By George M.O. Williams
In reaffirming its unwavering commitment to support development, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, launched the Remote Appraisal, Supervision, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RASME) project, an Information Communication Technology (ICT) data collection tool.
The launch brought together representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, World Bank and other partners at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel in Freetown.
The RASME initiative signifies a pioneering endeavour that harnesses the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to collect project-related data in digital formats, remotely. This innovative approach, employing mobile devices and personal computers, revolutionizes the monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
At the core of RASME is the aim to surmount challenges related to data collection in remote or hard-to-reach areas, as well as those affected by security and logistical constraints.
RASME offers an integrated suite of real-time digital data collection tools and processes designed to empower the Bank’s staff, the project implementation units or the government agencies, and development partners. It facilitates improved project preparation, progress reporting, and transparent impact evaluation which will instill confidence in the positive effects of these projects on communities in Sierra Leone.
The African Development Bank’s Corporate IT Department (TCIS) coordinates the deployment of RASME by systematically rolling it out across African countries. These efforts focus on building the necessary capacity for implementing the RASME methodology and technological platform within the unique context of each project in the field.
The journey of RASME commenced in the Central Africa Region in October 2021. To date, RASME has successfully been implemented in 27 African countries. Sierra Leone is now part of the RASME community.
Speaking at the event, the Country Manager of African Development Bank, Halima Kashi said that they are focused to improve growth, thus they continuously work with government agencies, partners institutions and other related organization to implement development project that are in line with the Bank’s procedures and standards.
She added that the Bank is constantly seeking to innovate and invest in emerging technologies to improve on operations delivery in members states, adding that RAMSE is one of the new technologies which will improve operation delivery in members states.
“We ensure that our operations are implemented with rigor and respect of procedures and international standards. Furthermore, we make sure we are able to account for any results achieved and ensure full transparency in our interventions,” Kashi said.
The Deputy Financial Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Morie Momoh, said that the world is now aware about innovations that are related to new technologies, which are now at the heartbeat of the government’s programs.
He mentioned that Sierra Leone is proud and happy for the AfDB to conduct the experiment in developing the RAMSE, which will aid in data collection, storage and analysis using mobile devices.
“RAMSE is an important ICT solution for remote data collection and analysis. This is true because it will speed up projects implementation, identify problems and establish transparency in the management of development projects,” Momoh said.