LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International charity WaterAid received a high commendation for the development and effective use of its innovative water supply monitoring tool at The Charity Times Awards 2011. Named the ‘Water Point Mapper’, the novel tool received this commendation in the ‘Best Use of Technology’ category.
The monitoring and mapping of rural water supply services was a complex process involving the use of expensive Geographical Information System-based software tools. WaterAid joined hands with Collabera, a leading global IT solutions provider, to address this complexity.
The Water Point Mapper is free and a very user friendly method of monitoring water supply coverage. Collabera developed the tool in such a way that it can map the distribution and status of water supply services in developing countries. It can be used anywhere, providing an efficient way to identify and track which facilities are working - and where new ones are needed.
Aimed at local government planners and water, sanitation, hygiene field practitioners working on district, sub-district and village level water supply programmes, this tool can be used where there is minimal computer literacy and no internet connectivity.
Since piloting the technology in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, WaterAid, together with the Lilongwe Water Board, have planned and constructed 65 water kiosks to improve water supplies for poor communities. The project showed the tool could be easily used by local staff to produce powerful and effective maps. The Water Point Mapper is now being used in a number of districts in Kenya and Ethiopia, East Africa – a region experiencing its worst drought in 60 years - and where accurate mapping is critical for ensuring long term water security.
WaterAid uses this tool for planning, equity and improved governance, financing, monitoring & evaluation and service sustainability assessment at the District, Sub District and Village level. The charity is also using the mapper to monitor the sustainability of its programme work for the next ten years, as part of its Sustainability Framework.
About Charity Times Awards
The Charity Times Awards recognise outstanding professionals - individuals and teams in the charity sector, dedicated to doing great work in difficult and competitive conditions. The Awards incorporate the whole range of disciplines within charitable management: from governance, finance, fundraising and campaigning through to the use of technology and the application of sound business principles. In addition, recognition is afforded to those professional service companies working most creatively and effectively within the sector. For more information on the Charity Times Awards 2011, click here.
About Collabera
Established in 1991, Collabera is a leading, global, end-to-end information technology consulting, services and solutions company. Collabera focuses on helping businesses "bridge the execution gap" and experience accelerated business performance. Its client-centric philosophy, commitment to service excellence and a Collaborative Engagement Model enables its global 2000 and leading mid-market clients to succeed in today's global digital economy. With over 6000 professionals operating from 19 locations and 3 extended development centers worldwide, Collabera provides onsite, offsite and offshore technology consulting, services and solutions to leading financial services, technology, communications & media, manufacturing, retail & logistics as well as energy & utility corporations. The privately held company has offices in the U.S., Europe, and India including three delivery centers. Collabera has won numerous awards for its software excellence – some of the key ones are:
- Ranked 58th in FinTech 2011 list of top 100 service providers to Financial Services Industry
- Ranked 77th on 2011 InformationWeek 500
- Collabera named in 2 IAOP 2011 global outsourcing 100 sub lists in 2011
- Collabera Named #1 Subcontinent Asian American Business in the US in the DiversityBusiness.com's 2011 awards
For more information on Collabera, please click here or write to media@collabera.com
About WaterAid
WaterAid was officially established as a charitable trust on 21 July 1981. Since then WaterAid has grown from strength to strength to become one of the most respected international NGO's. Today, WaterAid works in 26 countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific region transforming lives of millions by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world's poorest communities. WaterAid and its partners use practical solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people. For more information about WaterAid, please click here.
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