From Papers To Pixels: Digital Transformation Of Frontline Data Collection And Monitoring In PNG’s Agrifood Systems

15 August 2025

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, has completed a targeted capacity-building initiative to strengthen institutional capabilities of the provincial government and its agencies in digital data collection and monitoring, supporting the shift from paper-based to more efficient, paperless operations.

As part of this initiative, the Programme delivered a tailored training workshop on the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) approach using the Kobo Collect solution. A total of 59 officers (including 18 women) from the regional office of the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea, the East Sepik Provincial Division of Agriculture and Livestock, Division of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and local agrifood value chain experts took part.

Through this hands-on training, participants learned to use Kobo Collect (tool for real-time data collection, monitoring, and reporting) and skills that will enable their offices and public bodies to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate development projects more effectively, support evidence-based decision-making, and strengthen extension service delivery to smallholder farmers in the cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries value chains.

The training also introduced participants to the newly developed nationwide Agriculture Management Information System (AMIS) and the Cocoa Board Management Information System (CBMIS). Both systems were designed and deployed by the EU-STREIT PNG Programme to support and enhance the nationwide operations of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea, enabling integrated data management and better sector coordination.

To complement the training, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, provided 35 handheld tablets to officers from the Cocoa Board and the DAL in East Sepik Province. These devices will enable officers to apply the CAPI approach in the field, collect accurate data in real time, and upload it directly into the AMIS and CBMIS. By pairing skills development with the necessary technology, the initiative ensures that officers are fully equipped to translate their new knowledge into practice, leading to more efficient monitoring, reporting, and evidence-based decision-making processes across key agricultural value chains.

Speaking at the closing session, Dr Rabi Rasaily, FAO Senior Agricultural Officer, underscored the central role of digital tools in transforming agricultural extension services, “Digital innovations are essential for improving the efficiency and impact of agricultural services. Your commitment to learning these new tools is an important step towards building stronger, more responsive systems for Papua New Guinea’s farmers.”

Reflecting on the impact for the cocoa sector, Mr Daryll Worimo, Regional Manager for the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea in the Sepik, noted the practical benefits for their ongoing digital transition, “This training can significantly benefit the Cocoa Board by improving the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of data collection for its Management Information System. The trained officers can now directly contribute to the CBMIS by using tablets or smartphones for real-time data collection, which reduces errors, allows for immediate validation, and provides timely information for analysis and decision-making. I would like to also express a special thanks to ITU for giving handheld tablets which will help in data collection”.

From a provincial perspective, Mr Kevin Hawan, Executive Manager of East Sepik Division of Agriculture and Livestock, expressed his appreciation for both the training and the tools provided, “The DAL officers and the agriculture sector is very fortunate and grateful of the CAPI and MIS training and the issuance of CAPI hand-held tablets to the officers for use to collect and collate information of our programs plan implementation. This training has built the officers capacity to best collect information for forward forecasting, appropriate planning to optimise the limited resources to improve on the service delivery. This training and materials will be the tool and knowledge to coordinate and monitor our operations, performance and implementation of our program plans in the province”.

The EU-STREIT PNG Programme continues to invest in institutional capacity-building and digital transformation in the country’s agrifood sector, contributing to improved livelihoods, greater gender inclusion, and sustainable rural development.

A Flagship under the EU’s Global Gateway

EU-STREIT PNG contributes to the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy by driving rural transformation through digital transformation. As the first articulation of the Strategy in Papua New Guinea, the Programme expanding digital capabilities and tools for real-time agrifood systems planning, monitoring, and decision-making. These efficient and effective solutions help to boost productivity, and strengthen food security and incomes, delivering tangible impact in line with the EU’s global development vision.

About the EU-STREIT PNG Programme

The EU-STREIT PNG Programme, is the European Union's largest grant-funded initiative in the country being implemented as a United Nations Joint Programme by FAO, ILO, ITU, UNCDF and UNDP. It focuses on boosting sustainable and inclusive economic development in rural areas. This is achieved by FAO’s support in enhancing economic returns and opportunities within cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries value chains. Additionally, the Programme strengthens and improves the efficiency of value chain enablers, including access to Information & Communication Technology (ICT) by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and digital financial services by UNCDF. ILO also supports the development of sustainable, climate-resilient roads and other transport infrastructures while UNDP provides renewable energy solutions. The Programme directly benefits two provinces: East Sepik and West Sepik.

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