Civil society efforts in OGP are winning The growing need for governments to foster transparent and accountability has been apparent in current times. Ideals of populism have been on the rise with trust in governments slowly waning due to corruption and lack of openness in the use of public funds. We have observed how cultures […]
In normal times, the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebrations would have been held on May 3 then COVID-19 happened. Though the WPFD celebrations (through a conference) have been moved to October 18- 20 2020, this year’s theme hasn’t changed. The focus still remains taking action to secure independent journalism. There is a feeling amongst […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities and revealed to what extent current economic models are not sustainable. It has also shown that most countries are not equipped to cope with a health crisis. The World Food Program is warning that the lives and livelihoods of 265 million people in low and middle-income countries will be […]
Hivos will be hosting an online conversation for and by journalists on data driven reporting. Join us on 4 May 2020 at 9 AM EDT / 4 PM EAT / 9 PM PST. Across the world, the investigative data-driven journalism community has been reporting the Covid-19 crisis. However, collecting and reporting critical public health data […]
By the Busara team, In the past few years, Kenya has consistently fallen below the Sub-Saharan average index score on Transparency International’s annual ranking on corruption perceptions. This index captures citizens’ and experts’ perceptions of corruption within a country, and often reflects citizens’ level of involvement in issues of governance. Kenya (28 points) is well […]
According to WHO an estimated 21 million girls aged between 15–19 years in developing countries become pregnant with 12 million of them giving birth annually. Approximately 770,000 births have been recorded among girls under 15 years of age in the developing world. The teenage pregnancies crisis affects both the developed and developing countries. They are […]
Instead of treating the COVID-19 outbreak as a stand-alone crisis, we should acknowledge that it is a symptom of something larger. Namely, the disruption and destruction of natural ecosystems and biodiversity, which has brought us much closer to wild animals – and their viruses. And our globalized food system is a strong driver of this […]
Stone Town Records was founded 5 years ago with three friends whose paths crossed at the Dar es Salaam University in Tanzania during a students’ exchange program. Housed along the Stone Town streets in Zanzibar- the roots of the renowned Taarab music – Stone Town Records emerged as a community of artists who came together […]
Festivities to mark a new year and decade have been short-lived the world over as the first months of 2020 witnessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parts of Africa were already plagued by desert locusts, but before these could be tackled, the new corona virus arrived. This has created a double pandemic for some […]
Open-air markets are a crucial link in the access to healthy food for many in Uganda and Kenya. Consumers and small- scale traders are under threat as governments restrict public gatherings in the face of COVID-19. In East Africa, open-air markets are important places that tens of thousands of consumers and small-scale traders are reliant on for […]
As the world copes with the COVID-19 health crisis, governments’ initial responses have been rapid in rushing to guarantee citizens of their health, well-being and safety. We have witnessed quick measures through lockdowns to stem the spread of the virus through shutdown of schools and business operations affecting the daily life of every citizen. These […]
Data art is a tremendous tool for freedom of expression. Pollicy, knows its power all too well particularly in shaping how governments interact with citizens. Delivery of essential social services in sub- Saharan Africa has faced significant challenges particularly when it comes to provision of clean water, sanitation, and health care amongst others. Citizens in […]