IRMT • Consultancy Services

Over nearly two decades, working with over thirty governments around the world, the Trust has delivered numerous projects to improve records and information management. See a list of these Consultancy Projects.

The Trust’s projects are designed to support governance objectives, strengthen local professional capacity and protect the national historical memory. The projects can involve addressing government-wide requirements or sector specific needs. Some last for only a few weeks, as in the case of an analysis of records management requirements. Others are delivered over a number of years where there is a need to build a sustainable infrastructure for records management. Longer term projects may include establishing appropriate legal and institutional arrangements; developing clear management responsibilities and performance criteria; drafting policies, standards and practices; and building appropriate new skills. All of the Trust’s projects are informed by its continuous cycle of research, education and training, and the application of its findings and products in the field.

The Trust can strengthen paper and electronic records systems to support any function. It has particular expertise in developing records controls to support:

Financial Management:

Weak records control systems can create opportunities for fraud, corrupt procurement and money laundering; make it difficult to introduce effective controls in the areas of payroll and disbursement management; and undermine the integrity of financial management information systems (FMIS).

Human Resource Management:

Inadequate personnel records control systems, at the central, regional and district level, hinder efficient personnel administration and long-term staff development. They distort civil service payrolls, thus contributing to the existence of ghost workers and the retention of workers past statutory retirement age; and they delay or prevent the payment of benefits. Human resource information systems (HRIS) cannot be trusted if the information they contain is not accurate.

Legal and Judicial Management:

Loss of control of court records results in delays in processing cases, provides scope for corruption and undermines the rule of law. Decisions are made without full details of cases, and lawyers and the public are unable to obtain information about cases and their progress. Case management systems cannot make their potential contribution to improving the efficiency of the courts and the delivery of justice unless the records are reliable.

Healthcare Management:

Without up-to-date and easily accessible patient records, health professionals cannot understand the care already given to the patient or plan future care. In the absence of complete and reliable records, inappropriate drugs and treatment may be prescribed. Records also provide essential data for medical research, support planning and decision-making, and assist in monitoring services and conducting clinical audits.

Land Management:

The inability to access reliable land titles creates insecurity and stifles the potential for development; poor land records can result in loss of revenue to the government, open the way for dubious claims and even lead to political instability. Secure land tenure is a key factor in releasing economic potential by enabling borrowing against property as collateral for development. Land management information systems must contain accurate information that can be protected over time.

Decentralisation:

As functions and resources are devolved from the centre to the regions, records management systems are essential to enable local governments to fulfill their responsibilities for managing staff, as well as for managing services and funds, for instance collecting taxes; accounting for expenditure; and planning, managing and supervising schools, health facilities and other services. It is essential to build records systems that facilitate the exchange of information between the centre and the regions.

Freedom of Information:

FOI is only as good as the quality of the records to which it provides access. The right of access to information is of little use if reliable records are not created in the first place or cannot be found when needed. The public must be able to trust the authorities to keep records accurately and honestly.


Consultancy Services

Over nearly two decades, working with over thirty governments around the world, the Trust has delivered numerous projects to improve records and information management. See a list of these Consultancy Projects. The Trust’s projects are designed to support governance objectives, strengthen local professional capacity and protect the national historical memory. The projects can involve addressing government-wide requirements or sector specific needs. Some last for only a few weeks, as in the case of an analysis of records management requirements. Others are delivered over a number of years where there is a need to build a sustainable infrastructure for records management. Longer term projects may include establishing appropriate legal and institutional arrangements; developing clear management responsibilities and performance criteria; drafting policies, standards and practices; and building appropriate new skills. All of the Trust’s projects are informed by its continuous cycle of research, education and training, and the application of its findings and products in the field. The Trust can strengthen paper and electronic records systems to support any function. It has particular expertise in developing records controls to support: Financial Management: Weak records control systems can create opportunities for fraud, corrupt procurement and money laundering; make it difficult to introduce effective controls in the areas of payroll and disbursement management; and undermine the integrity of financial management information systems (FMIS). Human Resource Management: Inadequate personnel records control systems, at the central, regional and district level, hinder efficient personnel administration and long-term staff development. They distort civil service payrolls, thus contributing to the existence of ghost workers and the retention of workers past statutory retirement age; and they delay or prevent the payment of benefits. Human resource information systems (HRIS) cannot be trusted if the information they contain is not accurate. Legal and Judicial Management: Loss of control of court records results in delays in processing cases, provides scope for corruption and undermines the rule of law. Decisions are made without full details of cases, and lawyers and the public are unable to obtain information about cases and their progress. Case management systems cannot make their potential contribution to improving the efficiency of the courts and the delivery of justice unless the records are reliable. Healthcare Management: Without up-to-date and easily accessible patient records, health professionals cannot understand the care already given to the patient or plan future care. In the absence of complete and reliable records, inappropriate drugs and treatment may be prescribed. Records also provide essential data for medical research, support planning and decision-making, and assist in monitoring services and conducting clinical audits. Land Management: The inability to access reliable land titles creates insecurity and stifles the potential for development; poor land records can result in loss of revenue to the government, open the way for dubious claims and even lead to political instability. Secure land tenure is a key factor in releasing economic potential by enabling borrowing against property as collateral for development. Land management information systems must contain accurate information that can be protected over time. Decentralisation: As functions and resources are devolved from the centre to the regions, records management systems are essential to enable local governments to fulfill their responsibilities for managing staff, as well as for managing services and funds, for instance collecting taxes; accounting for expenditure; and planning, managing and supervising schools, health facilities and other services. It is essential to build records systems that facilitate the exchange of information between the centre and the regions. Freedom of Information: FOI is only as good as the quality of the records to which it provides access. The right of access to information is of little use if reliable records are not created in the first place or cannot be found when needed. The public must be able to trust the authorities to keep records accurately and honestly.