The document discusses the challenges of implementing mobile technology for water management in rural Tanzania, highlighting obstacles such as technological limitations, social barriers, and political apathy. It notes that while some messages successfully led to waterpoint repairs, overall engagement was low. Recommendations include utilizing trained volunteers for data collection and ensuring that solutions are contextually appropriate to improve local governance and water services.

1. Maji Matone: A reality check on mobile
technology from rural Tanzania
Ben Taylor, Daraja
January 2013
www.daraja.org • PO Box 736, Njombe, Tanzania • (+255) 26 2782197 • daraja@daraja.org

2. A concrete service delivery challenge in rural Tanzania
making local governance work for the poor

3. Raising the Water Pressure
• Giving citizens a means
to report on local
waterpoint problems via
mobile phone
• Giving local govt water
departments quick
information on
problems
• Using the media to
amplify the information
provided and put
pressure on local
government water
departments to respond
making local governance work for the poor

4. • When messages were received, good conversion rate
into waterpoint repairs
• But, very few messages received
making local governance work for the poor

5. Why did we fail?
making local governance work for the poor

6. Learning the Lessons
• Obstacles to engagement:
– Technological: electricity, network coverage
– Social: gender norms
– Political: risk and apathy
• Lessons:
– New technology is not a magic bullet
– The solution has to fit the context as well as the
problem
– “New from Q branch. It’s called a radio.”
– Accountability is political not administrative
making local governance work for the poor

7. What comes next?
• Make the learning count
• Replace dependence on the “crowd” with a
network of recruited, trained volunteers
• Smartphone-based data collection
• Collect data on waterpoint functionality, water
quality, household hygiene practices, etc.
• Better data than currently exists
• Use data to influence policy
making local governance work for the poor

8. Contact Details
• For more details of the Maji Matone programme
and lessons learned from its failure, see:
– http://blog.daraja.org/p/failure.html
• Daraja: Ben Taylor:
– www.daraja.org – bentaylor@daraja.org
– blog.daraja.org – mtega.com
– facebook.com/DarajaTz – Twitter: @mtega
– Twitter: @DarajaTz
making local governance work for the poor