotal, evidence that baseline data have been used to inform planning and corrective actions in several districts (see the SMARTerWASH stories). The data have for example been used in 11 districts in the Upper West, Upper East, Western, Brong-Ahafo and Northern Regions to inform District Water and Sanitation Plans (DWSP). The data have also informed repairs and rehabilitation of over 600 boreholes with hand pumps restoring water services to an estimated 180,000 people and have stimulated several District Assemblies to form or reconstitute WSMTs (e.g. reconstitution of 203 WSMTs in Hilton districts and 24 in UNICEF districts).
Water Point Mapping Tanzania
The initiative from the Government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Water is to collect and establish baseline information aiming for better service delivery. Water Point Mapping (WPM) is defined as the process of locating water infrastructure and related information. WPM helps in monitoring the distribution and status of water points and can be used to inform the planning of investments to improve coverage. In rural areas in Tanzania, WPM is used to highlight issues of equity and functionality at district level. Furthermore, WPM supports the establishment of a baseline of water supply coverage and for regular reporting (sector performance monitoring). WPM can also be used to inform a broader strategy in the sector.