Enhancing Local Governance Through Mobile Technology in Tanzania's Water Sector
Explore how mobile phones are utilized to promote local government accountability in Tanzania's water sector, as discussed in the seminar by Ben Taylor. The presentation sheds light on the Maji Matone program, challenges faced in rural water supply, declining access to clean water, sustainability and equity issues, and the imperative need for political solutions to enhance water service provision for rural Tanzanians.
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Presentation Transcript
a 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 www.daraja.org daraja@daraja.org blog.daraja.org @darajatz
Outline Outline Context rural water supply in Tanzania How the Maji Matone programme works Lessons and challenges making local governance work for the poor Daraja making local governance work for the poor Daraja
Access to clean and safe water is declining Access to clean and safe water is declining making local governance work for the poor Daraja making local governance work for the poor Daraja
Rural Tanzanians are not happy Rural Tanzanians are not happy making local governance work for the poor Daraja making local governance work for the poor Daraja
A Sustainability Challenge A Sustainability Challenge All Waterpoints (including non-functional points) Functional Waterpoints Only Only 54% of rural waterpoints functioning in 33 surveyed districts making local governance work for the poor Daraja making local governance work for the poor Daraja
An Equity Challenge An Equity Challenge money%2520bag Distribution of WPs highly unequal Targeting of new funds? Nzega District 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 Average coverage making local governance work for the poor Daraja making local governance work for the poor Daraja
Maji Matone Maji Matone Raising the Water Pressure 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 making local governance work for the poor Daraja
Maji Matone Maji Matone Raising the Water Pressure 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 making local governance work for the poor Daraja
Maji Matone Maji Matone How it Works How it Works SMS shared with media partners Follow up, clarify Follow up, question, publicise, Rural Rural Citizen sends SMS to 15440 Waterpoint database updated pressurise SMS waterpoint breaks down delivered to Daraja SMS Acknowledge, thank, explain Local Government gets the waterpoint fixed forwarded to DWE, MP making local governance work for the poor Daraja making local governance work for the poor Daraja
Initial Results Initial Results Is it working? 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 making local governance work for the poor Daraja
Initial Results Initial Results Is it working? Is it working? making local governance work for the poor Daraja making local governance work for the poor Daraja
Lessons and challenges 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 making local governance work for the poor Daraja making local governance work for the poor Daraja
Asanteni Asanteni Ben Taylor Director, Daraja bentaylor@daraja.org www.daraja.org blog.daraja.org Facebook.com/darajatz Twitter: @darajatz
