The State Department for Economic Planning has initiated a three-day training programme for National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) in Kericho County. The programme aims to enhance the capacity of NGAO officers to collect, manage, validate, and utilise reliable community-level data. This training, being held at Sahara Gardens in Kericho Town, brings together officers from the county's seven sub-counties. The initiative seeks to support government planning, resource allocation, and development interventions with timely and credible information from communities.
The training was officially opened by Chief Economist, State Department for Economic Planning, Evelyne Bengal, who read a speech on behalf of Principal Secretary Dr Bonface Makokha. In the speech, the PS emphasised the importance of strengthening grassroots data systems. This ensures that government planning and development interventions are informed by reliable and credible information from communities. The programme focuses on improving the availability and use of accurate grassroots information. This enables the government to identify local needs, prioritise development interventions, and make informed decisions based on prevailing conditions in communities.
The training programme covers various areas, including the national planning architecture and the role of administrative data in development planning. It also focuses on the integration of community-level information into national data systems to support policy formulation and implementation. On the first day, the training covered legal and ethical frameworks governing data management. This includes data protection, confidentiality, and compliance with national legislation when collecting, handling, and utilising community information.
Other areas covered in the training include household enumeration, community listing, and identification of vulnerable populations. These are essential in strengthening the availability of reliable grassroots data for targeted government interventions and improved service delivery. The officers are being equipped with skills to ensure that data collection is accurate and reliable. This will enable the government to make informed decisions and implement effective development interventions.
On the second day of the training, officers will be trained on data quality assurance, validation techniques, error detection, and correction. They will also learn about the transition to structured and digital data management systems. The sessions will cover digital data collection tools, data standardisation protocols, and practical simulations on digital data collection, validation, and reporting. This will enhance the officers' capacity to manage and utilise data effectively.
On the third day, the training will focus on the utilisation of data for local planning. This includes the interpretation of community-level information and its application in development monitoring. The officers will also be taken through reporting formats, data flow across administrative levels, county action planning, and reporting exercises. They will participate in simulations on integrating grassroots data into planning and reporting systems.
The three-day programme is part of the State Department for Economic Planning's wider efforts to strengthen grassroots data management across the country. The initiative aims to build the capacity of NGAO officers to provide timely, accurate, and credible information for evidence-based planning and national development. By enhancing the capacity of NGAO officers, the government can make informed decisions and implement effective development interventions that address the needs of local communities.
Key points
- The training programme aims to enhance the capacity of NGAO officers to collect, manage, validate, and utilise reliable community-level data.
- The programme focuses on improving the availability and use of accurate grassroots information to enable the government to identify local needs and prioritise development interventions.
- The training covers various areas, including data quality assurance, validation techniques, and digital data management systems.
