An article I had written seems to have common grounds. Ensuring accurate field reporting in regions like Pakistan and India, where tech access can be limited, requires practical solutions. Use KoboToolbox or ODK for offline data collection, syncing when internet is available. In rural Punjab (Pakistan), SMS-based surveys are effective, leveraging widespread mobile access. Train local staff on data collection, using manual forms where needed, as done in parts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Cross-check data using GPS and photos, and ensure supervisors review reports before office submission. Regular spot checks and data triangulation (e.g., interviews and observations) enhance accuracy despite tech constraints.

When this happens, there are 2 immediate thoughts that come to mind: 1- Did we have the right system in place to begin with? Did we train the people enough? Did we help them understand the imperativeness for accurate data? Did we instill enough control measures in the beginning to insure that a red flag would appear early on and we can correct? Did we chose the right people for the job? Are we as management doing enough to make sure the exercise is done well? 2- What are we going to do about it? Are the issues fixable can we verify the data or the issues are too big to keep and it makes more sense to repeat the whole exercise but this time making sure of the lessons learnt. Anything can be fixed with the right attitude and spirit.

If an odd-numbered team has been sent out, the data set that aligns with the majority would be assumed to be the correct one, especially if the most experienced member of the team also falls into that category. Cases with no clear-cut majority, but requiring high QA and QC from the data for the success of the project would require the data capturing process redone

If Quality Assurance and Quality Control Procedures cannot reconcile data discrepancies, the fieldwork may simply need to be repeated at our expense if the result is critical to project success such as meeting monitoring performance standards,

Whenever data discrepancies arise from fieldwork, I prioritize immediate communication with the team and relevant stakeholders to ensure timely resolution and prevent potential issues. This gives more clarity and provides transparency.