Hassan Magulumali
For over a decade, the Sauti za Wananchi initiative has been a vital conduit for capturing and amplifying the voices of ordinary citizens across Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Through more than 125 nationally-representative survey rounds, involving an estimated 74,000 hours of interviews, this initiative has provided invaluable insights into the public’s experiences and opinions on a wide range of policy issues.
The data collected through Sauti za Wananchi has not only sparked widespread media coverage and public debate but has also played a direct role in influencing policy changes and government practices. By providing a platform for citizens from diverse social and economic backgrounds, the initiative has significantly enriched national conversations, ensuring that the perspectives of ordinary people are heard and considered.
Twaweza, the organization behind Sauti za Wananchi, recently released a compendium titled *10 Years of Sauti za Wananchi, 2013-2023*. This compilation highlights key findings from the surveys conducted over the past decade in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, offering a comprehensive overview of the citizens’ voices that have shaped public discourse in the region.
Citizen Voices: The Heart of Governance
Citizens are the cornerstone of any nation, and governments exist to serve and be accountable to them. Yet, despite this fundamental principle, citizens’ voices are often missing from national policy debates. This disconnect means that crucial decisions about government policies, laws, and budgets frequently overlook the lived experiences, priorities, and opinions of the people they are meant to serve.
At local levels, opportunities for citizen participation in decision-making exist but are often dominated by those with the loudest voices. Even when governments conduct rigorous household surveys to gather citizens’ experiences, the data collection and analysis process can take years, leading to policies that may not reflect the current needs and preferences of the populace.
Since 2013, Twaweza’s Sauti za Wananchi initiative has been working to bridge this gap. By leveraging mobile phone technology and computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) techniques, the initiative conducts interviews with nationally-representative panels of citizens. This innovative approach combines the design of traditional household surveys with the speed and efficiency of modern technology, enabling rapid and rigorous data collection.
The insights gathered through Sauti za Wananchi have empowered citizens to have their voices heard at the national level, influencing policy decisions and encouraging governments to be more open, responsive, and effective in service delivery.
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Key Findings from a Decade of Surveys
The findings from the Sauti za Wananchi surveys over the past ten years reveal critical insights into the lives and opinions of citizens across East Africa:
– Economic Concerns: Citizens consistently cite the economy and inflation as the most significant challenges facing their countries.
– Household Income Sources: Income sources vary considerably across Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, reflecting different economic landscapes.
– Business Environment Perceptions: Tanzanians are generally more optimistic about their country’s business environment compared to Ugandans, with Kenyans being less positive than either.
– Food Stress: A substantial proportion of East Africans report experiencing food insecurity.
– Health Services: Most citizens primarily rely on government health facilities, although private and NGO facilities also play a significant role.
– Health Insurance: Uganda lags behind Kenya and Tanzania in terms of health insurance coverage.
– Water Access: Access to improved water sources in rural areas is lower in Tanzania compared to Kenya and Uganda.
– National Pride: Citizens across all three countries express strong pride in their nationality, though Kenyans are less likely to identify themselves primarily as citizens.
– Media Consumption: In Tanzania and Uganda, radio is the dominant source of news and information, while in Kenya, television holds this role.
– Public Participation: Citizen participation in public meetings is higher in Tanzania than in Kenya or Uganda.
Aidan Eyakuze, Executive Director of Twaweza, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating, “Citizens deserve to have their voices heard by all who make decisions that affect their lives. Our Sauti za Wananchi surveys make this possible. This new compendium of 10 years of Sauti za Wananchi shows the enormous number of stories that citizens have to tell. And more than that, it shows how important it is that we pay attention to what citizens are saying, and how much we can all benefit from doing so.”
As Sauti za Wananchi enters its second decade, its impact on policy-making and public discourse across East Africa continues to grow, reminding governments and citizens alike of the power of collective voices in shaping the future.
