Afghanistan Information Management Services
Encyclopedia
Afghanistan Information Management Services (AIMS) is a Kabul-based Afghan non-governmental organisation (NGO) which works to fill the gap in the information management needs of Afghanistan. It specialises in the application of information, communication and technology (ICT) solutions, software development, and project management.
, Pakistan
, to serve the information management
needs of Afghanistan
. In 2001, it was relocated to Kabul
and became a project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Since its inception, AIMS has served the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRA), non-governmental organizations and the international donor community as a provider of information management services including the development of software applications, database
solutions, geospatial information and maps
. As a preferred trainer for Government employees and provider of management and monitoring
systems, AIMS has significantly improved the coordination and delivery of such services within Afghanistan, offering a dynamic approach to capacity building
and resolving information management challenges facing the entire development sector.
AIMS is located in a new office facility in Kabul, and in 2002 AIMS established offices in five regional centers: (Jalalabad
, Kandahar
, Hirat, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kunduz
). The regional offices provide services in information management, capacity development (i.e. job training), and mapping. The maps and geographic capabilities of AIMS were a key resource in the unique post-conflict Afghan development environment.
In 2004, AIMS shifted its focus from simple data provision to the development of information management capacity in the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRA) and the broader humanitarian community, especially in the areas of Geographic Information Systems GIS and database development. Since 2005, AIMS has deepened its capacity in GIS and software engineering
with a target of providing world-class services to this developing country.
In September 2008, it transitioned from being a UNDP project into a national NGO. Since becoming an NGO, AIMS has further strengthened its determination to expand its services and expertise both within and outside Afghanistan, and ultimately wishes to make the transition from being a national to an international NGO in the future, providing its IM services across the region and beyond to other developing countries.
in December 2010, Afghanistan Information Management Services (AIMS) decided to change its role from a software development entity to an advisory entity and standardization center to the Government of Afghanistan and released its software development services to Afghanistan Reliable Technology Services (ARTS)www.arts.af
ARTS realizes the importance of software engineering and to this purpose focuses on introducing and promoting software engineering best practices and capacity to ensure promotion of software engineering industry in Afghanistan and delivering effective and standardized IT solutions.
To be a leading internationally acknowledged information and knowledge management solution provider to Afghanistan and the developing world.
• Mission:
To serve the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, development community, and private sector by building effective information management capacity and providing world-class information management services.
) and data sharing
. Such bodies should be able to collect information related to their operational interests, utilize databases for the storage and maintenance of data, conduct analysis, and then represent the information in a format that promotes better decision support, such as maps or standardized data.
It is critical that technical specialists within line ministries are able to manage the collection of data, develop and maintain suitable databases and maps, conduct analysis, and share this information with colleagues and other ministries in order to ensure its effective use.
With AIMS’ workforce being predominantly Afghan, AIMS has proven to be the key to building information management (IM) capacity in GIRA and the development of IM products for enhancing aid coordination and effectiveness. Ensuring domestic ownership of IM products, and leadership development of the government’s information management workforce, have been the twin foundations through which AIMS has achieved concrete outcomes.
The ultimate goal of AIMS is to promote information management in the Government, humanitarian organizations and the private sector with the objectives of:
• Improving efficiency, accountability, and transparency in the civil service
• Increasing the alignment of external resources with national plans and priorities
• Introducing IM systems that promote better resource management and better emergency response
Background
In 1997 AIMS was established under the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA) in IslamabadIslamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, to serve the information management
Information management
Information management is the collection and management of information from one or more sources and the distribution of that information to one or more audiences. This sometimes involves those who have a stake in, or a right to that information...
needs of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. In 2001, it was relocated to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
and became a project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Since its inception, AIMS has served the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRA), non-governmental organizations and the international donor community as a provider of information management services including the development of software applications, database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
solutions, geospatial information and maps
MAPS
Maps is the plural of map, a visual representation of an area.As an acronym, MAPS may refer to:* Mail Abuse Prevention System, an organisation that provides anti-spam support...
