Leveraging Digital Technologies to Enable Program Monitoring in Remote, Fragile, and Conflict-Affected Areas
Digital technology like the World Bank’s Geo-Enabling initiative for Monitoring and Supervision enables remote project monitoring in Somalia and other challenging contexts.
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During the implementation of the Somalia Urban Resilience Project and additional activities, the World Bank’s Geo-Enabling initiative for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) used simple digital technologies to enable remote project supervision. This has been particularly useful in remote and rural areas, in settings affected by fragility, conflict and violence, and, more recently, in settings where the COVID-19 pandemic constrained mobility and limited face-to-face visits. The GEMS team trains government staff, project teams, and partners in digital data collection and analysis to allow for real-time project monitoring, assessments of progress, and adaptive risk management. Between 2018 and 2022, GEMS supported over 1,000 projects across more than 100 countries.