Empowering Rural Communities by Leveraging Technology for Data-Driven Decision Making

Client Overview

PRADAN, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in India. By empowering marginalized communities, particularly women, with essential skills and resources, PRADAN fosters sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance. Through collaborative partnerships with the government and grassroots initiatives, PRADAN strives to create lasting change, enabling individuals, families, and communities to take control of their own futures.

Problem Statement

PRADAN recognized the need to better understand the financial situations and needs of SHGs (Self Help Groups, an association of people who come together to address common problems and achieve shared goals.). They employ data collectors who gather crucial information from these communities. However, they lacked a centralized system to efficiently collect, analyze, present, and share this information, hindering the development of effective, tailored programs and schemes.

• Lacking Data Collection- Pradan’s data collectors require a portable and offline-capable system for gathering information from SHG members in remote areas with limited or no internet connectivity.
• Lack of Analytics Layer-The raw data collected by data collectors lacked meaning and requires a system to translate it into actionable insights, enabling the design of effective policies.
• Data Validation System- Data collectors gather various types of data that must be accurate, complete, and consistent. This data needs to be collected in predefined formats and validated by supervisors.

Solutions Implemented

To empower data collectors and facilitate informed decision-making, we developed a comprehensive solution. This solution includes a field-ready mobile app and two powerful dashboards that streamline data collection, ensure data integrity, and provide valuable insights through robust analytics.

1) Field-Ready Mobile App- To empower data collectors in the field, we developed a mobile app that addresses the challenge of limited or no internet connectivity. This app enables collectors to:

• Manage groups: Add or delete members within groups.
• Select groups: Choose specific groups for data collection activities.
• Gather and store data offline: Collect and store data even without internet access.
• Seamlessly sync data: Automatically sync collected data to a central system once a network connection is available.

2) BI Analytics Dashboard- We developed a business intelligence dashboard that transforms raw data into actionable insights. This unified dashboard allows users to:

• Understand overall demand: View aggregated data to see the big picture of community needs.
• Analyze regional trends: Drill down into district and block-level data to identify specific needs and trends.

3) Comprehensive Data Collection Dashboard-This dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of all data collected by data collectors for each member, including:

• Raw, unvalidated data: This includes all data submitted by data collectors, regardless of its validation status.
• Form-related data: This encompasses all aspects of the data collection process, such as form submissions, approvals, and any associated workflows.
• System activity: This includes logs related to user authentication, authorization, system backups, and other important events.

4) Multilingual Support- To improve the user experience, our app and website support Hindi, simplifying data collection and analysis in the field.

Project Outcomes

For Data Collectors:

• Enhanced efficiency and accuracy: Streamlined data collection processes leading to more reliable and precise data.

For PRADAN:

• Data-driven impact: High-quality data enabling better decision-making, program evaluation, and ultimately, increased effectiveness in achieving PRADAN’s mission.

For Rural Communities and SHGs:

• Empowerment through access: Improved access to resources and information leading to enhanced livelihoods and greater self-reliance for rural communities and Self-Help Groups.