IASO is an innovative, open-source, and multilingual (EN/FR) platform designed for data collection, planning, monitoring, and evaluation of health, environmental, and social programs. With its advanced geospatial capabilities, IASO provides a structured approach to managing geographic data, optimizing field data collection, and enhancing decision-making.

IASO's core functionalities revolve around four interconnected components, each reinforcing the capabilities of the others:

1. Geospatial Data Management (Georegistry)

• Manage multiple master lists of geographic data, including hierarchical structures (e.g., country → region → district → facilities), GPS coordinates, and boundaries.


• Track changes and updates to geographic data over time.


• Integrate and visualize multiple geographic data sources.


• Allow field teams to propose changes via the IASO mobile app and review them through the web interface.

2. Geo-Structure Data Collection

• Design and upload data collection forms using the widely known XLSForm format.


• Link forms to one or multiple geographic levels (e.g., national, regional, district, health facility, etc.) to structure data collection.


• Track changes in data collection forms over time.


• Review and analyze submitted questionnaires via the web application.


• Monitor questionnaire completeness across geographic levels and identify potential data gaps.

3. Geo-Enabled Microplanning

• Manage and organize teams, including hierarchical team structures.


• Assign data collection tasks to teams and users through an interactive map interface.


• Define planning scopes, timeframes, and associated questionnaires to structure field activities.

4. Entity and Workflow Planning

IASO allows the tracking of entities, which can be individuals (e.g., health or social program beneficiaries) or physical objects (e.g., supplies, parcels, bed nets). Workflows facilitate entity tracking by linking forms dynamically based on previous responses.

• Define entity types (individuals, items, etc.).


• Configure workflows to determine which forms open based on prior responses.


• Register new entities via the mobile app, even offline.


• Synchronize data between mobile and web applications.


• Identify, compare, and merge duplicate entity records as needed.


• Store entity information on NFC cards for easy access and updates.

IASO's flexible and scalable architecture makes it a powerful solution for organizations seeking to improve data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency.

IASO has been implemented in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, and Uganda.

It has been instrumental in updating geographic data in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, where it also serves as the official georegistry. At the regional level, IASO supports the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in the AFRO region, providing robust geospatial and health facility registry capabilities.

With its advanced geospatial features, IASO is a leading solution for geo-enabled campaign digitalization, enabling precise planning, monitoring, and execution of critical health interventions. Whether for vaccination campaigns (measles, polio, yellow fever, etc.) or the distribution of essential health items (bed nets, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, etc.), IASO ensures efficient targeting and optimized resource allocation.

More recently, IASO has been supporting the digitalization of a United Nations nutrition program for children under five, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, with plans for expansion to multiple countries. Its adaptability and scalability make it a powerful tool for tracking individuals and resources in various contexts, including monitoring community health workers and managing logistics. By providing real-time, high-quality data, IASO enhances decision-making, improves coordination, and ensures that interventions reach those who need them most.

Primary users:

Gavi The Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, ministries of health (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Uganda), MSH, CHAI, Cordaid, USAID, Enabel, LifeNet International, Sonder Collective, Palladium - President's Malaria Initiative, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

Reach of technology:

Since its creation in 2019, IASO has been deployed in 14 countries to support more than 25 projects, demonstrating its ability to address critical operational challenges. With over 3.5 million questionnaires submitted, IASO has proven to be a scalable and reliable solution for large-scale data collection, particularly for national health and social programs. In recent years, IASO has been successfully validated for nationwide implementations. Notable examples include the 2023 national measles vaccination campaign in Cameroon (documented in BMJ Global Health), which reached 4.9 million children, and the 2024 Côte d’Ivoire national bed net distribution campaign, covering 5.5 million households.

Languages:

English, French, others possible as needed

Type:

Software Application

Open source license:

MIT