From 7 to 8 May, our Executive Director, Dr. Tendai Murisa, along with Eddah Jowah, Programs Manager, and Yolokazi Mfuto, Country Researcher for South Africa, participated in the Data Session on the Accountability Project hosted by Act Ubumbano.
The Data Session is one of the three pillars of this project, where the objective is to create a space for organisations to collect and share data that supports advocacy for greater accountability of the Government of South Africa. SIVIO Institute is a technical partner in this process, and South Africa Citizens Watch will be the main data collection platform to support the initiative.
This meeting marked a pivotal moment for the Accountability Project, as it brought together partners and stakeholders to examine and shape the South African Citizens Watch platform into what organisations in South Africa could use optimally. The organisations that participated in the session were:
- Corruption Watch
- Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ)
- Gender Dynamix
- Ndifuna Ukwazi
- Child law clinic at the Center for Human Rights
- Indlulaminithi scenarios trust
- Section 27
- Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PEJDG)
Day One: Platform Orientation and Strategic Discussion
The meeting focused on familiarising participants with the platform’s background, structure, and potential. After an initial orientation to the broader Accountability Project, the platform was introduced, followed by a deep dive into its capabilities and lessons from its implementation. Participants critically engaged with the platform, exploring how it could complement existing monitoring efforts while considering potential risks. The day concluded with discussions on refining the platform’s data structure and identifying gaps in thematic coverage.
Day Two: Practical Collaboration and Commitment
Day two shifted to practical considerations, beginning with reflections on the previous day. Discussions addressed the current state of relevant data, strategies for integrating qualitative narratives, and collaborative approaches to sustaining the project. The session closed with concrete commitments from participants and an outline for moving forward.
Looking Ahead
Overall, this Data Session laid strong foundations for deepened collaboration, clearer data strategy, and more effective methods for tracking and monitoring government across sectors. In addition to the work to enhance South Africa Citizens Watch, SIVIO will work with the loose consortium to run a Citizens’ Perceptions and Expectations survey in South Africa and present the findings at the September 2025 National Dialogue.