. As a preferred trainer for Government employees and provider of management and monitoring
System Monitoring
A system monitor in systems engineering is a process within a distributed system for collecting and storing state data.- Overview :The configuration for the system monitor takes two forms:# configuration data for the monitor application itself, and...
systems, AIMS has significantly improved the coordination and delivery of such services within Afghanistan, offering a dynamic approach to capacity building
Capacity building
Capacity building also referred to as capacity development is a conceptual approach to development that focuses on understanding the obstacles that inhibit people, governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations from realizing their developmental goals while enhancing...
and resolving information management challenges facing the entire development sector.
AIMS is located in a new office facility in Kabul, and in 2002 AIMS established offices in five regional centers: (Jalalabad
Jalalabad
Jalalabad , formerly called Adinapour, as documented by the 7th century Hsüan-tsang, is a city in eastern Afghanistan. Located at the junction of the Kabul River and Kunar River near the Laghman valley, Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar province. It is linked by approximately of highway with...
, Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
, Hirat, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kunduz
Kunduz
Kunduz also known as Kundûz, Qonduz, Qondûz, Konduz, Kondûz, Kondoz, or Qhunduz is a city in northern Afghanistan, the capital of Kunduz Province. It is linked by highways with Mazari Sharif to the west, Kabul to the south and Tajikistan's border to the north...
). The regional offices provide services in information management, capacity development (i.e. job training), and mapping. The maps and geographic capabilities of AIMS were a key resource in the unique post-conflict Afghan development environment.
In 2004, AIMS shifted its focus from simple data provision to the development of information management capacity in the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRA) and the broader humanitarian community, especially in the areas of Geographic Information Systems GIS and database development. Since 2005, AIMS has deepened its capacity in GIS and software engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
with a target of providing world-class services to this developing country.
In September 2008, it transitioned from being a UNDP project into a national NGO. Since becoming an NGO, AIMS has further strengthened its determination to expand its services and expertise both within and outside Afghanistan, and ultimately wishes to make the transition from being a national to an international NGO in the future, providing its IM services across the region and beyond to other developing countries.
in December 2010, Afghanistan Information Management Services (AIMS) decided to change its role from a software development entity to an advisory entity and standardization center to the Government of Afghanistan and released its software development services to Afghanistan Reliable Technology Services (ARTS)www.arts.af
ARTS realizes the importance of software engineering and to this purpose focuses on introducing and promoting software engineering best practices and capacity to ensure promotion of software engineering industry in Afghanistan and delivering effective and standardized IT solutions.
Organizational profile
• Vision:To be a leading internationally acknowledged information and knowledge management solution provider to Afghanistan and the developing world.
• Mission:
To serve the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, development community, and private sector by building effective information management capacity and providing world-class information management services.
Strategic capabilities
AIMS seeks to develop a model for establishing different information management systems within appropriate government bodies. In so doing, specialized expertise in these information management systems will be retained in Afghanistan to provide future services and advice to government and facilitating ministries. AIMS believes the capacity to use GIS and databases must be built into all ministerial departments involved in geographical representation of information (spatial planningSpatial planning
Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. Discrete professional disciplines which involve spatial planning include land use planning, urban planning, regional planning, transport planning and...
) and data sharing
Data sharing
Data sharing is the practice of making data used for scholarly research available to other investigators. Replication has a long history in science...
. Such bodies should be able to collect information related to their operational interests, utilize databases for the storage and maintenance of data, conduct analysis, and then represent the information in a format that promotes better decision support, such as maps or standardized data.
It is critical that technical specialists within line ministries are able to manage the collection of data, develop and maintain suitable databases and maps, conduct analysis, and share this information with colleagues and other ministries in order to ensure its effective use.
With AIMS’ workforce being predominantly Afghan, AIMS has proven to be the key to building information management (IM) capacity in GIRA and the development of IM products for enhancing aid coordination and effectiveness. Ensuring domestic ownership of IM products, and leadership development of the government’s information management workforce, have been the twin foundations through which AIMS has achieved concrete outcomes.
The ultimate goal of AIMS is to promote information management in the Government, humanitarian organizations and the private sector with the objectives of:
• Improving efficiency, accountability, and transparency in the civil service
• Increasing the alignment of external resources with national plans and priorities
• Introducing IM systems that promote better resource management and better emergency response