National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) in Nyandarua have undergone training on grassroots data management. The training aims to equip officers with skills to collect, manage, and report data for evidence-based planning and policy formulation. The programme, part of Phase II of a project by the State Department for Economic Planning (SDEP), targets officers and stakeholders involved in grassroots data management in 25 counties.
The training, conducted in collaboration with the Konza Technopolis Development Authority, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), and the State Department for Interior, is a three-day programme. Nyandarua Central Deputy County Commissioner Kenneth Kiptoo stated that the government wants to equip NGAO officers with necessary skills for data collection and management. He mentioned that 293 NGAO officers are involved in data collection and management for community development.
Most of the officers have basic computer skills, and the training will enable them to undertake data collection more effectively and promote a coordinated approach to research and reporting. Caleb Muinde, an economist at the State Department for Economic Planning, explained that the programme aims to equip NGAO officers with skills to collect data directly from communities and transmit it to designated data analysis centers.
The first phase of the programme covered 11 counties and served as a pilot, while the second phase targets 25 counties. Muinde stated that the next phase will cover the remaining counties, aiming to collect nationwide data that will inform policy planning. He emphasized the importance of reliable grassroots data as the country approaches the end of the Vision 2030 period.
Reliable grassroots data will help the government assess the country’s progress, identify gaps, and formulate policies and plans. Muinde identified skewed data resulting from inadequate data collection as a major challenge affecting planning. Improved capacity at the grassroots will help address this challenge. The training had good attendance, and Muinde expressed optimism that it would adequately prepare officers for grassroots data collection.
Under the programme, NGAO officers, including Assistant Chiefs, will collect data from communities and transmit it to designated data analysis centers for processing and use in government planning. Assistant Chief for Gikingi Sub-location, Mirriam Ngotho, stated that the training equipped grassroots administrators with skills to properly manage information collected from communities.
Ngotho mentioned that reliable community data is important in identifying vulnerable groups and implementing government programmes, including Inua Jamii. The information collected at the grassroots is forwarded to the government to support planning and service delivery. With this training, Ngotho said they are now ready for proper data management. The State Department for Economic Planning is expected to roll out the training to other counties to establish a coordinated grassroots data management system.
Key points
- The training aims to equip NGAO officers with skills to collect, manage, and report grassroots data for evidence-based planning and policy formulation.
- The programme targets officers and stakeholders involved in grassroots data management in 25 counties.
- Reliable grassroots data will help the government assess the country’s progress, identify gaps, and formulate policies and plans.
