Seven Surveys for UNDP

GSoft Sols proudly partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Merged Areas Governance Project (MAGP) to conduct a series of seven comprehensive surveys aimed at addressing critical data gaps across sectors such as health, education, women entrepreneurship, and skills development in Pakistan’s Merged Areas (formerly FATA).

To support this large-scale initiative, GSoft Sols engineered and deployed a custom-built survey software platform personalized to MAGP’s specific needs. The solution enabled telephonic, online, and face-to-face data collection modes—providing unmatched flexibility across diverse geographical and linguistic landscapes. Key software features included:

• Real-time data validation and error checking

• Automated progress tracking and supervisor dashboards

• Encrypted and secure data handling

• Integrated reporting tools for immediate insights

The Seven Surveys Included:

• Midline and Endline Skills Development Surveys
  Evaluated the outcomes of vocational training programs in 7 districts, covering over 7,500 participants.

• Endline Education Survey
  Assessed the impact of educational outreach across 2,700 respondents in Bajaur and Khyber.

• Midline and Endline Health Surveys
  Focused on maternal health awareness and service utilization among 3,000 women in Khyber, Bajaur, and Mohmand.

• Midline and Endline Women Entrepreneurship Surveys
  Measured the social and economic impact of entrepreneurship programs on 2,800 women across four districts.

Each survey underwent a full lifecycle: from pilot testing and enumerator training to full deployment and analytical reporting, with real-time supervision and quality control at every stage. GSoft Sols played a pivotal role not just in execution but in delivering evidence-based insights that supported targeted policy development.

CATI Survey Execution: A Methodological Excellence

In alignment with global best practices and MAGP’s operational requirements, GSoft Sols developed a Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) methodology that ensured precision, security, and ethical compliance across all data collection activities.

1. Questionnaire Enhancement and Translation

Originally designed by UNDP, the questionnaire was extensively refined by GSoft Sols to improve clarity, logical flow, and cultural appropriateness.

• Translations into Urdu and Pushto ensured inclusivity and engagement.

• Multiple validation rounds and pilot feedback loops helped tailor content for real-world effectiveness.

2. Enumerator Capacity Building

Enumerators underwent rigorous training that emphasized:

• Ethical, gender-sensitive interviewing

• Informed consent protocols aligned with research ethics

• Hands-on CATI system practice, including supervised mock interviews and role-plays

3. CATI Software Features

The CATI platform—custom-engineered by GSoft Sols—offered:

• Multilingual interface to cater to diverse respondents

• Real-time data sync with central servers

• Automatic logic checks for in-call quality control

• Enumerator performance tracking and quality assurance alerts

4. Strategic Pilot and Field Planning

Before full-scale implementation, GSoft Sols executed a strategic pilot phase. This pilot tested operational readiness, identified software refinements, and improved enumerator preparedness.

5. Quality Assurance Protocols

GSoft Sols enforced a multi-tiered QA mechanism:

• Live and recorded call audits

• Immediate supervisor interventions upon protocol deviation

• Continuous feedback loops for performance improvement and retraining

Survey Implementation and Monitoring

1. Informed Consent & Ethical Conduct

All interviews began with a standardized consent script, available in Urdu, English, or Pushto, to ensure clarity and respondent rights. Interviews averaged 18–20 minutes, balancing depth and respondent comfort.

2. Real-Time Supervision

Supervisors accessed live dashboards to monitor:

• Call success rates

• Interview durations

• Completion ratios

• Immediate flags for anomalies

3. Secure Data Management

• Data was encrypted and uploaded to a secure central server

• Followed by multi-layered validation, including:

  • Logical consistency reviews

  • Duplicate detection

  • Compliance checks

Respondent Volume and Project Impact

In the final Surveys alone, GSoft Sols successfully engaged all the required number of participants in each survey. This model of methodological rigor, software-driven accuracy, and ethical oversight exemplifies GSoft Sols’ capacity to manage complex, large-scale surveys that produce actionable insights for sustainable governance and policy.