Focus Area: Strengthening and empowering local governments throughout India
Operational in: Jharkhand, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and more
Project: Data visualization and analysis
An advocacy NGO founded by Sonali Srivastava, Anode Governance Lab, set up in 2016, aims to aid local governments. Based in Bengaluru, Anode works across India, including Karnataka, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and more. The organisation focuses on sustainable development through strengthened public institutions and decentralized governance processes.
At its core, Anode Governance Lab builds people's capacity for critical thinking. Individuals can negotiate for their priorities, engaging them as participants rather than recipients. They work through an understanding of institutions. From socio-political to constitutional frameworks, they can tailor their efforts to various contexts.
Problem Statement
In August 2024, Anode Governance Lab reached a pivotal moment in their work. They had conducted research across panchayats but had not made the data actionable. The data, rich in insights, needed to be organised, visualised, and contextualised. Anode required a method to present this information.
For this, Anode turned to aikyam fellows, seeking to transform their data into an effective tool for governance.
How We Went About It
Anode needed help in addressing the gaps in their data visualisation. The aikyam team began by understanding the needs of Anode. The team then curated data that could aid panchayat constituents and potential funders.
The process began with an understanding of the data sets provided by Anode. The goal was not to display the data but to present it in a way that highlighted critical insights. Examples of this include the male-female divide and resource gaps within various panchayats.
Through feedback sessions, aikyam is creating and iterating on the data analysis, creating engaging graphs. These interactive formats enable users to easily grasp complex information. This collaborative effort combined technical expertise with a deep understanding of governance challenges.
The team used Metabase to translate the data into visually-appealing and easily-understandable statistics. Metabase simplifies data analysis for non-technical users, explains aikyam fellow Jinso Raj. "The platform's intuitive interface allows users to create queries and dashboards without coding knowledge," he says."I helped the team working on this project, Arvind and Sanjana, in self-hosting a Metabase instance on a 2GB DigitalOcean droplet (using aikyam's non-profit credits from DigitalOcean). I also ensured that the instance was up-to-date and capable of handling the large amount of Excel sheet data shared by Anode with us."
Potential Impact
This collaboration can enhance Anode's ability to use their data in strategic initiatives. By transforming data, Anode can better communicate the realities faced by panchayats. This, in turn, drives more effective governance and resource allocation.
The improved data visualisation could help Anode expand its impact across India by making their work more accessible.
