IRMT • Consultancy Projects

The Trust’s current and past national and international projects are described here.

National Projects

Current Projects

Sierra Leone: advising the Government of Sierra Leone on records management improvements, including developing a draft law, scheme of service, organisational structure; introducing systems for managing subject files; and building accurate personnel files across the civil service (2005 through 2007)

Tanzania: advising the Government of Tanzania on records management policy and a personnel records management system, including policies, guidelines and standards, procedures and training materials (2006)

Malta: preparing standards and guidelines for patient records and information in the country’s Primary Health Care services in preparation for electronic systems (2006)

Projects in The Democratic Republic of the Congo and The Gambia are just being completed.

Past Projects

Bangladesh: assisted parliamentary finance committees with developing systems for the management of their records (2001)

Belize: worked with Belize Archives Department to deliver a series of improvements in records and information management for the Government of Belize, including drafting a new law and strengthening record control systems (1997 to 1998); advised the Ministry of Finance on the development and implementation of a strategy for the management of financial records and prepared guidance materials (1999 to 2000)

Bermuda: assisted the Archives of Bermuda with developing a strategic plan for modernising its archives programme and advised on managing its electronic records (2001)

British Virgin Islands: worked with the Deputy Governor’s Office and other senior government stakeholders to assess records management needs and advise on a programme of improvements and staffing requirements (1999)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Judicial Records Management Improvement project; prepared guidance materials on judicial records management with court pilot implementation plan; delivered training to judiciary; will provide off-site supervision of a separate pilot carried out by local consultant

Egypt: worked with the Technical Co-operation Office for the Environment in Cairo to develop an office filing system and improve internal communications (1997 to 1998)

Ethiopia: advised on the development of a model records system for regional courts in Ethiopia (2001); delivered training at the National Archives and Libraries of Ethiopia and assisted with developing a strategic plan for the organisation; delivered training to Ethiopian NGOs on accessing donor funds effectively and developing project designs and proposals (2001 to 2002)

Ghana: conducted a practical workshop in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Record Managers (ACARM) to cleared inactive records from government ministries and to restore order to the National Archives (1989, 1990); advised the Government of Ghana on all aspects of records and information management as part of the Civil Service Performance Improvement Programme, including the development of a new law, the establishment of the Public Records and Archives Administration Department, the introduction of new records control systems, the creation of a national co-ordinating body for electronic records policies and practices, and the construction of a national records centre (1990 to 1999); worked with the Ghana Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice to assist the Commission with developing enhanced systems to manage case file records and delivered a programme of training (1999); undertook a review of the Ministry of Health’s requirements for information management and made recommendations for improvements to systems (1999); worked with the Judiciary and the Bar Association to restructure the registries in the High Court (1996 to 1997); designed and facilitated a seminar on strategic development for senior stakeholders in public sector reform in The Gambia, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania (1999)

Grenada: carried out a records management needs assessment and conducted training in records management (1998)

Guyana: conducted practical workshops in the Ministry of Foreign and the National Archives to determine the retention value of records; assisted the National Archives with the development of a strategic plan for records management (1998 to 1999)

India: provided records management and e-governance guidance materials and training for pilot programme across the civil service (2003 to 2005)

Kenya: developed and conducted a seminar on records management and the transition to the electronic age, with the Faculty of Information Sciences at Moi University and the Kenya National Archives, attended by senior administrators and national archivists from the Commonwealth African countries (1996); conducted an assessment of court records and information systems (2004)

Malta: advised the Ministry of Education and National Culture on improvements to records management systems and recommended strategies for the future (1998)

Malaysia: produced, with the National Archives of Malaysia, a video documentary on ‘Making the Transition to the Electronic Age’; provided expert advice for the National Archives E-Spark Project, delivered by IBM, which involved conducting an electronic records management assessment survey; developing policies, standards and procedures; defining an electronic records archival system and records centre specification, and developing a specification of training requirements (2003 to 2005)

Nigeria: conducted a records management assessment of human resources-related registries in the Lagos State Government, created training materials and developed a strategic plan (2004)

Palestine: appraised a project to assist the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestinian National Authority in developing technical capacity in negotiation teams (1998)

St Kitts and Nevis: developed new retention schedules for government records and a document indexing system (1997)

St Vincent and the Grenadines: delivered a records management training workshop and advised on improvements to records management systems (2000)

