author: Hans Hoogeveen :: Twaweza.org

Are our Children Learning? Numeracy and Literacy Across East Africa 2011

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:12:00 +0000

A really powerful report was launched on Monday July 4 in Dar es Salaam. The Uwezo East Africa Report presents, for the first time, data comparing literacy and numeracy levels across East Africa, based on a survey of over 80,000 households-- the largest exercise of its kind. The findings give the clearest picture we have so far of the basic foundation and readiness of Kenyan, Uganda and Tanzanian citizens to thrive, including their engagement with East African integration. How do the countries do against their own benchmarks? How do they do relative to each other? How does the picture look when broken down by wealth quintile? Which factors explain success? The report answers these questions. Read it here.

For Water the Poor Pay More, The Rich Pay less in Kenya

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 08:17:00 +0000

Absence of a formula based approach to budget allocation at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation has led to large inequities for water access in Kenya, with the poor paying more compared to the rich, and millions going without adequate access everyday. This finding is contained in a new analytical brief released by Twaweza titled "It's Our Water Too! Bringing Greater Equity in Access to Water in Kenya." Uwazi analysts have aggregated facts from a range of credible sources that demonstrate that persistent inequalities in access to water services in Kenya can be quickly reduced if an approach that links investments and resource allocation to needs rather than political weight is adopted and implemented. Fortunately, key data for such a formula are now available from the 2009 population census and the national poverty maps. For more details please read more.

Reforming allowances

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:26:00 +0000

Last fiscal year (2008/9) the Government of Tanzania budgeted an impressive Tshs 506 billion ($390 million) for allowances. This amount is equivalent to the annual (maximum) basic salary for 109,000 teachers, or over two thirds of all teachers.
Despite consolidations in the wage bill in 2001/2 and in 2007/8, allowances have proved to be remarkably persistent. In 2009/10 the amount allocated to allowances was equal to 59% of the total wage bill (pensionable and non-pensionable basic salaries plus
pensions). Between 2001/2 and 2006/7 the real amount spent on allowances increased more than 3-fold; relative to last fiscal year, and despite the economic crisis, allowances in this year’s budget increased by 13%.