InfoNET is a technological, innovation and development facility that is committed to expand the democratic space by strengthening collaboration between Government, Private Sector, Civil Society and Citizens in fostering good economic & democratic governance and service delivery through the strategic use of technology.
Here are the main services we expertly offer.
We develop interactive web platforms for service delivery, budget tracking, public engagement, election monitoring and user feedback.
We integrate SMS/USSD applications for better access by a majority that still remains in the margins of internet connectivity.
We work with your team to offer the best Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) package that suits your organizational needs.
We strengthen capabilities through capacity building in the use of technology for efficiency and improved responsiveness.
We develop Android and Windows Apps for a richer experience for users.
We grow your organization’s social media presence through content management, social media optimization, and full-service management.
Latest news from InfoNET Initiatives
InfoNET’s commitment to openness and transparency drives the organisation to work on projects championing causes such as these. With a credible track record of harnessing the use of ICTs to enhance civic participation and monitor elections, we provided the Zambia Elections Information Centre (ZEIC) with technological support and capacity building for their work on and around the 11th August, 2016 election period. The election centre, which is ICT driven was set up to provide relevant, verified and timely information on the election situation around Zambia and is the country’s first ever Election Situation Room (ESR). Having been a part of the project from inception we met with several of partners of ZEIC, namely the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP), Southern Africa Centre for Conflict Resolution and Dialogue (SACCORD), Zambia National Women’s Lobby ( ZNWL) and Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) as we helped bring to life the information centre. We set up all the technology platforms for the centre, allowing the flow of information from the citizens to the centre and vice-versa to be seamless, easily accessible and wide reaching. In addition to this, we developed the SMS response systems as well as the Elections Action Response Model that the centre uses to manage and respond to the information that it receives in a systematic manner. The project not only relies on information from citizens but that from selected monitors and data officers on the ground. Our team conducted training sessions for data officers as well as monitors in different parts of the country. The regional monitor training, which was a ‘Trainer of Trainers’ will have a spillover effect targeting 9,000 monitors whom these “new” trainers will go on to train. Similarly trained were up to 156 Media Monitors in the capital city, 255 Women Monitors from the Womens Lobby, Lusaka and 50 TIZ monitors in Zambia. The technical support rendered has helped the centre meet its objectives of being a credible source of information that the Zambian people and various stakeholders can access and rely on through various ICT platforms and as the nation goes about writing its future.
This was a Crisis center setup at the onset of the El Nino Season which is part of the larger EL Nino Southern Oscillation Cycle (ENSO). In the past the phenomenon has led to massive loss of lives and damage to infrastructure, most notably the 1997 rains. This time round through a collaborative effort spearheaded the Office of the Deputy President (Legal and Intergovernmental Liaison Office) and InfoNET, a center was put up to monitor and document weather patterns, casualties and appropriate responses. The activities of the Center were also supported by external partners who include Columbia University, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), Kenya Red Cross, National Disaster Operations Center (NDOC) amongst others. Weather feeds were monitored in real-time and projections provided which then were made available to the National Disaster Operations Center (NDOC) and appropriate partners. The team methodically scoured a myriad of web-based sources and county disaster operatives on reports on El Nino related incidences. The data sourced was used to maintain an updated registry which contained figures of casualties, displacements, infrastructure damage (roads, schools) amongst others. The various activities conducted by the Situation Room went a long way in providing reliable statistics that was used in mapping out new hotspots and directing response initiatives by the Government and NGO’S.
