In 2018, we piloted a new approach in seven countries to equip grassroots communities with the skills to gain influence over budgets. This effort focused on Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa. In five years, we have proven that a bottom-up model works. We can tangibly improve the lives of underserved communities and these communities can lead effective, powerful coalitions capable of shifting government incentives and service delivery practices.
We started by talking to underserved communities first, because they know best what services are failing them and what they need to thrive. We then built powerful coalitions of budget analysts, reform allies in and out of government, oversight actors and the media to improve the services they identified as priorities. We pursued five strategies.
Nigerian and Ghanaian women farmers are getting the right tools, seed and fertilizer to increase food production. Informal settlement residents in South Africa and Senegal have cleaner and safer sanitation facilities. Indonesian fisherfolk are securing a greater share of subsidized fuel to improve their livelihoods. Most importantly, our partners have a seat at the table influencing services for their communities and making governments more responsive to their insights.
Governments now see our partners as influential players in informing fiscal policies for underserved communities, which will allow them to keep building power over resources long-term.
As we deepen our impacts in four focus countries (Indonesia, Nigeria Senegal and South Africa), we will pivot our approach in three important ways:
5.1m
people now have access to new or improved services
37
policy changes have been secured by our reform campaigns
$352m
in increased allocations secured across 7 countries
68