One Year of TASAI-VISTA

Highlights from Our First Year

In February of last year, TASAI finalized a full indicator and methodology review to address feedback from stakeholders. Following the review, TASAI launched full country studies in Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and an update study in Mali. These studies were conducted using paper-based surveys, allowing DG to understand and document the first step in TASAI’s data lifecycle process. 

We built TASAI’s survey tools using  Open Data Kit, and have recently transitioned to Kobo Toolbox, which allows for data to enter directly into the database – rather than importing data from Excel after. DG also worked with TASAI to document and digitize the data validation and analysis processes, starting with setting data “rules” at the time of survey data collection. This function will save time for the researcher collecting data and act as a quality control check. 

Data collected through the survey tool then moves into the data validation and analysis tool where TASAI can manage and correct data, import secondary data, generate report tables, and develop the core variables and indicators previously calculated manually in Excel. 

From the onset of our program, we knew that user engagement would play a significant role. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to change our initial approach. We started a pilot engagement plan in six countries to map users versus relying on research inception and dissemination meetings to meet directly with users. Through the pilot plan, the team was able to identify a comprehensive list of TASAI users, and then to map user types to information needs. As part of the user mapping, we interviewed 18 stakeholders in the fall of 2020. From the mapping and stakeholder interviews, we learned more about which indicators and information we will prioritize for the dashboard. While we had intended for this to be done in-person during the in-country meetings, conducting these consultations remotely allowed us to keep making progress through the pandemic. 

Where We’re Going

Ensuring that the TASAI’s methodology and indicators are gender-sensitive will continue to be a focus, as we hope to partner with gender-focused organizations and programs working in the agriculture and seed sectors.  As for stakeholder engagement, we are in the process of identifying the best path moving forward that allows us to understand how TASAI data are used, while not over-complicating and over-monitoring the engagement that is already taking place. 2020 was the first year of a three-year partnership. In the next year, we will be increasingly focused on visualizing TASAI’s data to meet the needs of their stakeholders. We’re also working on fine-tuning the processes and technology that we collectively put in place last year. TASAI will also be conducting country studies in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mali, and Mozambique starting this spring.