The essence of data harnessing to meet Sustainable Goals. On a global scale, abject poverty, increase in equality and injustice, and climate change sit at the realm as focal concerns being experienced. To curb this, a Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD) was formed and supported by 198 nations who vowed to achieve 7 global goals through a series of short term and long term efforts. These efforts are expected to achieve the global goals within the next fifteen years. Established on September, 2015 the initiative was adopted by governments, civil society, private sector, international organizations, academic, statistical and data communities, and networks who represent all sectors of society, dedicated to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. However, these goals cannot be realized without harnessing credible data to measure the effectiveness and viability of these SDGs. The goals include: No poverty Zero hunger Good health and well-being Quality education Gender equality Clean water and sanitation Affordable and clean energy, Decent work and economic growth Industry-innovation and infrastructure Reduced inequalities Sustainable cities and communities, Responsible production and consumption Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts Conservation and sustainable use the oceans, seas and marine resources Sustainable management of forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss Promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels Strengthening the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. The attainment of these goals will require corporation from all fronts through various means. First, keen support of multi-stakeholder data initiatives that link data revolution to the realization of the SDGs is fundamental. Through the global contribution to data sourcing and enrichment, immense information will be made available in respect to development of nations as per the looming crisis, enabling leaders make decisions from an informed and credible standing. Secondly, the initiative will focus on building a capacity to generate, share, and use available data at local levels. This will empower the citizenry of a nation in making informed choices on their preferred leadership and increase awareness on the need to partner in achieving these goals. Considerable contribution to filling data gaps, using original data as well as new data in achieving SDGs needs to be addressed. As these issues affect all nations, contribution in data harnessing will help collate data in order to formulate realistic measures to achieve the goals on a global and local level. Immense assistance is required in developing and supporting international principles tying together the data, including sharing and leveraging the current, privately held data. Organizing local, regional, and global data events to advance increasing connectivity, collaboration, and innovation towards achieving and measuring the SDGs is also encouraged. Kenya is at the forefront in realizing these goals as evident in the recently concluded ENNOVA challenge held on January, 2016. It was hosted by Infonet in collaboration with the Kenya School of Government (KSG), under the National Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (NPSDD). The ideation sought to harness the data revolution to catalyze actions to mitigate development challenges in Kenya such as the El Nino Response. This ties to the 13th SDG, Climate Change. Kenya’s undeterred commitment was again noted during the Data Forum held on 28th and 29th August, 2015. The Forum was very successful in emphasizing the need for the domestication of the data revolution as a key step in accelerating the implementation of Kenya’s national development agenda. By learning and documenting the Kenya case, the Global Partnership could help with replicating Kenya’s National Forum on Sustainable Development Data in other countries.
Following last year’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Initiative held in Mexico, South Africa was at the forefront chairing the continent’s Regional meeting in Cape Town earlier in May this year. The meeting saw the convergence of more than 500 individuals from Africa who are involved in the government or civil society to debate how open government, and a more transparent and accountable style of governance, can support sustainable development in Africa. In his opening speech, South African Minister for Public Service and Administration N. A. Ramatlhodi revealed that his country had made significant strides in creating platforms for engagement with partners from government and civil society to discover, share and promote sustainable alternatives in improving the lives of the people of South Africa. In line with the OGP principle of enhancing the use of innovation and technology to improve public participation, the country has developed a government information portal that seeks to centralize information for easy access to citizens making them better informed about the service available to them. Through partnerships with various software companies, the Government set up the OGP ‘’Hack-for-Water’’ project which aims to encourage more responsible use of water in industry, agriculture and within communities as well as spur innovative ideas to combat water management problems. Here at home a multi-agency committee submitted our country’s second National Action Plan (NAP) under the Open Government Partnership on June 30, 2016. The plan encompasses eight core commitments namely: Legislative Openness Climate Resilience Anti-corruption Extractive Sector Transparency Beneficial Ownership Access to Information and Records Management Budget Transparency Open Contracting The National Action Plan has adopted dual approach towards their attainment of these commitments. The first is centered upon providing a policy based frame work which will the support new and ongoing innovations geared towards the attainment of the Country’s Developmental goals. The Climate Change Act, 2016 is one such policy that is set to benefit from the accelerated implementation of strategies set to address the adverse effects of climate change. The plan also sets to build new partnerships between the government and corporations in the extractives industry. Unquantifiable amounts of revenue continue to be lost through the failure to reveal prospects and revenue information by players in the sector. In combating corruption, the plan recognizes partnerships especially ones with ties to corporations in the diaspora as one area of concern. It stands steadfast in the development of a register of public contracts which will include the disclosure of the beneficiaries of companies, who are in Kenya and overseas. In contracting, the plan adopts open standards which ensure that they can be reviewed freely by anyone. It is important to note that admission into the OGP was no easy fete. Inclusion required the submission of an action plan developed with public consultation followed by an obligation to independently report on their progress.
