Kenyan Government Launches E- ProMIS Training: Ministry of Finance and Treasury Introduces Transparent Project Monitoring System

Online, February 4, 2010 (Newswire.com) - NAIROBI, KENYA -The Ministry of Finance and Treasury of the Republic of Kenya has launched government-wide training for the Electronic Projects Monitoring System (e-ProMIS) - a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation system for the government to improve efficiency and transparency of government- and donor-funded development programs and projects.

The e-ProMIS, developed by Synergy International Systems and jointly implemented with its local Kenyan partner, Access Kenya Group, will promote accountability and transparency by tracking and analyzing aid flows and by making this information accessible online to the public. The whole-of-government system will be used by all government ministries and agencies implementing projects for effective monitoring and evaluation of project performance at every stage.

In order to build capacity of government staff, Ms. Korina Kalopsidiotou, Senior Systems Analyst with Synergy International Systems, in collaboration with Mr. Kanja Mugo and Mrs. Laura Kiama of Access Kenya Group, provided one week of intensive training to government staff from 42 ministries over the week of 18-22 January 2010 at the Kenyan School of Monetary Studies (KSMS).

The training workshop was opened by the Finance Permanent Secretary, Mr. Joseph Kinyua, who noted that "e-PROMIS will provide comprehensive and structured project information for policy making that is tailored to the needs of the government as well as our development partners. For example, it will enhance the ability of implementing units in providing timely and accurate reports that are critical for continued project funding. It will also help in monitoring performance of commitments that have been mutually agreed with our development partners such as the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness."

The e-ProMIS is based on Synergy's IDM and Development Assistance Database (DAD) technology, which has been implemented for over 25 governments, and has been customized to meet the specific requirements of the Government of Kenya. It will serve as a reliable and credible source of information on overall donor contributions to Kenya's reconstruction, economic recovery and socio-economic development, as well as to support the Government in effectively managing development assistance and promoting the accountable and transparent use of resources.

Ms. Kalopsidiotou remarked, "Until today, getting a report on the status of all the development projects being implemented in Kenya would be an arduous task involving multiple government personnel and requiring days or even weeks of work. Thanks to e-ProMIS, government staff can now perform its daily tasks much more efficiently. They can, for example, update project information online and generate on-the-fly reports in a matter of seconds. This explains the high level of enthusiasm of government staff during the training."

Synergy International Systems specializes in Web Database, Web Portal and Web Services solutions. Synergy's information management software and global consulting services support international development, monitoring & evaluation, case management, and public health initiatives around the world. Synergy's flagship system, the Development Assistance Database (DAD), is the most widely used solution for aid management, public investment, and national budgeting. It has been established in more than 25 countries, in close cooperation with UNDP and respective governments, to promote transparency and accountability of funds, results-driven decision-making, and aid effectiveness. Synergy is headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, with a subsidiary office and a Global Learning Center in Yerevan, Armenia.

Access IT, formerly known as Openview Business Systems Ltd is the ICT Technology arm of the Access Kenya Group. The group is a leading ISP in Kenya and the only listed IT firm in the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Collectively, the group provides Software and Storage Solutions as well as Internet services. Access Kenya is based in Nairobi, Museum Hill Centre. For more information please visit our website: http://www.accesskenya.com/index.asp

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For media inquires, please contact Mr. Adam Watson, Synergy International Systems, 8500 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314, Vienna VA 22182, Tel: (703) 883-1119, email: [email protected]