Today organizations are spending a huge amount of money and time on building dashboards. “If only we get a dazzling dashboard, we’ll finally become data-driven,” they promise — but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. In reality, only 45% of people with access to BI tools actually report using…
How We Problem Solve, Prototype and Product-ify Data for our Users
Today data has exploded, and it’s available in more places and forms than ever — pie charts tracking websites’ visitor groups, bar graphs tracking code commits, line charts tracking steps on a fitness tracker app, star ratings for restaurants, scores for taxi drivers… We’re drowning in data, and yet it…
Why Are Developed Villages Surrounded by Underdeveloped Hamlets?
Around 90 kilometers from the Chandrapur district headquarters is Bhari, a tribal Gram Panchayat (GP). Sitting on the border between Telangana and Maharashtra, Bhari is in the Jiwati block of Maharashtra. A nice cement concrete road with beautiful cotton fields on both sides, constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna,…
The quiet digital revolution in Chandrapur
A pioneering initiative of the Maharashtra government has data-mapped three blocks of the district at an unprecedented level. Jiwati taluka (or sub-district) in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district is often called the “punishment block” in government echelons. Almost on the Andhra border, it takes two hours to reach the thickly forested area…
Data Is More Than Just Numbers
With data-driven governance it is possible to have all information needed to make important decisions. I have your dashboard open. Can you explain the reasons of the rejection chart to me?” Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan was curious. He was referring to a real-time dashboard that pulled…
Time to Break Down Silos, Rethink Development
As a college student in Singapore, I interned with an investment bank where I learned how real-time data was used every second to shape big and small decisions in the finance world. But, as internships and volunteer stints with non-profits in India made me realize, why isn’t the data being used…
7 Common Myths About Working With the Indian Government
Ministry. Secretariat. Collectorate. Panchayat Samiti. Sir. Madam. Sir. Madam. Meeting. Field Visit. Presentation. New Delhi. Nagpur. Noamundi. These are the words around which my life revolves currently. At SocialCops, we work on a large number of projects with the government. Typically, our data platform helps some of the most important…
5 Best Practices for NGOs to Ace Funding Grant Proposals
When thinking about data in the development space, images of field workers talking to their stakeholders — farmers, nursing mothers, and community meetings — and collecting authentic data through tablets, smart phones, or pen and paper come to mind. However, for many NGOs, data collection is often quite different. Many…
6 Technological Interventions to Rid India of Corruption
India holds the dubious distinction of ranking 85th among 175 nations surveyed for corruption. The socio-economic price of corruption is very high. So, as India takes its place on the world economic stage, corruption needs to be tackled seriously. On the one hand, the attitude of accepting bribery needs to…
Financial Inclusion: The Last Mile
Gunji, in Uttarkhand – a northern state of India, nestled among the Himalayan Mountains – is a place of spectacular beauty and an equally treacherous terrain. Reaching this idyllic spot located at least 45 km away from a motorable road takes 4 days of challenging trek along the ferocious Kali…
Why Design Matters: Designing a Data Platform to Solve Problems That Matter
At SocialCops, we’re building a data platform to solve the biggest problems facing humanity. In the short three years of our existence, our data platform has been used to drive healthcare policy, optimize disaster relief operations, and solve urban planning issues. We were founded to solve developing world problems. This means our…
Goonj: Using Data to Manage Logistics for Development
Logistics in the Social Sector Industrial supply chain and logistics management solutions are a major application area of data-driven systems, and can be seen as a precursor to the big data revolution. However, you would be surprised how managing logistics in the social sector is an entirely different ball game…
7 Scenarios of Data Use in the Development Sector
Who does data matter to in the development space, and how do those people use data? Though organizations and funders vary greatly, data can play a role in the decisions of all key actors in development funding and organizations. Data in Development Funding Funders keep the money flowing and programs running,…
Investing Their Lives to Change One Life at a Time: Lessons on Leadership from Bihar
A couple of months ago, some friends and I were debating what distinguishes a “manager” from a “leader”. Were the two could be synonymous? If yes, then under what circumstances? Needless to say, we never arrived at a conclusion. Cut the chase to January 2015 when I was in Bihar…
7 NGOs That Are Using Data for Impact and Why You Should Use It Too
7 NGO’s that are turning towards data to utilize resources effectively, save time & costs, measure impact and why you should start too.