IATI Data Exchange Proof of Concept – Mar 2010
Overview
The International Aid Transparency Initiative is a multi-stakeholder initiative to enhance aid
effectiveness by improving transparency and making information about aid more available and
more accessible. At the heart of the IATI proposal is the development of an aid information
standard, and an agreement that donors will publish information about what they are funding in
a consistent format.
IATI aims to improve the regularity, comprehensiveness and quality of data from donors and it is
essential that the data standards developed meet the needs of partner country aid management
and budget systems. The IATI standards design team is looking to test some of the main
concepts in a country context to ensure these benefits are delivered.
Following on from previous scoping studies undertaken in Malawi and Burkina Faso, the IATI
Steering Committee has recommended further initiatives that address the potential impact and
value on partner country systems and processes. We are now looking to undertake some proof
of concept pilots that demonstrate practical information exchange between donor country
offices and Government aid management and budget units to assess the viability and learn
lessons from the use of standards.
This will be an opportunity for partner countries to help shape the design of IATI to ensure it
delivers the expected improved access to more regular, better quality data. It will also help
assess the impact on existing systems and processes.
We aim to undertake six proof of concept pilots in Rwanda, DRC, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Malawi
and Burkina Faso. There will also an additional paper based analysis using Cambodia information
requirements as an example.
Objectives
1. To assess in detail the compatibility of data held within donors systems with the
requirements of partner country aid management and budget systems
2. To assess the feasibility of developing a standard that meets the needs of different
countries, donors and systems, and how to cope with country-specific needs
3. To assess the feasibility of automated data exchange
4. To identify the likely impact and cost of adopting such a standard on country and donor
systems and highlight lessons and challenges
Approach
The main focus of the pilots will be to undertake a one-off data exchange to work as a proof of
concept that standards can be developed and can effectively facilitate automatic data exchange
between donor and recipient Government systems. We will then discuss with all country
stakeholders the value and options for extending into a longer pilot.
The proposal is to undertake 6 proof of concept pilots that cover different AIMS (e.g. DAD, AMP,
nationally designed), different donor systems (e.g. centralised, decentralised, manual), different
regions and different aid environments (e.g. post conflict, large budget support profile).
There will also be an initial paper based study using Cambodia as an example. This will take
place in early to mid April. We will then follow up with a first wave of pilots during April and
May, and a second wave between June and September.
For each country pilot, we will aim to work with between 3-5 donors and Government ministries
responsible for aid management and budget management, as well as line ministries where
possible.
We expect the following approach:
Design and preparation
1) Assess national aid management, budget & line ministry systems and data requirements.
2) Review donors’ project databases and compare with what is required by partner countries
3) Develop a prototype standard and common data format to use for the data exchange in all
countries
4) Work with donors to extract the data from their systems into the commons standard where
possible (and manually where not possible).
5) Develop a tool that enables the data to be imported into the national systems, or into a
format currently used for data collection
Country visit (up to 5 days)
6) Meet individually with officials from Government ministries and donor country offices agree
next steps for implementing data exchange
7) Implement data exchange
8) Review success & impact with country stakeholders and agree next steps (i.e. whether to
continue as a pilot)
Post pilot
9) Document the pilot process and lessons. Circulate, consult and agree with all stakeholders.
At end of first wave of pilots we will review all the pilots, write and circulate a report on
conclusions and lessons. We will also approach and methodology used.
Appendix A details the activities expected for the first wave pilots.
Stakeholder roles and responsibilities
The pilots should be multi stakeholder initiatives, and involve:
Person
Role
IATI TAG secretariat
Lead and coordinate the pilots
(Simon Parrish)
Recipient country representatives Represent needs of the country systems, help with the
(tbd)
preparation and analysis, and ensure the IATI pilot
adds value to existing processes
Donor HQ IT/systems representative Provide data from internal systems and work with IATI
(tbd)
technical architect on exporting to agreed format
Donor country office representative Participate in country meetings to agree best way of
(tbd)
exchanging data with AIMS
UNDP country coordinator
Facilitate the country activities
(tbd)
AIMS software provider
To advise on best way to achieve data exchange
(local IT experts, Synergy,
between systems and work with all stakeholders to
Development Gateway)
agree solution. Help implement solution.
IATI technical team
Data analysis and standards design
(Bill Anderson, Michael Roberts, Work with donor HQ to see what is possible from
David megginson)
donor systems and with AIMS software provider to
ensure compatibility
Outputs
Working data exchange processes in 6 countries
Individual pilot reports outlining the process, finding, challenges and specific lessons and
recommendations for the design of IATI standard.
A first wave overview review of the first three pilots
Final paper providing an overview of the country pilots
Appendix A – Proposed Activities
Activity
Planning and design
1. Develop evaluation framework (a list of questions we
want to answer)
2. Identify data requirements for aid management
systems and budget. Produce a sample data set from
existing systems.
Who
When
IATI TAG
End March
IATI TAG
Country rep
DG / Synergy
UNDP
3. Identify what data donors can provide through HQ and IATI TAG
country office systems. Produce a sample data set from Donor IT
existing systems.
4. Design a prototype standard and common data format IATI TAG (w/
to use for the data exchange in all countries
DG & Synergy)
5. Convert donor data into standard format
IATI TAG
Donor IT
6. Discuss the process with Government officials
DG / Synergy
IATI TAG
UNDP
7. Develop a tool that enables the data to be imported DG & Synergy
into the AIMS, or into their template format
& local IT
Country visit (up to 5 days)
8. Meet with Government to discuss the data, the process
and how it compares to what happens now etc.
Donor
&
9. Meet with donors in country to discuss the data, the country
process and how it compares to what happens now Government
reps
etc.
DG / Synergy
10. Implement data exchange
11. Meet with all stakeholders at country and present the IATI TAG
work so far to and review success & impact with UNDP
country stakeholders. Discuss next steps
Post visit
Write up lessons
IATI TAG
End March
End March
Mid April
Mid-End April
2 weeks before
county visit
1 week before
county visit
April - Sept