Driving Smarter WASH Interventions Across Rural Bangladesh
Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)
PKSF is one of Bangladesh's leading development institutions, working to improve the socioeconomic well-being of rural communities. Through large-scale programs in microfinance, livelihoods, WASH, and human capital development, PKSF partners with government agencies and donor organizations to deliver sustainable impact nationwide.
Project Overview
Streams Tech developed a comprehensive GIS/GPS-based Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system for PKSF's Bangladesh Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Human Capital Development (HCD) project funded by the International Development Association (IDA) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
The digital platform enables PKSF and its Partner Organizations (POs) to collect, validate, analyze, and visualize real-time WASH data across 78 upazilas, ensuring transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.
About the BD Rural WASH for HCD Project
The project aims to expand access to improved water and sanitation facilities while promoting healthy hygiene behaviors and strengthening human capital in rural Bangladesh. Operating across four divisions — Mymensingh, Rangpur, Chattogram, and Sylhet — the program supports:
Water facility upgrades
Sanitation loans and infrastructure
Hygiene and behavior change campaigns
Local entrepreneurship development
The initiative benefits over 4.7 million people and directly advances SDG 6.1 and 6.2.
Thematic Domains
The project is structured around three key focus areas:
WASH Access & Infrastructure
60,000+ water facility upgrades
500,000 households installing twin-pit latrines
Geo-tagged mapping of handwashing stations, bathing units, and drainage works
Health & Hygiene Behavior Change
Community-level BCC campaigns
Tracking hygiene practices including handwashing and menstrual hygiene
Session logs and household visit tracking for outreach verification
Economic Empowerment & Gender Inclusion
4,000 local entrepreneurs supported (masons, plumbers, WASH service providers)
150 women-led menstrual hygiene businesses strengthened
Program Scale & Achievements
The BD Rural WASH project demonstrates significant progress:
Key Challenges
Before digital transformation, PKSF faced:
Fragmented data collection
Manual data collection across thousands of field points with inconsistent formats
Limited visibility
Limited visibility of WASH activities across remote rural regions
Geo-verification gaps
A need for accurate geo-tagged verification of water and sanitation facilities
Inconsistent reporting
Varying reporting formats across Partner Organizations creating data harmonization issues
Limited connectivity
Rural locations with limited internet connectivity delaying data submission
Our Solution: GIS/GPS-Based M&E System
Streams Tech developed a cloud-based, modular platform tailored to PKSF's operational needs.
System Architecture
Web-based dashboard for PKSF, DPHE, and Partner Organizations
Android mobile app with offline data collection and sync
Role-based access control for admins, supervisors, enumerators
GIS-enabled visualization using Google Maps API and GeoServer
Monitoring & Reporting
Survey modules for all WASH activities, verification tasks, and member profiles
Automated data approval workflows (two-tier validation)
Real-time dashboards with drill-down by division, upazila, PO, and indicator
Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) to measure impact
Data Synchronization
Offline-first mobile app with background sync
Secure cloud hosting with HTTPS & SSL
Automated Excel/CSV import modules
API integration with MIS and PO data systems
Learning & Feedback
Embedded feedback loops for enumerators and supervisors
Visual analytics for gaps, trends, and high-need areas
Eight large-scale trainings and multiple ToTs delivered across the country
Over 300+ personnel trained per session
Key Performance Indicators
Metrics tracked and reported through the MEL360 platform in real time
WASH Facility Coverage
Tracking water and sanitation facilities across all 78 upazilas
Sanitation Loan Progress
Monitoring loan disbursement, repayment, and beneficiary outcomes
Behaviour Change Session Reach
Measuring hygiene promotion attendance and adoption rates
Water & Toilet Standard Checks
Verification workflows for quality compliance of infrastructure
Entrepreneur Engagement
Tracking 4,000 trained local WASH service entrepreneurs
Geo-tagged Infrastructure Map
GPS-verified locations of every WASH facility and intervention
Impact
With the GIS/GPS-based M&E system, PKSF now operates with real-time visibility across 78 upazilas, streamlined reporting from Partner Organizations, and data-driven decision-making capabilities. The system has become the backbone of the BD Rural WASH for HCD project, enabling teams to track WASH interventions, verify infrastructure quality, and demonstrate measurable impact to IDA and AIIB stakeholders.
Technologies Used
Frontend: Angular, JavaScript, Bootstrap
Backend: Java (Spring Boot), PostgreSQL + PostGIS
Mobile: Android (with offline sync)
GIS: Google Maps API, GeoServer
Cloud: Secure hosting with HTTPS & SSL
Integration: REST APIs