2017 ICT4D Conference

A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data relating to the object to which it is attached. They allow for the organization of large amounts of data and can also be used to keep track of objects and people. Barcodes became commercially successful when they were used in automating the supermarket checkout systems, a task for which they have become almost universal. Their use has spread to many other sectors and tasks that are generically referred to as Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC).

An unconventional sector that is using barcoding in a distinct manner is global development programming. The USAID funded Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project (FTFNLP) implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Nigeria is using this technology to identify their 42,000 beneficiary households. Barcoded cards are serving as a means of identification for the expansive number of beneficiaries on the project and even more-so in encouraging consistency and accuracy in the data collection process.

The implementation of identification and project reporting with barcodes has had both benefits and its own challenges to its use. Benefits have included easy identification of beneficiary households, decreased data entry resulting in lesser hours focused on data cleaning, and efficient registration processes of beneficiaries during field level data capture. Challenges have included device malfunction and delayed support to field users due to the expansive and rural geographic coverage of the project. Barcoding has met the ultimate intended need on the project, but lessons can be learnt and applied to future programs.