Namibia Launches AfDB’s Digital RASME Tool to Revolutionize Project Oversight

RASME represents a new era of project oversight in Africa, allowing stakeholders to capture and transmit real-time data directly from project sites.

Namibia has become the latest African country to adopt a transformative digital platform designed to improve the management, transparency, and accountability of development projects. On Wednesday, in Windhoek, senior government officials joined representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to launch the Remote Appraisal, Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation (RASME) initiative.

A Major Shift in Project Monitoring

RASME represents a new era of project oversight in Africa, allowing stakeholders to capture and transmit real-time data directly from project sites. This approach eliminates the traditional monitoring bottlenecks caused by geography, security challenges, or limited accessibility in remote regions.

Built on the Kobo Toolbox platform—an open-source ICT solution developed by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative—RASME provides a reliable and scalable tool for field-level data collection. The system is particularly useful in fragile or hard-to-reach environments where conventional project supervision is costly or impractical.

The platform enhances:

• Transparency and accountability in project delivery.

• Efficiency in data collection and reporting.

• Evidence-based decision-making for governments and financiers.

• Timely oversight, ensuring development resources generate measurable impact.

Continental Deployment and Results

RASME is not new to Africa. Already operational in 37 countries, the initiative has trained more than 1,880 project managers and stakeholders. To date, the platform has generated over 56,252 project data submissions, helping the Bank and governments improve results-based monitoring.

The AfDB Corporate IT department is leading the technical rollout, in close collaboration with the World Bank’s GEMS program and the Kobo Toolbox team, ensuring interoperability across national and regional projects.

Namibia’s Adoption: A Timely Boost

Speaking at the launch, Michael Humavindu, Executive Director at Namibia’s Ministry of Finance, praised the initiative’s timeliness:

“AfDB’s RASME solution comes at an opportune time, as it leverages modern information and communication technologies to optimize the collection, analysis, and management of project data within the framework of preparation, evaluation, and supervision.”

His remarks highlighted how Namibia intends to use RASME to strengthen financial and technical oversight of projects supported by AfDB.

AfDB’s Commitment to Namibia’s Development

Delivering opening remarks, Fidelis Mnyanyi, Principal Regional Coordinator at AfDB, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to Namibia’s development priorities. He linked RASME to AfDB’s High-5 agenda—which focuses on Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for Africans.

“RASME will enhance how we collect, verify, and use project data, enabling faster decision-making, stronger supervision, and more visible results on the ground,” Mnyanyi said.

Training and Capacity Building

Ahead of the launch, three days of in-person training sessions were conducted from 6 to 8 August 2025 for Project Management Units involved in AfDB-financed projects in Namibia. The training aimed to familiarize participants with the platform, ensure smooth adoption, and build national capacity in digital monitoring.

Representatives attended from a wide range of projects, including:

• Namibia Agricultural Mechanization and Seed Improvement Project

• Development Bank of Namibia

• Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project

• City of Otjiwarongo Wastewater Treatment and Solid Waste Management Project

• Water Sector Support Programme

• Tax Administration Technical Assistance Project

This diverse representation underscores RASME’s cross-sectoral utility, from agriculture and transport to water management, urban planning, and governance.

Driving Africa’s Digital Oversight Transformation

By embracing RASME, Namibia joins a growing number of African nations modernizing their project monitoring frameworks. The integration of real-time digital supervision is expected to reduce delays, cut costs, and strengthen investor confidence in African development projects.

With its roll-out in Namibia, RASME is set to play a critical role in accelerating sustainable development outcomes, ensuring that projects deliver maximum benefits to communities while advancing Africa’s broader transformation agenda.