The Open Government partnership global summit held in Mexico in 28th October 2015, set the stage for a buildup of inclusive multi-stakeholder enterprises to fast track data revolution in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to achieve this Governments will need to open up previously non-existing or closed channels to allow data flow to be used as a tool in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The summit was attended by leading partners in this Data led Revolution namely InfoNET, Paris 21, ODI and CEPEI. Main talking points hovered around multi-stakeholder approaches and regional approaches on the implementation of Data to attain the SDG’S. Broadly the partnership aims to ease the prioritization of goals which are primarily to End extreme poverty. Fight inequality & injustice Fix climate They are encapsulated in the broader 17 Global Goals. In order to achieve these goals there is need to embrace high quality data. One issue highlighted in Paris 21 swas the need producing the “right data, to the right people, at the right time, in the right format”. This means that the process of data creation needs to have a common template for it to work. Small stakeholders who include individuals, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and many more need to have access to this template. Their participation is key in this chain and goes a long way in influencing policy and helping in the realization of the SDG’s. Governments need to open up and share technologies freely and be open to experimentation on new ones. This includes Multi-national Corporations, Parastatals, tech-companies and other affiliated groups. However this cross-sharing platforms open up the opportunity for Data misuse. Such a grave issue calls for the formulation of appropriate policy and laws to officiate this process. The benefits of the use of quality data are immeasurable and will prove invaluable in the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).
The growing need for data-driven advancement both at national and global level led to the convening of the Inaugural National Forum on Sustainable Data for Development (NFSDD), organized by a multi-sectoral technical committee spearheaded by InfoNET. The event themed “Transformation through Evidence: Involve, Inform, Transform” was held on 28th and 29th August 2015 and was hosted by the Office of the Deputy President. The forum was the culmination of over 10+ technical committee meetings comprised of 34+ representative from civil society, private sector, government and innovators; 62+ Pillar working group meetings on the MTPII priority areas of Health, Education, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Peace & Security which also recognized inclusivity and cross-cutting issues of persons with disability, women, youth, the aged and ICTs. The conference convened focal stakeholders from various data communities within the government, private sector, academia, civil society and local communities. Development partners involved in data-driven aspects of development decision-making were also present. The data forum sought to reinstate the importance of harnessing data in the formation of citizen-driven policies as it involves setting up of systems supported by credible data to drive development. Emphasized during the event was the need for the domestication of the data revolution as a critical step in accelerating the implementation of Kenya’s national development agenda, which by law, must be aligned with regional and global goals. The forum sought to catalyze the amplification of the data revolution process in Kenya. Efforts initiated in harnessing data for sustainable development is a fundamental component that sets Kenya ahead in the drive towards achieving the SDGs. Outlined during the forum was the rising demand for data-driven choices, especially for the achievement of the new Global Goals. Additionally, issues related to data gaps were highlighted. There is a dire need for building capacity for both national statistical offices, other data producers and users of “small data” and principal analytics. This will engage the public and wider citizenry in using data to promote accountability and reduce policy bottlenecks that inhibit sharing data, especially those related to the cost of data. The National Forum on Sustainable Development Data immensely contributed to the creation of awareness, amongst actors within the key sectors, on the potential of the data revolution in propelling forward sustainable development through helping governments develop more evidence-based and efficient development policies. Further, the forum assembled government, civil society, and private sector leaders. Harnessing data was noted to be invaluable in developing various sectors. The sectors include agriculture; education; health; transport; and the cross cutting themes of climate change; inclusivity; public finance management; and ICT and innovation. The forum culminated with the launch of the National Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (NPSDD) in Kenya.