Sierra Leone: conducted a practical workshop in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Record Managers (ACARM) to clear government ministries of closed records and restore order to the National Archives (1991); advised the Civil Service Reform Committee on the development of a records management reform programme and created a records centre (1994 to 1995); conducted a records management needs assessment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005); developed a records management component to a government-wide Management and Functional Review project (2005); advised the Government of Sierra Leone on the introduction of improved records management, including developing a draft law, scheme of service, organisational structure; and developed new systems for managing personnel records and subject files for key government agencies (2005 to 2006

South Africa: advised on developing an integrated records management programme at provincial level; facilitated the restructuring of records systems and delivered practical training workshops and inter-provincial seminars (1996 to 2001); facilitated a UK study visit for provincial archivists on electronic records management (2002 to 2003)

Sri Lanka: contributed to a review of progress by the Government of Sri Lanka in implementing governance and public sector reform, focusing on the area of establishment control and human resource management (2002)

Tanzania: conducted a practical workshop in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Record Managers (ACARM) to restore order to the National Archives (1989, 1990); advised the Government of Tanzania on all aspects of records and information management as part of the public sector reform programme, including the development of legislation and organisational structures, training and capacity building, and restructuring systems in central ministries (1997 to 2001); with Envirolink Architects, planned and designed a National Records Centre facility for Dodoma (2005); facilitated a UK study visit on human resource e-records and information systems for senior civil servants (2005)

The Gambia: conducted a practical workshop in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Record Managers (ACARM) to restore order to the National Archives (1990, 1991); assisted the Government of The Gambia on all aspects of records and information in the Civil Service including assisting with drafting a new records law establishing the National Records Service, implementing records management improvements in the areas of financial, personnel, judicial and hospital records and carrying out initial work on the management of electronic records (1990 to 2002); helped to develop a draft IT Strategy for the judicial sector and developed bidding documents for a Court Management Information System (CMIS) for the High Court (2006)

Trinidad and Tobago: undertook a records management needs assessment and advised on strategic planning and training requirements (2002)

Uganda: advised the Government of Uganda on all aspects of records and information management, including the development of an effective legal and organisational framework, training of trainers, the management of sector specific records and the design of a records centre/national archives building (1994 to 2000); with KPMG advised on system requirements for personnel and payroll reform (1997); with Price Waterhouse Coopers, carried out a review of requirements (2000); drafted a records management policy for the Uganda Parliament, implemented a new records classification scheme and trained registry staff in the new systems and procedures (2000); with JBIM, advised on requirements for an Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) for the Central Bank Archives (2004)

Ukraine: contributed to the ‘Key Aspects of Government Reform Project’ and advised on a programme of action for improved information management; conducted a seminar to explore new strategies in records and information management and the use of information technology (1996 to 1997)

United Kingdom: advised the National Crime Squad on records and information management needs and records staffing requirements; with In-form Systems contributed to modernising the Northern Ireland Department of Trade and Enterprise’s objectives for electronic information management; with Cornwell Affiliates, developed a functional specification for an electronic records management system for the Public Guardianship Office; with In-form Systems undertook a scoping study for the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body and developed a functional specification for records management (2000 to 2001); conducted an audit of records and information systems management in the Breckland Council with respect to Freedom of Information legislation requirements (2004)

Zambia: provided professional advice on records management procedures and advised the Central Revenue Authority on the development of a central registry (1995 to 1996); with Touche Ross reviewed the management of teachers’ records and made recommendations to strengthen records controls (2001)

Zimbabwe: contributed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Organisational Development Project to provide support to organisational restructuring, project planning and information management infrastructure (1996 to 2000)

International Projects

Current Projects

Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Records Managers (ACARM): providing support to the Association by producing and circulating newsletters, maintaining a membership database; and assisting the Secretary (1994, ongoing)

Past Projects

Secretariat for the Commission of East African Co-operation: implemented a full-scale information and communications systems project (1998 to 2000)

European Space Operations Centre: advised on a programme of training and change management and conducted an information management stakeholder workshop (2001)

International Council on Archives: worked with the Pacific Branch Regional Branch (PARBICA) to develop define the requirements for a distance learning programme for the region (2003); developed a report on the legal status of electronic records in developing countries 2003)

International Monetary Fund: developed a strategic plan for the modernisation of the Archives (2001)

United Nations: provided legal records training for UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (UNICTR) staff in Arusha (2002 to 2003)

World Bank: contributed to the Archives and Development Programme, working with the staff of the Bank’s Information Solutions Group (2000), including delivering video conferences to several Africa countries; delivered awareness training on electronic records management of ISG senior staff (2001); carried out a review of international research experience in the use of civil service censuses as a tool for strengthening public service human resource management and prepared a research report with case studies (2001). See also [research reports].

