Q:
How was DevInfo selected as a tool for MDG monitoring?
A: In the context of the MDG working group a
small sub group had been looking into the issue
of a standard software package for monitoring
MDGs. In November 2002, the UNICEF Executive
Director offered to the Secretary General to
provide a software package to support the organization
and display of data for monitoring goals for
use by UN Country Teams and National governments.
This package would be a modified and enhanced
version of the ChildInfo package then being
used by UNICEF. The new system would be called
DevInfo. The MDG Working Group recommended that
this offer be accepted, and the UNDG Programme
Group subsequently endorsed this.
Q:
What is the vision for DevInfo?
A: DevInfo will contribute to setting universal
standards for data storage, access and dissemination
of human development indicators, specifically
the MDGs. The long-term vision for DevInfo is
for the system to make a major contribution
to strengthening the processes at country level
for use of data for monitoring, planning and
advocacy.
Q:
Is DevInfo Customizable to country specific
situations?
A: Yes. DevInfo provides a module that allows,
within certain limits, the customization of
the system to country specific requirements,
including the name of the system, images, graphics,
logos and colour scheme. A second module allows
for all language elements of the system to be
customized. This module also provides support
for local languages.
Q:
DevInfo be used to produce CCA (Common Country
Asessment)?
A: Yes. DevInfo is designed to contribute to
greater awareness of statistics and promoting
the use of data for evidence-based planning,
monitoring and evaluation. The tool therefore
supports the effort of establishing a common
country assessment by providing options for
creating databases and organising data according
to strategic monitoring frameworks such as the
CCA and MDGs. With the help of DevInfo the UNCT
can produce a common baseline for country programme
monitoring to assist data users in analysing
the situation in a cross-sectoral database.
Q:
Will a CCA database template be available from
www.devinfo.org?
A: Yes. Before the end of this year a database
template that can be used to create UN common
database for CCA at country level will be available
for download.
Q:
Can DevInfo be used to produce MDG Reports?
A: DevInfo has a feature which allows the user
to generate data reports, including those needed
for MDG reports. DevInfo provides simple facilities
for querying the database and producing tables,
graphs and maps for inclusion in MDG reports
and exporting these to Word/Excel/Powerpoint.
Q:
Who should use DevInfo?
A: DevInfo does not attempt to supplant or replace
existing efforts: well-established UN and non-UN
initiatives at the global, regional and country
level, including specific thematic (sectoral)
initiatives for monitoring individual goals
or topics. DevInfo’s specific purpose and added-value
is to collect existing data, identify gaps in
the MDG indicators if they exist and provide
a consolidated source of data on the MDG indicators.
It is also designed to make it easy for national
entities to use the integrated database for
advocacy with key decision-makers.
Typically, users would include:
• UN country teams
• National Statistical Offices
• Government departments
• Planning Ministries
• District planners
• Media (to report and track human development
data)
• Educational institutions (for data analysis
and to help children have access to the data)
• DevInfo administrators (would use the more
advanced database administration modules to
customize the system, add data etc.)
Q:
Who owns DevInfo?
A: The DevInfo source code is the property of
UNICEF.
Once approved for global release, DevInfo can
be used by anyone who has the software. UNICEF
has absolutely no restrictions on the database
and its use; in fact, drawing upon its Mission
statement, UNICEF has obligations to advocate,
mobilise resources and work with all UN agencies,
governments and partners to ensure the realization
of child rights. Information sharing/dissemination
and encouraging partners to use the information
is one of the best ways to carry out this mission.
At the country level, UNICEF office(s) and its
UN partners will have the right to freely distribute
DevInfo .
Q:
What are the basic steps to successfully establish
DevInfo in a country?
A:
• • Assess data and monitoring needs
• Identify UNCT focal points
• Identify Government focal points
• Workplanning
• Data inventory for sources of data
• Review and analysis of data quality from available
sources
• Selection of indicators in addition to the
global MDG indicators
• Data collection
• Data entry and verification
• Database launch with advocacy materials
• Database user training
Q:
Is DevInfo v4.0 already in use?
A: Yes. But the UNICEF ChildInfo technology
has already been in use in more than 50 countries
for several years. Some local variants of the
ChildInfo package have used the name ‘DevInfo’
(e.g. DevInfo India). DevInfo 4.0 is an enhanced
version of ChildInfo 3.5 that has been specifically
designed as an MDG tracking tool.
Q:
When will copies of DevInfo be available?
A: DevInfo 4.0 has passed all Quality Assurance
and Pilot Testing phases
Since 2004 the DevInfo software has been approved
for general release, through the organisation
of regional training workshops. The DevInfo
software and products adapted from the system
can be freely distributed to UN and government
agencies.
Q:
What modules make up the DevInfo software package?
A: DevInfo 4.0 comes in five separate modules
One DevInfo User module
Four DevInfo Administration modules:
- DevInfo Template (database administrators
have the option to add their own sets of local
indicators to their databases; a Database Template
contains all of the following elements: indicators,
indicator definitions, indicator sectors, indicator
classes, area IDs, area names, units, subpopulations.)
- DevInfo Data Entry
- DevInfo Customize (local administrators can
change the “look” of the software and adapt
it to national specifications)
- DevInfo Language (local administrators can
translate the strings of the software into local
languages)
Q:
What technology does DevInfo use?
A: DevInfo is presently developed in Microsoft
Visual Basic 6 using third party controls for
both Windows functionality and thematic map
generation. Microsoft Access is used to store
the data. DevInfo is integrated with mapping
technology (ESRI Mapobjects) to generate thematic
maps.
Q:
What are the software prerequisites for DevInfo
to work as stand alone?
A: Windows 98, ME or XP. Microsoft Office.
Q:
many geographic levels can be supported by DevInfo?
A: DevInfo supports up to ten levels of geographical
coverage: from global level to regional, sub-regional,
national and sub-national down to sub-district
and village levels (incl. schools, health centers,
water points…). Upon release, DevInfo includes
maps to the second geographical level for all
countries.
Q:
Can data be exported from DevInfo?
A: Yes. DevInfo data can be exported to spreadsheets
and text files; and it is planned that data
exchange through XML standards will be added.
Q:Can
data be imported into DevInfo?
A: Yes. Data can be imported from spreadsheets
in a standardized format. In addition, UNICEF
will participate in the UNAIDS initiative to
standardize a simple format for the exchange
of statistical data based on XML, and will also
work with the SDMX initiative led by UNDESA.
Q:
Who will provide support for the roll-out of
DevInfo?
A: UNICEF/UNDG will in partnership provide support
for the DevInfo roll-out. Already 8 regional
DevInfo Roll-out Workshops have taken place,
training more than 300 UN and government professional
staff from more than 100 countries in the use
of DevInfo.
