Afrobarometer Empowers Civil Society and Journalists in Africa with Data Skills for Policy Advocacy

Afrobarometer has strengthened the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) and journalists across Eastern and Southern Africa through a five-day training programme in Lusaka, Zambia, focused on harnessing data for advocacy and news reporting.

The training equipped participants with practical skills in accessing and using Afrobarometer’s public opinion data, enabling them to conduct online data analysis, interpret survey results, and apply evidence in their respective fields.

During the CSO-focused sessions, 21 participants were trained to amplify citizen voices on governance, economic, and social issues. They also learned how to present evidence-based insights to policymakers, thereby enriching advocacy campaigns and reports with reliable data.

Dominique Dryding, Afrobarometer’s Capacity Building Manager (Basic Track), emphasised the pivotal role of CSOs in shaping policy agendas.

“Through Afrobarometer data, which reflects the lived experience of citizens, civil society organisations can drive meaningful policy dialogues at both national and subnational levels,” she said.

Solomon Ngoma, Executive Director of the Action Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC) in Zambia, highlighted how the training would influence his work.

“The skills I have gained from this Afrobarometer workshop are a game-changer. They will directly inform our policy analysis here in Zambia, allowing us to use data to create more effective and impactful policies,” he said.

Journalists also benefited from tailored sessions on transforming complex survey data into compelling stories that engage the public. The workshops demonstrated how Afrobarometer’s data could enhance accountability reporting, give prominence to citizens’ perspectives, and enrich news coverage with evidence-based insights.

“I’m returning to Ethiopia with a completely different perspective on Afrobarometer’s data,” said Firaul Hailu, a reporter for Asham TV. “I’ll definitely be using the depth of this resource, which spans almost three decades, as a reference for my news analysis.”

Salome Baptister Kilasi, News Editor at the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, also expressed enthusiasm.

“My biggest takeaway from this workshop was learning how to pull data from Afrobarometer’s online platform and create my own visuals specifically for my viewers,” she said. “It’s fascinating how this will allow me to boost my news segments and add the kind of credibility that audiences really value.”