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www.daraja.org • [email protected] • blog.daraja.org • @darajatz
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
www.daraja.org blog.daraja.org
Facebook.com/darajatzTwitter: @darajatz