“Data is like learning a language – use it or lose it,” Joseph Asunka, Afrobarometer ‘s CEO told the group.

Afrobarometer conducted the free, three-week training program in collaboration with the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Humanities and Future Africa, a pan-African research institute pioneering approaches to research and innovation on the continent and beyond.

Intended to equip African scholars with solid skills in data collection and analysis, the curriculum focused on research design, survey methodology, analysis and use of social statistics in one of three areas – democracy and public opinion, elections and electoral systems, and corruption and taxpayer compliance.

This English-language session was preceded by a French-language summer school at Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal, in August.

Initially designed for Afrobarometer staff and network partners, the summer schools now welcome other participants as part of a broader effort to strengthen research capacity on the continent.

“We believe that this will enable African researchers, policy actors, and civil society advocates to play more effective roles in African policy and development decision making,” Asunka said.

Prof Innocent Pikirayi, Deputy-Dean in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pretoria said: “As a Faculty we are delighted to be able co-host this event. We are particularly proud of the work all the participants produced. We look forward to growing this partnership in the years to come.”

The 30 participants – 60% women and 56% youth under the age of 35 – represented 15 African countries – Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.

“The summer school has been an amazing experience,” said Simangele Moyo-Nyede, principal researcher for Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI) of Zimbabwe. “The knowledge I have acquired is enormous and so incredibly relevant to the work that I do.

The tutorials came in handy in helping us apply the statistical methods learnt. I gained new insights and fresh perspectives on democracy in the elective course.”

The grant is Sweden’s largest to Afrobarometer since the survey research network was launched in 1999.

Sida analyst and Deputy Head of Section Niklas Wu-Hansson announced the grant Friday on the sidelines of Afrobarometer’s 2022 summer school co-organised with the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

“Sida has been a long-standing partner to Afrobarometer since the very beginning. We look forward to the expansion of Afrobarometer’s regional coverage, allowing it to continue to amplify the voice of ordinary Africans,” Wu-Hansson said.

The grant will enable Afrobarometer to cover more African countries and pursue its mission to “make citizen voice a key pillar of Africa policy and decision-making.” Over the past two decades, the pan-African research network has redesigned Africa’s data landscape by collecting, analysing, and disseminating African citizens’ aspirations and experiences on governance, democracy, gender, the environment, and other issues. Afrobarometer and its national partners are currently rolling out Round 9 surveys in 39 African countries.

In welcoming the grant agreement, Afrobarometer CEO Joseph Asunka said, “This partnership strengthens Afrobarometer’s resolve to extend its presence and intellectual leadership on the continent. We’re truly grateful to Sida for the continued support and confidence in the work we do. We remain committed to delivering on the mission of Afrobarometer and this partnership will allow us to do so and demonstrate the relevance and contribution of our work to Africa’s advancement.”