Project Overview
From October 2014 to April 2015, Naroman developed a sophisticated web-based application for the Rural Development Programme Phase IV (RDP4) and Timor-Leste's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. The platform was designed to aggregate and process data from the ona.io platform, presenting it through an interactive dashboard to support evidence-based agricultural planning and decision-making.
Background and Context
Agriculture is the backbone of Timor-Leste's rural economy, with approximately 70% of households depending on farming for their livelihood. The RDP4 program, supported by international donors, aimed to enhance agricultural productivity, sustainability, and market access for rural farmers. A critical challenge was the lack of accessible, timely data to guide program interventions and measure outcomes. The project addressed this gap by creating a comprehensive data visualization system that transformed raw field data into actionable insights.
Platform Capabilities
Data Aggregation
Seamless integration with the ona.io platform to collect and consolidate field data from agricultural extension workers across Timor-Leste's municipalities.
Interactive Dashboards
Dynamic visualization of key agricultural indicators through customizable dashboards, enabling users to explore trends, patterns, and relationships in the data.
Geospatial Mapping
JavaScript-based dynamic maps displaying the geographical distribution of agricultural activities, crop yields, and resource allocation across different regions.
Data-Driven Charts
Interactive charts and graphs providing visual representations of agricultural statistics, program progress, and comparative analyses.
Offline Capability
Special functionality allowing for data presentation without internet access, crucial for field operations in remote areas with limited connectivity.
Multilingual Interface
Support for multiple languages including Tetum, Portuguese, and English to ensure accessibility for all stakeholders.
Technical Approach
The development of this data visualization platform involved sophisticated front-end and back-end technologies:
- Information Architecture: Conducted extensive research and developed comprehensive wireframes to structure the complex agricultural data in intuitive ways
- Frontend Development: Authored HAML/HTML5 templates with SCSS/CSS styling and utilized JavaScript, jQuery, and CoffeeScript for interactive elements
- Data Visualization: Implemented dynamic JavaScript-based maps and charts to represent agricultural data in meaningful ways
- User Interface: Created an intuitive interface with JavaScript-based UI elements optimized for users with varying levels of technical experience
- Server Environment: Configured and deployed the application on appropriate server infrastructure to ensure reliable performance
Development Process
Development Phases
The project was executed through a collaborative, iterative process:
- Conducted extensive requirements gathering with Ministry officials and RDP4 program staff
- Researched and documented the specific data types and metrics relevant to agricultural development in Timor-Leste
- Developed information architecture and wireframes to guide the platform design
- Created an iterative template design for the user interface, incorporating feedback at each stage
- Built interactive maps and charts tailored to agricultural data visualization needs
- Implemented data connectors to integrate with the ona.io platform
- Conducted on-site discussions and refinements to ensure alignment with stakeholder needs
- Delivered comprehensive training to ministry and program staff
Knowledge Transfer & Sustainability
A critical aspect of this project was ensuring that the Ministry of Agriculture and RDP4 team could independently maintain and utilize the platform:
- Delivered hands-on training sessions to staff on using and managing the dashboard
- Created detailed documentation in multiple languages
- Provided technical manuals for system administrators
- Developed user guides for data analysts and decision-makers
- Established procedures for data validation and quality control
- Conducted follow-up support to ensure successful adoption
This focus on knowledge transfer ensured that the project remained self-sustainable after the development phase, allowing the Ministry to continue building their data-driven agricultural planning capacity.
Impact & Outcomes
The RDP4 Agricultural Data Platform delivered significant benefits to Timor-Leste's agricultural development efforts:
- Transformed complex agricultural data into accessible, actionable insights for policy makers and program managers
- Enhanced the Ministry's ability to track program implementation and outcomes across different regions
- Improved resource allocation by identifying geographical areas with the greatest needs and opportunities
- Strengthened evidence-based decision making in agricultural planning and interventions
- Built technical capacity within the Ministry for ongoing data management and analysis
- Created a foundation for more sophisticated agricultural monitoring and evaluation systems
- Supported more effective coordination between the Ministry, donors, and implementing partners