World Health Organization: with the Records and Archives Division, conducted training in records management for WHO staff (2004)


Consultancy Projects

The Trust’s current and past national and international projects are described here. National Projects Current Projects Sierra Leone: advising the Government of Sierra Leone on records management improvements, including developing a draft law, scheme of service, organisational structure; introducing systems for managing subject files; and building accurate personnel files across the civil service (2005 through 2007) Tanzania: advising the Government of Tanzania on records management policy and a personnel records management system, including policies, guidelines and standards, procedures and training materials (2006) Malta: preparing standards and guidelines for patient records and information in the country’s Primary Health Care services in preparation for electronic systems (2006) Projects in The Democratic Republic of the Congo and The Gambia are just being completed. Past Projects Bangladesh: assisted parliamentary finance committees with developing systems for the management of their records (2001) Belize: worked with Belize Archives Department to deliver a series of improvements in records and information management for the Government of Belize, including drafting a new law and strengthening record control systems (1997 to 1998); advised the Ministry of Finance on the development and implementation of a strategy for the management of financial records and prepared guidance materials (1999 to 2000) Bermuda: assisted the Archives of Bermuda with developing a strategic plan for modernising its archives programme and advised on managing its electronic records (2001) British Virgin Islands: worked with the Deputy Governor’s Office and other senior government stakeholders to assess records management needs and advise on a programme of improvements and staffing requirements (1999) Democratic Republic of the Congo: Judicial Records Management Improvement project; prepared guidance materials on judicial records management with court pilot implementation plan; delivered training to judiciary; will provide off-site supervision of a separate pilot carried out by local consultant Egypt: worked with the Technical Co-operation Office for the Environment in Cairo to develop an office filing system and improve internal communications (1997 to 1998) Ethiopia: advised on the development of a model records system for regional courts in Ethiopia (2001); delivered training at the National Archives and Libraries of Ethiopia and assisted with developing a strategic plan for the organisation; delivered training to Ethiopian NGOs on accessing donor funds effectively and developing project designs and proposals (2001 to 2002) Ghana: conducted a practical workshop in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Record Managers (ACARM) to cleared inactive records from government ministries and to restore order to the National Archives (1989, 1990); advised the Government of Ghana on all aspects of records and information management as part of the Civil Service Performance Improvement Programme, including the development of a new law, the establishment of the Public Records and Archives Administration Department, the introduction of new records control systems, the creation of a national co-ordinating body for electronic records policies and practices, and the construction of a national records centre (1990 to 1999); worked with the Ghana Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice to assist the Commission with developing enhanced systems to manage case file records and delivered a programme of training (1999); undertook a review of the Ministry of Health’s requirements for information management and made recommendations for improvements to systems (1999); worked with the Judiciary and the Bar Association to restructure the registries in the High Court (1996 to 1997); designed and facilitated a seminar on strategic development for senior stakeholders in public sector reform in The Gambia, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania (1999) Grenada: carried out a records management needs assessment and conducted training in records management (1998) Guyana: conducted practical workshops in the Ministry of Foreign and the National Archives to determine the retention value of records; assisted the National Archives with the development of a strategic plan for records management (1998 to 1999) India: provided records management and e-governance guidance materials and training for pilot programme across the civil service (2003 to 2005) Kenya: developed and conducted a seminar on records management and the transition to the electronic age, with the Faculty of Information Sciences at Moi University and the Kenya National Archives, attended by senior administrators and national archivists from the Commonwealth African countries (1996); conducted an assessment of court records and information systems (2004) Malta: advised the Ministry of Education and National Culture on improvements to records management systems and recommended strategies for the future (1998) Malaysia: produced, with the National Archives of Malaysia, a video documentary on ‘Making the Transition to the Electronic Age’; provided expert advice for the National Archives E-Spark Project, delivered by IBM, which involved conducting an electronic records management assessment survey; developing policies, standards and procedures; defining an electronic records archival system and records centre specification, and developing a specification of training requirements (2003 to 2005) Nigeria: conducted a records management assessment of human resources-related registries in the Lagos State Government, created training materials and developed a strategic plan (2004) Palestine: appraised a project to assist the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestinian National Authority in developing technical capacity in negotiation teams (1998) St Kitts and Nevis: developed new retention schedules for government records and a document indexing system (1997) St Vincent and the Grenadines: delivered a records management training workshop and advised on improvements to records management systems (2000) Sierra Leone: conducted a practical workshop in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Record Managers (ACARM) to clear government ministries of closed records and restore order to the National Archives (1991); advised the Civil Service Reform Committee on the development of a records management reform programme and created a records centre (1994 to 1995); conducted a records management needs