Fourth Annual High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects The African Union (AU) continues to make great strides towards realizing its Agenda 2063 that envisions “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena. During the Fourth Annual High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects, gender inequality was addressed in detail. The dialogue held in Kigali on 7th and 8th December 2015 addressed Women’s equal participation and leadership in Political parties in Africa, a key aspiration within the Agenda 2063. Infonet managed the Social Media Interaction at the Dialogue where there was online interaction with over 6 million people reached in 65 countries. The High-Level Dialogue was strategically held in Kigali, Rwanda to facilitate the understudying of Rwanda’s good practices, experiences and lessons learned in enhancing women’s leadership and empowerment Numerous African countries are deeply rooted in patriarchal practices that are seen to impede the fair progress of women in society. As a solution to this, the Agenda 2063 outlines key measures to be undertaken by countries to actualize the aspiration. For one, women need to be included in the important political leadership processes. Women’s participation in political decision-making processes is not only a fundamental right but also focal in the AU’s Agenda 2063. With continued developments witnessed in sectors, women’s inclusivism in nation-building has failed to be accorded the attention it deserves. Women play a vital role in leadership. By empowering women to pick up active roles in political processes, women related issues are addressed within power chambers with viable solutions being formulated. Also, increasing the appointment of women to political offices has increased the participation of women within existing political parties. Women are laboring to shatter the glass ceiling that has for eons barred them from receiving equal and fair treatment. One way to empower women within political margins is by encouraging them to join political parties. By formulating policies that promote membership of women, there is meaningful participation of women in decision-making processes. The minor roles delegated to women in politics reflects and results from the small place to which they are assigned by the customs and attitudes of society. To mitigate this, the Fourth High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance, addressed crucial issues. Highlighted during the forum was the presence of system barriers engraved in culture, the nature of the patriarchal environment, political economy constraints (specifically financing and economic empowerment of women) and internal party politics including party policies and manifestos. Specific objectives were stipulated to ensure women’s equal participation and leadership in political parties in Africa at all levels. Some of the set objectives included provision of a platform for peer learning and accountability by AGA Platform Members on their work on democracy consolidation and strengthening good governance in Africa; and Enhanced strategic partnerships and alliances between state and non-state actors to strengthen and monitor the implementation of AU Shared Values norms and standards on women’s empowerment.
Our Past Projects
InfoNET hosted 5 GOKInteracts Sessions between December 2014 and October 2015. The sessions which are carried out on twitter and live stream, targeted ministries that provide critical services to citizens on performance and efficiency in service delivery. In attendance were various media editors and bloggers. In 2016, the title of the event was changed to […]
The Government of Kenya, through the Office of the President, the Commission on Administrative Justice and InfoNET Africa have collaborated to create an ecosystem of support towards creating a responsive government and a responsible citizenry, by providing Sauti Yetu portal & applications. Sauti Yetu is developed as a tool to improve the ecosystems of public service delivery. […]
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals) adopted in September 2015, by the United Nations General Assembly, will require intense mining of data from public, private, and citizen-generated sources. The essence of investing in high-quality data, from an array of sources, is to enable the country scale effectiveness of projects set to meet these goals. […]
InofoNET’s commitment to openness and transparency drives the organization to work on projects championing causes such as these. With a credible track record of harnessing the use of ICT to enhance civic participation and monitor elections, we provided the Zambia Elections Information Centre (ZEIC) with technological support and capacity building for their work on and […]
Ugatuzi is a set of collaborative tools and platforms that strengthens the capacity of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council and the County Budget & Economic Forum CB&EF to generate and implement development policies that are responsive to citizens. The tools and strategies will be aptly designed in line with the Public Finance Management Act […]
Uchaguzi, an Elections initiative developed in 2008 in partnership between three organizations: InfoNET, Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO), and Ushahidi to ensure that citizens participated in the electoral process and had access to electoral services. The Role of Uchaguzi initiative was to ensure that Citizens’ participation in the Electoral process and access to Electoral […]
Huduma is a service delivery monitoring ICT Platform developed by InfoNET in partnership with the UNMC and the African Institute for Health and Development (AIHD). The goal of the strategy is to improve service delivery by providing citizens with simple technology and media-based tools and channels. It allows people’s concerns, complaints or suggestions to be heard, as a means of […]
Our dedicated partners
Keep scrolling for more of what we do…
These are projects that we're currently actively working on. Click on each to learn more.
The KEIC situation room model aims to bring together civil society groups, independent management bodies, development partners for the period of the election, sharing information and resources, observation, monitoring, anticipating problems and responding swiftly when they occur ahead of the general elections in Kenya.
Sauti Yetu is an online portal for real time information sharing on service delivery by county governments.
The Ennova Model seeks to develop a complete cycle ecosystem that identifies the gaps, the strengths, the partnerships, addresses the gaps and builds a sustainable model that is actionable at all levels of the ecosystem.
“When citizens are actively involved in their civic and democratic institutions, their community and their nation are stronger, more just, and more prosperous.”
Alan Solomont
