Information under spotlight at AusAID

The federal government agency managing Australia's overseas aid programs has called for an external consultant to review information resources used by staff.

In tender documents recently released, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) stressed the audit was not a traditional technical review of IT infrastructure.

"Rather, systems should be looked at in terms of their function, and how the storage, access, retrieval and dissemination of information meets the anticipated needs of users in delivering AusAID services," the documents said.

The consultant will shortly be appointed, with the review due to commence later this month and be finalised by February 2007.

AusAID said the wide-ranging review would cover resources including its Information and Research Services Unit, as well as a variety of internal databases and the agency's intranet.

"Information reviews in the past looked at particular units within AusAID, but an agency-wide information audit has not been undertaken," the tender documents said.

The review comes as AusAID is placing a stronger focus on the need to access research, analysis, and the "latest thinking".

Other systems are also coming under the spotlight.

"AusAID is also undergoing a stocktake and mapping exercise of business processes relevant to AusAID's Aid Program management; a proof of concept to review the useability, accessibility and technical compatibility of an EDRM [electronic document and records management] system; and a review of the AusAID intranet," the agency said.

The intranet review would entail a revised system being rolled out in mid to late September.

In June last year AusAID had more than 500 staff, the majority in Australia but also scattered around the world. The number was expected to increase.

The agency's overseas programs sees it attempting to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.