Last Mile Mobile Solutions in the Haiti Earthquake Response
The critical stage in delivering humanitarian
aid - the “last mile”- is that final step where
essential supplies reach people affected by
disaster. In January 2010, a devastating
earthquake crippled Haiti and World Vision
responded to ensure aid reached the “last
mile”.
World Vision implemented its innovative
Last Mile Mobile Solutions (LMMS)
technology to provide faster and more
effective aid relief. This technology paved
the way to help rebuild lives and
communities far faster than traditional
methods.
EFFECTIVENESS- reducing time and effort in aid delivery
Haiti emerged from the 2010 earthquake critically damaged and requiring global aid. Among
the first responders, World Vision knew that surviving Haitians needed food and non-food items
immediately. Armed with LMMS software and scanners, World Vision began using it in Haitian
programs to increase the effectiveness of its aid. Results were immediately visible in the
minimized time and effort it took to distribute the items Haitians desperately needed.
The previous, paper-based system of registering was an acceptable model but it had flaws.
Manually recording information meant recipients experienced slow and lengthy wait times.
Since files were hard to keep together from one distribution to the next, recipients would have to
go through the same process again and again before they could get their items.
Implementing LMMS meant individuals only had to
register once. Through automation, information was
recorded directly into a database, and recipients then
received a bar-coded photo card. After the initial
registration, recipients only needed to scan their card
at each distribution for their key information to appear
on the screen.
In Haiti, there was no comparison between manual and automated registration. A paper-based
distribution to 100 households took almost two hours, followed by nearly four hours of data entry
back at the office. Under the right conditions, using LMMS for a distribution to 100 households
would take roughly 30 minutes, followed by a report instantly generated after the distribution. By
scanning a bar-coded card instead of traditional paper list/fingerprint systems, LMMS proved it
could reduce the time needed to process information by approximately 50%.
This meant that Haitians could access food and non-food items at distributions sooner, return to
their families and focus on rebuilding their livelihoods rather than spending long hours waiting in
line.
STRENGTHENED EFFECTIVENESS – finding other streams to incorporate technology
The initial use of LMMS technology was to get food
supplies to those in chronic emergencies. In Haiti,
LMMS was adapted to also provide non-food items and
cash-for-work distributions for livelihood programming.
Cash-for-work
programs
provided
substantial
opportunities for people rebuilding in the wake of a
disaster. Previously, cash distributions were difficult and
dangerous for non-government organizations, especially
in urban Haiti. LMMS and automation erased the need
for cash transactions and instead, focused on getting the
appropriate funds into the recipient’s bank account
through digital transfers. The first paperless cash-for-work distribution took place in February
2011 and ration calculations, recipient verification, and signature receipts were all done using
technology. These developments reduced the security risks associated with physical cash
distributions and increased the efficiency of World Vision’s humanitarian interventions.
ACCOUNTABILITY— increasing transparency of humanitarian activities
LMMS proved valuable in delivering aid timely and effectively, but it also became an important
tool for World Vision’s other functions. This technology increased accountability to donors,
allowed for consolidation of data across all projects and grants, and managed aid inventory
before, during and after a distribution.
Reports produced immediately after registrations and distributions provide a clear picture of how
money and resources are utilized. Donors can see the impact their donations are having and
that transparency helps strengthen future donor relations. As well, when applying for grants,
World Vision can incorporate the valuable data LMMS provides on past programs. These solid
statistics show the successful work World Vision does and increases the likelihood of receiving
future grants to continue programming.
Better information management means better management for aid supplies. The ability to track
the inventory of stock removes any margin of error when distributing the aid and ensures the
right supplies get to the right recipients.
This is hopefully only the beginning for LMMS –
eventually more program templates can be specialized
for different programs and sectors (e.g. tracking child
nutrition data). LMMS has the potential to provide a
unified system in which multiple non-government
organizations can access joint registration information
and shared data. This will ensure stronger
collaboration, less duplication of resources, more
accountability, and more efficient use of time.