Afrobarometer Equips CSOs and Journalists with Skills to Use Public Attitude Data Effectively

Afrobarometer, a pan-African research network, is holding a four-day workshop in Accra, Ghana, to equip civil society organisations (CSOs) and journalists with skills to utilise public attitude data effectively. The workshop aims to empower individuals and organisations with the necessary skills to make evidence-based decisions, advocate effectively, and report accurately on issues impacting communities.

In an era when access to credible data is increasingly crucial for journalists and CSOs, Afrobarometer works to close the data gap by building capacity on the continent for survey research, analysis, and communication. Through this free training workshop, 20 CSO representatives and 20 journalists from West Africa will gain experience in accessing, analysing, and leveraging survey data relevant to their daily work.

Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the range of data made available through Afrobarometer surveys, as well as how to use Afrobarometer’s free online data analysis tool. The training modules include how to understand and analyse survey data as well as best practices for incorporating data into reporting and advocacy initiatives.

For the most part, journalists and CSOs in Africa struggle to access reliable data on key issues affecting communities and countries. By empowering individuals with skills to utilise Afrobarometer data, various policy actors can report accurately and advocate effectively on critical issues that affect all.

Afrobarometer is a trusted source of high-quality data and analysis on what Africans are thinking, producing and disseminating high-quality survey data and analysis on African attitudes, experiences, and aspirations. With an unmatched track record of 350,000+ interviews in 39 countries, AB data inform many global indices, such as the Ibrahim Index of African Governance and Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer.

All AB data sets are publicly available on the website and may be analysed free of charge using AB’s online data analysis tool. The workshop is a step towards addressing the data gap in Africa, building capacity for data analysis and communication while producing reliable data to inform policymaking.