A global organisation that finds solutions to complex humanitarian problems through research and innovation..
Our purpose is clear: we work in partnership with a global community of humanitarian actors, researchers and innovators to improve the quality of humanitarian action and deliver better outcomes for people affected by crises.
We empower the humanitarian community. Find out how we can support you...
mVAM: piloting mobile voice technology for household food security data collection
The mVAM – ‘mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping’ project provides the use of voice technology for household food security data collection. It is expected that mVAM would lead to a leap in time and cost-efficiency of data collection.
Share This
The mVAM – ‘mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping’ project provides the use of voice technology for household food security data collection. It is expected that mVAM would lead to a leap in time and cost-efficiency of data collection.
WHAT IS THE HUMANITARIAN NEED?
High cost and cumbersome implementation of primary data collection from households for humanitarian needs assessments.
WHAT IS THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTION?
mVAM provides for the use of mobile voice technology for the collection of household food security data. The mVAM approach will allow a more precise understanding of time and cost-efficiency of voice relative to existing face-to-face methods of collecting data. Data collected through voice will feed into established information systems by providing additional, real time data for humanitarian decision making.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES?
The mVAM approach is expected to increase cost-effectiveness and timeliness of data collection for short periodic surveys, such as WFP’s regular Food Security Monitoring Systems (FSMS) that track trends over time.
The expected key deliverables and impact are to:
Develop and configure the mVAM Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system.
Compare cost-efficiency and speed of voice technology and face-to-face interviews for food security monitoring.
Document lessons learned for using IVR to collect household food security data in humanitarian contexts.
In this podcast, Jean-martin Bauer, WFP Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping (VAM) officer and founder of WFP’s mobile VAM project, explains how mVAM works and how it’s helping WFP.
As the mVAM pilot project enters its final quarter, the team is focusing on finalising all planned activities, and documenting learning that will allow them to scale up with a strong evidence base.
Can we use SMS for food security surveys in a Congolese IDP camp?
18 Dec 2014
One year into data collection, WFP are fairly confident that live voice calls, placed by operators, are a good way to stay in touch with people in the extremely vulnerable communities they work with.
At the other end of the line: voices from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
20 Nov 2014
WFP are pleased to see the see the learning they’ve accumulated over the past year put to practice for the Ebola response; with mVAM used for collecting food security data from quarantined areas of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia.
In the past week, WFP managed to successfully call a few people in Mugunga 3 camp using an interactive voice response (IVR) system based in their Goma sub-office.
Listening in to Central Somalia: tracking food security and livelihood indicators for IDPs
29 Aug 2014
After three survey rounds in Somalia, the time has come to take a look at results. As in the DRC, operators in Somalia have been conducting live interviews by phone from a call center established in a WFP field office.
This month, WFP take a look back at the data collected so far in Democratic Republic of Congo; they explain what they’ve done to ensure survey responses; and they provide an update on the start of their interactive voice response calls.
Realising that they need to understand to what extent mVAM voice surveys are a user friendly way of collecting data; WFP obtain feedback from respondents.
After blogging about the DR Congo in recent months, WFP now provide an update on Somalia, where the mVAM mobile phone survey project is underway in central Somalia.
Finding Our Voice: Insights After Two Survey Rounds
15 Apr 2014
This post covers the results of the first phone survey rounds in Goma, as well as updates on response rates. Food consuption worsens in Mugunga 3 Camp as assistance is suspended.
The Number You Have Dialled Cannot Be Reached…Please Try Again!
10 Mar 2014
Following their first mobile phone survey round in DRC, WFP tell us about the process of running their first phone surveys with displaced people living in Mugunga 3 camp.
In January, the mVAM project reached an important milestone: after 6 months of preparations, they launched their live phone surveys in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The setting-up of call centres has been ongoing for the past few months in both countries. The most time consuming part has been the recruitment of the operators; the two operators for each area office will be on board in early January.
In this month’s entry WFP explore the results of the face-to-face survey in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and provide an update on the process of getting their call centres set up.
1-800-SAMPLING : one phOne Call Away From A Survey
04 Nov 2013
This month WFP examine the results of their baseline food security survey in Galkayo, Somalia. Also some thoughts about how their calls will be implemented.
First Contact With Respondents, And What We’ve Learned After 305 Test Calls
08 Oct 2013
In this update, World Food Programme share on: their face-to-face survey in Somalia, an update on DR Congo, and some thoughts after conducting 305 test calls.
Somalia and DR Congo: Two Very Different Guinea Pigs
30 Jul 2013
The mVAM team has conducted scoping missions with WFP offices in Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo. The idea was to come to grips with the challenges of implementing mVAM at the country level, contact partners, assess the technical challenges and develop work plans.
You are seeing this because you are using a browser that is not supported. The Elrha website is built using modern technology and standards. We recommend upgrading your browser with one of the following to properly view our website:
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of browsers. We also do not intend to recommend a particular manufacturer's browser over another's; only to suggest upgrading to a browser version that is compliant with current standards to give you the best and most secure browsing experience.
