Post on 14-Sep-2020
Waterpoint Mapping in Tanzania: An e-Government Reality Check
Ben Taylor, November 2014
Waterpoint Mapping in Tanzania
• Introduced by WaterAid in 2002, adopted by other INGOs
• Around 50 (of 130) districts mapped by 2009
• Rolled out nationwide 2010-2012, under Ministry of Water
• The data tells two big stories
All waterpoints Functional waterpoints only
1. We can’t keep the water flowing
Nzega District
• Distribution of WPs highly unequal
2. Them that’s got shall get, them that’s not, shall lose
Nzega District
• Distribution of WPs highly unequal
• Targeting of new funds? (under multi-donor WSDP 10-village programme)
2. Them that’s got shall get, them that’s not, shall lose
Mid-point
And one more thing on context: people were frustrated
Source: Afrobarometer 2008
Approach No.1: WaterAid (and others)
• Shared the maps and reports with District Water Engineers
• Convened local meetings with water department staff, councillors, etc.
• Result: nothing. No sign of data being used.
• Technical / administrative solutions to a political problem
• Decisions are not made based on data, not because it doesn’t exist, but because need is not the basis for decision making
Approach No.2: Daraja
• A political approach to a political problem
• Give citizens a means to report on local waterpoint problems via SMS
• Give local govt water departments quick information on problems
• Use the media to amplify the information provided and put pressure on local government water departments to respond
And what happened?
• Good conversion rate into waterpoint repairs
• But, very few messages received
Of which 35 (66%) led to a repaired WP
politics, politics, politics
• High perceived risk • Livelihoods dependent
on good relations with local (village) officials
• Didn’t trust promises of anonymity
• Low expectation of success • Decades of being let
down by government, NGOs, etc.
• So (almost) nobody engaged
Approach No.3: The Ministry’s web portal
• Slow process, nobody wants to commit to releasing data • Potential embarrassment, repercussions • Losing control
• Cost issues: • Cost around $10,000 per district under WaterAid • Rose to $30,000 under Ministry of Water
• Loss of data independence (and integrity?)
• Data publication (http://wpm.maji.go.tz/) is aimed at technical audience, not the public
• Is it even online?
Some concluding thoughts
1. E-Gov approaches / accountability initiatives do not happen in a vacuum: • Political realities, power imbalances, people, relationships
2. The “data revolution” is in danger of leaving people behind • Even such data as is becoming available is useless to many people
3. Do not underestimate the power of a story • Meaning comes from narrative, comparisons
• (Offline) intermediaries have a key role
Asanteni
Ben Taylor
Open Development Consultant, Twaweza
btaylor@twaweza.org @mtega http://mtega.com