Build a lasting and scalable program

Generate and maintain support for the eCDT program—politically, financially, and with users—so it can expand beyond the pilot phase.

Full description

Plan for expansion from the start, informed by eCDT program pilots and user feedback. Encourage the adoption of these principles into policy, create a plan for long-term funding, and leverage political and industry champions.

APPLY THE PRINCIPLE

There are three main phases to building an electronic catch documentation and traceability (eCDT) program:

INITIATE – includes early research, goal setting, and stakeholder engagement;
DESIGN – includes identifying technology, assigning responsibilities, and creating the systems to support the program;
IMPLEMENT – includes piloting the program, adaptively managing, and scaling it.

Here you can see how this principle manifests throughout each phase.

Initiate
Design
Implement

Identify potential challenges to longevity of the program early on
- Consider: Is the budget for the program secure? Where is political support strongest and weakest?

Relevant Guidance

Guidance Document

Nine Steps for Developing a Scaling-up Strategy

World Health Organization, ExpandNet

2010

Scaling-up increases the impact of successful innovations, improving the operation and reach of programs, and should be conducted via a systematic approach to expand upon previously successful pilot projects. The nine steps are guidelines which can be adapted to each situation and use data collected from monitoring and evaluation to further decision making and scaling-up.

Guidance Document

Scaling Up: From Vision to Large-Scale Change

Management Systems International

2016

This document provides effective strategies and pathways to help the process of scaling-up, assessing the pros and cons of varying methods and focuses on it’s design and implementation in projects. Using well devised scaling-up methods, the productivity and vision of traceability projects can be enhanced, strengthening organizations by aligning goals and sharing resources.

Guidance Document

Beginning With the End in Mind: Planning pilot projects and other programmatic research for successful scaling up

World Health Organization, ExpandNet

2011

Effective use of scaling-up in projects has the ability to improve the overall operation of pilot programmes, by fostering policy developments for long-term, lasting effects. This document can be used to help form a direct and well-planned approach to policy implementation within pilot programmes, improving the productivity and longevity of projects.

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Encourage the adoption of these principles into policy
- Encourage policy adoption/development to strengthen eCDT support at the governmental level
Estimate funding needs and responsibilities to fund the program sustainably
- Develop plan for long-term funding to support all steps of program implementation
Identify potential pilot sites
- Select supply chains that are well-understood and sites that have on the ground (industry and NGO) support

Relevant Guidance

Guidance Document

Good Practice Guidelines (GPG) on National Seafood Traceability Systems

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

2018

To combat IUU fishing, Members of the FAO Committee on Fisheries created guidelines for national fishery authorities. The guidelines address the purpose and principles of flag state responsibilities, and the necessary cooperation between states. They are a valuable tool to strengthen the compliance of flag states, regarding their flagging and control of fishing vessels.

Case Study

Learning Site Profile: General Santos, Philippines

USAID

This Site Profile provides an overview of why it was selected as one of USAID’s pilot sites, including the site’s regional significance, biodiversity, and key economic and fisheries data. Priority challenges and opportunities are also presented in this brief overview.

Infographic

Understanding Costs for Traceability Technology Implementation

Future of Fish

This infographic highlights the phases of different costs accrued for a traceability system: scoping, installation, implementation, maintenance. It describes some of the main costs for each phase.

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Pilot test the eCDT program
- Formalize partnership with the users and supporters who will be the first implementers of the technology. Implement a mechanism to receive feedback from the first implementers
Outline scope and objective for scaling
Identify differences between the pilot and other areas for implementation
- Assess objectives and resources for scaling: are the funds, staff, infrastructure, and resource commitments still present and appropriate for the scope?

Relevant Guidance

Case Study

Abalobi: case study by UNESCO-Pearson Initiative for Literacy

UNESCO

2018

This case study involves Abalobi, a suite of mobile apps co-designed by South African stakeholders to be an information management system for small-scale fisheries, as part of a series highlighting how inclusive digital solutions can help people with low skills or low literacy levels use technology in ways that support skills development and improve livelihoods.

Report

Digital Investment Tool

USAID

2019

The Digital Investment Tool is designed to ensure that staff considers best practices, based on the Principles for Digital Development, when developing digital systems. Section 8 specifically has information for scaling a digital system.

Guidance Document

Nine Steps for Developing a Scaling-up Strategy

World Health Organization, ExpandNet

2010

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