1. MajiMatoneRaising the Water Pressure Presentation to World Bank ICT Days Ben Taylor Founder, Daraja March 30th, 2011
2. What is MajiMatone? Problems in rural water supply: Access at 40%, declining New funding goes to better-served communities Only 54% public waterpoints functioning Political problems need a political solution MajiMatone: Using mapping, mobile phones, and the media Mobilising citizens, putting pressure on officials
3. How it Works – I SMS-based feedback mechanism Citizens Database Popularising information Media Media partnerships for accountability Local Government
4. SMS shared with media partners Follow up, clarify Rural waterpoint breaks down Rural Citizen sends SMS to 15440 SMS delivered to Daraja Follow up, question, publicise, pressurise Waterpoint database updated SMS forwarded to DWE, Mb. Acknowledge, thank, explain Local Government gets the waterpoint fixed How it Works – II
5. Is it working? Switched on in 3 districts in November 2010 500 SMSs received to date 100 forwarded A few cases of problems solved Not overwhelming, but: Clear evidence that district water officials take media seriously – can’t be ignored Beginning to mobilise citizen participation
6. Lessons and Conclusions Using technology to mobilise political pressure can work, but: Focus at least as much on the politics as on the technology Pure information achieves little – officials ignore a text message Media coverage gets attention, gets action
7. Asanteni You know, we haven’t done anything about that water issue recently Why worry, when the people themselves aren’t making a noise Ben Taylor Director, Daraja daraja@daraja.org www.daraja.org blog.daraja.org Facebook.com/darajatz Twitter.com/darajatz LOCAL GOVERNMENT