Improving aid performance through geocoded maps

A just-launched geocoded global map outlining how much individual donors have given to which aid projects and where, will highlight aid gaps, imbalances and duplication, and through this, improve donor coordination, says aid monitoring group AidData.



The AidData country maps currently give details of 1,200 development projects in 42 countries - currently all by the World Bank or African Development Bank. AidData, which developed the maps with Uppsala University’s conflict data programme, is pushing more donors to come on board.



A search will show, for instance, that US$643 million has been given to boost education in Uganda since 2002. Bill Anderson, a data standards and systems analyst for Aid Info, an NGO that pushes aid transparency, told IRIN: “Geocoding aid is a huge step forward as it can enable civil society and local authorities in recipient countries to see what aid is being sent to their area, and whether it has been delivered.”



It can also help recipient governments with better sectoral planning, he said.



Geocoding is also being applied in the humanitarian aid sector, said Anderson, with NGO network Interaction undertaking aid maps of the Haiti response, though he pointed out that the speed of humanitarian response can make it difficult to provide up-to-date, accurate mapping.



Even in the development sector it is difficult to provide complete, accurate maps as donor reporting of geographical aid spread is not yet uniformly reported, says Aid Data staff member Alena Stern on her blog. “If I wanted to determine where within Uganda these projects are located, I would face a much more difficult task.”



The World Bank is starting to standardize this information, and the UK Department for International Development is now considering it, said Anderson.



aj/cb