assessment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005); developed a records management component to a government-wide Management and Functional Review project (2005); advised the Government of Sierra Leone on the introduction of improved records management, including developing a draft law, scheme of service, organisational structure; and developed new systems for managing personnel records and subject files for key government agencies (2005 to 2006 South Africa: advised on developing an integrated records management programme at provincial level; facilitated the restructuring of records systems and delivered practical training workshops and inter-provincial seminars (1996 to 2001); facilitated a UK study visit for provincial archivists on electronic records management (2002 to 2003) Sri Lanka: contributed to a review of progress by the Government of Sri Lanka in implementing governance and public sector reform, focusing on the area of establishment control and human resource management (2002) Tanzania: conducted a practical workshop in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Record Managers (ACARM) to restore order to the National Archives (1989, 1990); advised the Government of Tanzania on all aspects of records and information management as part of the public sector reform programme, including the development of legislation and organisational structures, training and capacity building, and restructuring systems in central ministries (1997 to 2001); with Envirolink Architects, planned and designed a National Records Centre facility for Dodoma (2005); facilitated a UK study visit on human resource e-records and information systems for senior civil servants (2005) The Gambia: conducted a practical workshop in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Record Managers (ACARM) to restore order to the National Archives (1990, 1991); assisted the Government of The Gambia on all aspects of records and information in the Civil Service including assisting with drafting a new records law establishing the National Records Service, implementing records management improvements in the areas of financial, personnel, judicial and hospital records and carrying out initial work on the management of electronic records (1990 to 2002); helped to develop a draft IT Strategy for the judicial sector and developed bidding documents for a Court Management Information System (CMIS) for the High Court (2006) Trinidad and Tobago: undertook a records management needs assessment and advised on strategic planning and training requirements (2002) Uganda: advised the Government of Uganda on all aspects of records and information management, including the development of an effective legal and organisational framework, training of trainers, the management of sector specific records and the design of a records centre/national archives building (1994 to 2000); with KPMG advised on system requirements for personnel and payroll reform (1997); with Price Waterhouse Coopers, carried out a review of requirements (2000); drafted a records management policy for the Uganda Parliament, implemented a new records classification scheme and trained registry staff in the new systems and procedures (2000); with JBIM, advised on requirements for an Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) for the Central Bank Archives (2004) Ukraine: contributed to the ‘Key Aspects of Government Reform Project’ and advised on a programme of action for improved information management; conducted a seminar to explore new strategies in records and information management and the use of information technology (1996 to 1997) United Kingdom: advised the National Crime Squad on records and information management needs and records staffing requirements; with In-form Systems contributed to modernising the Northern Ireland Department of Trade and Enterprise’s objectives for electronic information management; with Cornwell Affiliates, developed a functional specification for an electronic records management system for the Public Guardianship Office; with In-form Systems undertook a scoping study for the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body and developed a functional specification for records management (2000 to 2001); conducted an audit of records and information systems management in the Breckland Council with respect to Freedom of Information legislation requirements (2004) Zambia: provided professional advice on records management procedures and advised the Central Revenue Authority on the development of a central registry (1995 to 1996); with Touche Ross reviewed the management of teachers’ records and made recommendations to strengthen records controls (2001) Zimbabwe: contributed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Organisational Development Project to provide support to organisational restructuring, project planning and information management infrastructure (1996 to 2000) International Projects Current Projects Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Records Managers (ACARM): providing support to the Association by producing and circulating newsletters, maintaining a membership database; and assisting the Secretary (1994, ongoing) Past Projects Secretariat for the Commission of East African Co-operation: implemented a full-scale information and communications systems project (1998 to 2000) European Space Operations Centre: advised on a programme of training and change management and conducted an information management stakeholder workshop (2001) International Council on Archives: worked with the Pacific Branch Regional Branch (PARBICA) to develop define the requirements for a distance learning programme for the region (2003); developed a report on the legal status of electronic records in developing countries 2003) International Monetary Fund: developed a strategic plan for the modernisation of the Archives (2001) United Nations: provided legal records training for UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (UNICTR) staff in Arusha (2002 to 2003) World Bank: contributed to the Archives and Development Programme, working with the staff of the Bank’s Information Solutions Group (2000), including delivering video conferences to several Africa countries; delivered awareness training on electronic records management of ISG senior staff (2001); carried out a review of international research experience in the use of civil service censuses as a tool for strengthening public service human resource management and prepared a research report with case studies (2001). See also [research reports]. World Health Organization: with the Records and Archives Division, conducted training in records management for WHO staff (2004)