Citizen’s engagement in enforcing accountability through ICTs

Genesis • The Social Development Network’sSocial Development Network’s main aim is to promote and

facilitate effective strategic alliances among members and interested groups. Est.

• As a network, SODNET’s mandate is anchored on the need to restore

the institutional integrity and civic sovereignty of the social sector.

• INFONET was an inspired in 2007 based on the need to create convergences on actions that are critical to the development of the human personhuman person:

• Self Funded, private donors, partners with organizations, technology firms

Off-the shelf tools

Online Budget Tool

Mobile Tools

ICT enhanced ICT enhanced collaborative collaborative platform platform for budget tracking, for budget tracking, knowledge sharing.knowledge sharing.

It provides communities (especially It provides communities (especially rural and urban poor) with the rural and urban poor) with the possibility of possibility of monitoringmonitoring of the of the central government, parliamentarians central government, parliamentarians and local authoritiesand local authorities performanceperformance: on : on budget expenditure and budget expenditure and disbursements and service delivery. disbursements and service delivery.

Offers government, parliamentarians Offers government, parliamentarians and local authorities, a and local authorities, a feedbackfeedback avenue on their performance from avenue on their performance from the citizenry.the citizenry.

Enables citizens anyone to search different projects fundsEnables citizens anyone to search different projects funds

Constituency demographic information e.g. popl, schools, hospitals etcConstituency demographic information e.g. popl, schools, hospitals etc

Funds type and allocations summariesFunds type and allocations summaries

Report a problem ! – fix my constituency, ward etcReport a problem ! – fix my constituency, ward etc

Report a problem ! – processReport a problem ! – process

Report a problem ! – process Cont.Report a problem ! – process Cont.

Off-the shelf tools

• Groups can report on anomalies or incidences of corruption Groups can report on anomalies or incidences of corruption (photos, text, videos etc);(photos, text, videos etc);

Currently, the project looks at monitoring the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATF), Youth Enterprise & Development Fund and Economic Stimulus Package (ESP).

• Citizens: Contribute on projects, anonymous reporting on corruption, gain information on process towards budget making

• Civil society: Report on corruption, solidarity, networking and institutional strengthening

• Leaders/FCs: Possibility of feedback, dialogue with citizens and lobby groups.

• Researchers: Analysis on devolution of funds, knowledge and memory on best practices from projects.

• Development partners/investors: Pertinent information on viable projects;

SMS / HTTP

Mobile PlatformMobile Platform

Who's it for: Who's it for:

FrontlineSMS is a laptop or PC-based software application used for sending and receiving group SMS messages. It does not require an internet connection and works with any GSM network.Investment required:

Specs: Specs: FrontlineSMS requires a computer and a mobile phone or GSM modem. The software is free. Costs incurred is Mobile carrier SMS Cost.

Installing FrontlineSMS is very quick - on Windows machines the process is fully automated and should complete in around two minutes.

FrontlineSMS allows NGOs to run awareness raising campaigns, competitions or carry out text-based surveys, or to simply keep in touch with fieldworkers and supporters.

Observations based on experience:

• Ideological choices: Modernize or Westernize (Ctrl-C/V?)? Leverage on existing practices / technology and up-scaling or create from scratch;

• Further.. political choice Vs political will (Mwatate). If its not illegal, it should be done!

• Emphasis on the common person: encourage empowerment of citizen’s to act on their own & improve the universal quality of the human condition.

• Africa realities-Paradigm shift Vs common sense? – larger systemic issues - Economic & Democratic Governance irony, globalization, liberalization, market forces, trade barriers (EPAs), WTO regulations;

• Address emerging contradictions on ICTs and its impact on livelihoods – “Access, content, priorities over other basic needs – “enoughness”.

Observations based on experience:

• Effect synergies that promote collective responsibility and commonalty of purpose amongst Govt, Private Sector, CSOs and Communities;

• Challenging the paradigms and notions of development and progress, research methodologies (objective realities and subjective contexts- place for narrative), spaces for other worldviews (especially on indicators e.g. measuring poverty.

• Ownership, access and control of technology and information e.g. Agricultural knowledge (seeds, seed-banking, farm methods);

• Use: Affordability, relevance, usability, availability leading to sustainability.

• Place for values and ethicsvalues and ethics