Scaling Data Models to Create Transformational Impact - III
A conversation with Snorre Westgaard, CEO, Humana People to People India (HPPI)
It has never been more necessary to use technology as an enabler to create better systems and processes, and to build platforms to analyze and share data rapidly amongst teams and stakeholders. Through scaling tech solutions and using data effectively, organizations can create differential positive changes within their own communities.
In this one-on-one conversation Snorre Westgaard, CEO, Humana People to People India (HPPI), talks about how to scale technology solutions while ensuring that they are accessible to communities on the ground, the importance of creating participatory data collection and assessment methods, and what data challenges need to be bridged today.
A little bit about HPPI’s approach: HPPI believes in a holistic approach to development. As such, they strive to include all stakeholders in their programs - including the community members they wish to serve. As such, their approach to technology and data collection is participatory in nature - tools are designed keeping community members in the center to increase their accessibility, and data processes are created in a way that ensures that community members are able to engage and benefit from the information being collected.
Here are some insights from the session:
In this one-on-one conversation Snorre Westgaard, CEO, Humana People to People India (HPPI), talks about how to scale technology solutions while ensuring that they are accessible to communities on the ground, the importance of creating participatory data collection and assessment methods, and what data challenges need to be bridged today.
A little bit about HPPI’s approach: HPPI believes in a holistic approach to development. As such, they strive to include all stakeholders in their programs - including the community members they wish to serve. As such, their approach to technology and data collection is participatory in nature - tools are designed keeping community members in the center to increase their accessibility, and data processes are created in a way that ensures that community members are able to engage and benefit from the information being collected.
Here are some insights from the session:
On scaling solutions while tailoring them to suit communities on the ground.
On designing platforms that restore agency for communities, and provide individuals with choices that they can exercise in their own context.
On addressing data challenges.
- At HPPI, the specific tools that are developed for the community are usually paper based. This is done to increase the ease of accessing the tool, and so that people are easily able to use it in their everyday work. The information collected on paper is then collected by a group leader and transferred to a technology database or platform, so that a deeper analysis can be done.
- Another important aspect is the fact that the key indicators that the tool is being used to track are shared with the community members, and then they, as individuals, pledge the goals they want to achieve against those indicators. They track their own performance and share it with the larger group every month. This not only increases individual ownership towards the program, it also makes the whole team a part of each other’s struggles and wins.
- When measuring progress over the course of the program, HPPI ensures that the process of assessment is participatory. The baseline is set by community members, key indicators are shared with them, they track their own progress individually, and together as a community, and finally, at the end, the endline is measured with them as well. As such, assessment isn’t only something management looks at (to track progress), but is an active part of how the community is involved in the program (to drive their own engagement).
On designing platforms that restore agency for communities, and provide individuals with choices that they can exercise in their own context.
- At the end of the day, we have to keep in mind that it is community members who should be able to interact with the data, and use it to their own advantage.
- Something we need in the education space especially, is a technology assessment tool, that can help teachers track learning gaps in their classrooms based on need, instead of just on curriculum. Because while there are many platforms built that help teachers access training materials, there is very little in a structured way to help them face the reality of learning gaps in their classrooms.
On addressing data challenges.
- One of the challenges with data today, is that governments do not know how to use it in a way that is participatory or meaningful. State governments for example, have enormous amounts of data, and in HPPI’s experience, are also quite progressive when it comes to use of technology. Despite this however, their data tends to be faulted, or based on inputs instead of outputs, or unable to show the right picture. And given this, what we need today is to be able to work with these state governments to build their data systems - make it more inclusive, more participatory, and ensure that the information collected is given back to its end users. Addressing this gap would make a huge impact.