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Bridging technology and politics

Ben Taylor, IDPM Seminar, July 4th, 2011

A practical example of using mobile phones to increase local government accountability in Tanzania’s water sector

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

Outline

• Context – rural water supply in Tanzania• How the Maji Matone programme

works• Lessons and challenges

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

Access to clean and safe water is declining

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

Rural Tanzanians are not happy

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

A Sustainability Challenge

• Only 54% of rural waterpoints functioning in 33 surveyed districts

All Waterpoints (including non-functional points)Functional Waterpoints Only

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

Average coverage

Nzega District

• Distribution of WPs highly unequal• Targeting of new funds?

Less than half (40%) of new funding going to wards with below average coverage

An Equity Challenge

11 wards have no access to clean and safe water, still get no new funding

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

Maji Matone – Raising the Water Pressure

• These are political problems, not financial or technical– Keeping waterpoints functioning is often a

communications issue, or a question of priorities– Budget allocations are more obviously political

• So they need a political solution

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

Maji Matone – Raising the Water Pressure

• Mobilising citizens, amplifying voices– Creating user-friendly opportunities for citizens to

take action– Harnessing new and old communications

technology – mobile phones, printed materials and radio

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

Rural waterpoint

breaks down

Rural Citizen

sends SMS to 15440

SMS delivered to Daraja

Acknowledge, thank, explain

SMS forwarded to

DWE, MP

SMS shared with media

partners

Waterpoint database updated

Follow up, question, publicise, pressurise

Local Government gets the waterpoint fixed

Follow up, clarify

Maji Matone – How it Works

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

Initial Results – Is it working?

• Switched on in 3 districts in November 2010– 960 SMSs received in first 6 months– 196 forwarded– 15 known successes in first 6 months

• Not overwhelming, but:– Clear evidence that district water officials take

media seriously – can’t be ignored– And on the back of an envelope …

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

6 months, 3 districts, 16 successes

= 15/6/3

~ 0.8 successes per district per month

So, in 140 districts over 12 months

= 0.8 x 140 x 12

= 1344 successes per year

Say 1300 successes, 2000 people per village

= 1300 x 2000

= 2.6 million people benefit per year

Initial Results – Is it working?

making local governance work for the poor • Daraja

Lessons and challenges

• Getting participation, especially quality participation, has proved to be very difficult– Overcoming apathy, low expectations– Making technology as user-friendly as possible

• Information alone doesn’t bring accountability, doesn’t bring change– Needs political weight / leverage– In our case, it’s the radio that delivers

Asanteni

Ben TaylorDirector, Daraja

bentaylor@daraja.org

www.daraja.org blog.daraja.org

Facebook.com/darajatzTwitter: @darajatz