QIS workshop in Bhopal, India

WaterAid India (WAI) and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC), held a QIS (Qualitative Information System) workshop in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India from 3 to 7 September 2007. Based on the resulting data and findings, WaterAid India decided to use QIS for participatory monitoring and evaluation of their future projects.

What is QIS?

QIS is an innovative qualitative information system in which qualitative information is translated into numbers to help project managers monitor project performance on the ground; through the eyes of the community, and also to help communities and project field staff have an effective voice in improving implementation. 

By using QIS qualitative information can be stored, analysed and used for adaptive management, reporting and accountability at various levels: (sub) district, NGO or project, state and programme levels.

The information consists of quantitative data, also known as ‘party numbers’ or ‘people’s statistics’, which the communities collect and record with Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and related participatory methods and tools for their own planning and monitoring. The local outputs such as social maps, matrixes, scales and household scoring sheets therefore remain with the village(r)s.

To measure purely qualitative aspects such as process characteristics in a quantified and comparable manner, the QIS uses sets of nominal scales with ‘mini-scenarios’, short process descriptions ranging from the worst to the best situations that WAI aims for. Through these ‘scoring scales’ communities and staff can see how they perform on these aspects in comparison with other communities and NGOs, and over time.

Methodology

The six steps in developing a good QIS involve:

1. Planning the assessment
2. Training and set up
3. Field survey
4. Analysis
5. Feedback to community
6. Follow-up action

Through group work and consultations the participants in the workshop chose and developed a set of parameters and indicators. These formed the basis for the selection of tools and methods and the development of scoring scales for the testing in the field.

For the testing we took a stratified sample in two villages along with field staff of a local NGO. The data was entered and analysed in the workshop using the mini-data base developed during the previous days. Some time was spent on revising the mini-scenarios and the mapping tools. The collected information is shared with the community at the end of each community assessment, and household sheets and pictorial depiction of the information (including the social map) is given back to the community at the end of each field visit.

In the slideshow presentation you can see the process of developing a simplified QIS together with staff from WaterAid India.

(IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Sep 2007)

Related information

• Prakash, A. (2007). Assessment Report Rural Health and Environment Programme : supported by Haritika and Methodist Relief & Development Fund, UK. New Delhi, India, WaterAid India.
  Available at: http://www.haritika.org/assessment_report%20haritika.pdf

  This report is the participatory assessment of the outcome of the water, sanitation and hygiene promotion programme of Hartika. The evaluation was based on the Qualitative Information Appraisal (QIA) which captures people’s perceptions of processes and outcomes, using participatory methods, and translates this qualitative information into numbers using different methods especially ordinal scoring through a self contained three-step methodology. The QIS tools that were used in the present evaluation included participatory mapping of ground situation related to water supply and sanitation and then having a 100 per cent base line survey of households to asses change in behavioural patters due to their access to water supply and sanitation.

• IRC page on Qualitative Information. Provides some background information and a few links.