Support in the form of advanced capacity building activities and provision of equipment is instrumental for scale up and replication of TA activities in any country. The pilot implementation of CAPI-related activities in Lao PDR, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam enabled the three implementing agencies to adopt CAPI in their upcoming surveys and censuses. Furthermore, with rapid advancement in technology and internet connectivity, the possibility of piloting other novel forms of data collection such as web-based, SMS-based and Interactive Voice Response surveys increases. The fundamental technological infrastructure of these other methods is rooted in CAPI but needs to be piloted carefully. In the case of Viet Nam, which has very good internet connectivity, data transfer was seamless. However, within the contexts of Lao PDR and Sri Lanka, given unreliable internet access, data were stored in the tablets until the teams got to a location where the internet connectivity was better to transfer the data wirelessly to the headquarters of the NSO. Furthermore, we recommend investing in high quality tablets with at least 7 inches screen size, rather than cheaper alternatives which may become obsolete as CAPI software platforms continuously release updated versions. There is also the need to sensitize respondents about technology through a focused campaign prior to the launch of the surveys to ensure low attrition in samples.
Implementing ICT Tools to Improve Data Collection and Management of National Surveys in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals