Governments often make commitments while campaigning, through detailed development plans, or in official publications. The ACW team meticulously documents these promises, categorising them into five thematic areas: Economy, Social Services, Governance, Corruption, and Climate Change. The team then tracks tangible policy actions undertaken by each government throughout its term of office, ensuring alignment with these commitments.
Learning Objectives
- By the end of this module, participants should be able to:
- Understand the five thematic areas of the promises captured
- Articulate the status of the promises
- Navigate the African Citizens Watch platform
Let’s Get Started
African Citizens Watch is an independent platform focused on tracking the performance and accountability of African governments, specifically about the promises made in their manifestos and other significant policy statements. Currently, the platform monitors three countries: Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It provides a detailed overview of the commitments made by these governments, categorised into five thematic areas: economy, governance, corruption, climate change, and social services.
The platform offers summaries for each country, detailing the number of promises made, including those in progress, those not yet started, modified, broken, and successfully implemented. Each promise is classified and can be filtered based on specific thematic areas, allowing users to dive deeper into the progress of commitments. For example, the Malawi Citizens Watch section breaks down governance promises, revealing a total of 43 commitments with a status report showing promises in various stages of completion.
Additionally, the site encourages user involvement in capturing data, advocating for community participation through a straightforward submission form for verified action tracking. Users can attach links and descriptions to contribute to the ongoing accountability process.
Highlights
- Government Accountability: African Citizens Watch focuses on the effectiveness of African governments based on their manifesto promises.
- Focused Monitoring: The platform currently tracks Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe’s government commitments.
- Promise Classification: Promises are categorized into five thematic areas: economy, governance, corruption, climate change, and social service.
- Detailed Tracking: The Malawi section details 43 governance promises, with statuses ranging from in-progress to implemented.
- User Participation: The platform invites users to engage in data collection by submitting information for verification.
- Status Updates: Regular updates on each promise, including dates and sources, enhance transparency.
- Diverse Sources: Information comes from credible local news articles and government documents for reliability.
African Citizens Watch serves as a vital accountability tool, meticulously tracking government actions against the promises made by political parties and presidential candidates during their election campaigns. Traditionally, these promises have been derived from the manifestos published by the winning party, which outline their vision, priorities, and commitments for the term ahead.
However, in Zimbabwe, the current presidential term presents a unique challenge. No manifesto was produced to guide the electorate or provide a clear roadmap for governance. In response to this gap, African Citizens Watch has adapted its methodology by relying on the promises articulated in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1). Adopted in 2021, NDS 1 serves as the government’s strategic framework for national development, encompassing key objectives and policy directions. By using NDS 1 as the benchmark, African Citizens Watch ensures that the tracker remains relevant and continues to hold leaders accountable for their commitments to the people.
African Citizens Watch categorises promises in its tracker to accurately reflect the status of government actions toward fulfilling electoral commitments. The categories are:
- Not Started: This category includes promises for which no action has been taken. All promises begin here, awaiting initiation by the government.
- In Progress: Promises in this category have seen efforts toward fulfilment, but they remain incomplete. Most government actions initially fall here, as implementation takes time. African Citizens Watch conducts an annual barometer assessment report to evaluate the progress of promises in this stage.
- Implemented: A promise reaches this stage once it has been fully met. Government actions must align with the original commitment, with tangible evidence confirming fulfilment. For example, if the government promises to increase civil servants’ salaries by 50%, and they officially raise salaries by the said percentage, complete with documentation and records, then the promise is considered implemented.
- Broken: Promises in this category are those where government actions directly contradict the original commitment, leading to negative outcomes for citizens. For instance, if the government initially pledged to increase civil servants’ salaries but later implements a policy that reduces monetary benefits or lowers the salary budget, the promise is marked as broken. Importantly, a single action does not immediately shift a promise from “In Progress” to “Broken”; sustained or decisive moves against the original promise result in this classification.
- Modified: This category applies when external circumstances necessitate changes to a promise. For example, if the government initially committed to building one million houses in three years but a natural disaster forces budget reallocations, the promise may be adjusted to a lower housing target. While modifications can be pragmatic, they are tracked to ensure transparency and accountability.
Summary
🌐 Enhancing Accountability: The platform’s design promotes accountability in governance by tracking promises and their fulfilment. This serves to empower citizens to hold their governments responsible for their commitments and can foster a culture of transparency and good governance in African nations.
🧩 Thematic Categorisation: By categorising promises into thematic areas, the platform allows users to easily identify which sectors are receiving attention and which are being neglected. This categorisation can help citizens and stakeholders effectively advocate for specific areas needing improvement.
📈 Promise Status: The distinction between promises that are in progress, broken, or implemented provides a clear picture of governmental performance, guiding citizens in understanding how well their leaders are delivering on their pledges.
📣 Community Engagement: Encouraging community involvement in data collection not only enriches the data available but also fosters a sense of ownership among citizens. This participatory approach can lead to improved data accuracy and strengthen public trust in the platform.
🕰️ Regular Updates: The frequent updates on the status of promises allow for real-time tracking and responsiveness from citizens and policymakers alike. This dynamic monitoring approach can lead to quicker actions and resolutions regarding unfulfilled commitments.
📚 Reliable Sources: The platform’s reliance on diverse sources for verification ensures that information presented is credible, giving users confidence in the data while promoting responsible journalism and government accountability.
🔄 Potential for Expansion: While the platform currently tracks three countries, there is significant potential for broader monitoring across the continent. Expanding its reach could amplify its impact on governmental accountability and citizen engagement in Africa.