MobiSAM survey on how citizens use technology

Thanks to the participation of 440 residents, MobiSAM successfully completed a baseline survey this past week.

MobiSAM which, stands for Mobile Social Accountability Monitoring, is a citizen participation tool aimed at increasing communication between Makana Municipality and its citizens using mobile phones.

First tested in 2011, MobiSAM version 2.0 will be launching in September and in preparation, MobiSAM conducted a citizen survey to understand how Makana residents currently use technology, in which languages and for what purposes.

The survey also sought to understand how residents currently communicate with the municipality.

It also asked about media access, interest in media content, service delivery satisfaction and current levels and methods of participation.

At the same time as the citizen survey was under way, MobiSAM was also conducting a survey with Makana Municipality staff.

The results from the municipality survey will be used to strengthen internal communications within the municipality.

“We realise that building internal communications within the municipality is a significant part of improving external communication by the municipality,” said Professor Caroline Khene, Mo- biSAM’s co-director.

“However, throughout South Africa, socio-economic inequalities have an impact on access to information, use of technology and levels of participation.

“We live in an increasingly digitalised world and technology is becoming not only a basic part of our lives but it is also increasingly becoming a key part of improving governance, accessing public services and participating in local government affairs,” Khene said.

“While the internet is an essential tool which can be used to empower and transform the lives of the poorest in our society, the economically disadvantaged have the lowest level of access to it and thus the benefits of e- governance.”

Poverty, the high cost of devices and data and poor digital literacy were some of the challenges.

“For the MobiSAM project to be successful, it has to take into account the reality of inequality and ensure that it remains useful for everyone, everywhere,” said Khene.

“MobiSAM aims to cater for these barriers in its implementation strategy.”

Over the following weeks, MobiSAM will be communicating its survey results through local media platforms, as well as on their Facebook, Twitter and blog. For more information: www. facebook. com/ mobisam. net; http://www.mobisam.net; @ MobiSAM_Net