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