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Bridging technology and politics

Bridging technology and politics. A practical example of using mobile phones to increase local government accountability in Tanzania’s water sector. Ben Taylor, IDPM Seminar, July 4th, 2011. Outline. Context – rural water supply in Tanzania How the Maji Matone programme works

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Bridging technology and politics

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  1. Bridging technology and politics A practical example of using mobile phones to increase local government accountability in Tanzania’s water sector Ben Taylor, IDPM Seminar, July 4th, 2011

  2. Outline • Context – rural water supply in Tanzania • How the Maji Matone programme works • Lessons and challenges

  3. Access to clean and safe water is declining

  4. Rural Tanzanians are not happy

  5. A Sustainability Challenge All Waterpoints (including non-functional points) Functional Waterpoints Only • Only 54% of rural waterpoints functioning in 33 surveyed districts

  6. Nzega District Average coverage An Equity Challenge • Distribution of WPs highly unequal • Targeting of new funds? Less than half (40%) of new funding going to wards with below average coverage 11 wards have no access to clean and safe water, still get no new funding

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Maji Matone – How it Works SMS shared with media partners Follow up, clarify  Rural waterpoint breaks down Rural Citizen sends SMS to 15440 SMS delivered to Daraja Follow up, question, publicise, pressurise Waterpoint database updated SMS forwarded to DWE, MP Acknowledge, thank, explain Local Government gets the waterpoint fixed

  10. 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 …

  11. Initial Results – Is it working? 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

  12. 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

  13. Asanteni Ben Taylor Director, Daraja bentaylor@daraja.org www.daraja.org blog.daraja.org Facebook.com/darajatz Twitter: @darajatz

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