The Legon Centre for Education Research and Policy (LECERP) has commenced nationwide fieldwork for a comprehensive impact assessment of digital inclusion initiatives implemented by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC).

The study, funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), is part of a collaborative effort to evaluate the reach and effectiveness of GIFEC programmes in bridging Ghana’s digital divide.

The assessment will examine interventions such as rural connectivity projects, cyber laboratories, and digital skills training, with a focus on promoting inclusion, gender empowerment, and youth development in underserved communities.

As part of preparations, LECERP trained 40 enumerators from July 29 to August 1, 2025, in Accra.

The four-day training equipped participants with skills in ethical data collection, Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), and adherence to strict data quality protocols.

Fieldwork is scheduled to take place nationwide from August 5 to 29, 2025.

Dr. Clement Adamba, Director of LECERP, welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of professionalism and quality in programme evaluation.

“The Centre may be new, but our team has extensive experience. Programme evaluation requires nuance beyond traditional household surveys, and we expect diligence and precision in the field,” he stated.

Dr. Musah Sulemana, Head of Research at GIFEC, outlined the scope of the study, explaining that it will assess all GIFEC-funded initiatives under three pillars: Universal Access, Socio-economic Impact, and Institutional and Partnerships Framework.

“We expect the final report to cover all interventions—from telephony projects to cyber labs and digital skills training across the country,” he noted.

Dr. Innocent Agbelie, Research Fellow at LECERP, reminded enumerators of their ethical responsibilities.

“Protecting the integrity of data and maintaining respondents’ trust is crucial.

The quality of this study depends on your professionalism and adherence to ethical standards in the field,” he said.

The impact assessment will evaluate not only improvements in digital access but also the sustainability of GIFEC projects, stakeholder engagement, and growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly female-led businesses. It will also document best practices, identify challenges, and capture experiences of vulnerable groups, including women, girls, and persons with disabilities.

The findings are expected to inform Ghana’s national digital inclusion strategies and guide future policies to ensure equitable access to information and communication technologies.

Also present at the training were GIFEC officials Mr. Osman Mohammed Tanko and Mr. Umar Abdul-Wahab, who actively participated in the sessions.