Taking stock: Survey findings track citizens priorities, Sustainable Development Goals, and government performance in Africa

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1 Afrobarometer Accra, Ghana 19 November 2018 News release Taking stock: Survey findings track citizens priorities, Sustainable Development Goals, and government performance in Africa Good jobs and economic growth top the priorities of African citizens, but government performance on these issues lags, according to new Afrobarometer findings from across the continent. In the first of its Pan-Africa Profiles based on recent public-opinion surveys in 34 countries, Afrobarometer reports that decent work and economic growth is Africans highest priority among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but is also an area where governments are performing particularly poorly. Other highly prioritized SDGs include those focusing on hunger, health, and peace, justice and strong institutions. The new report, available at links the most important problems identified by more than 45,800 Africans, as well as their assessments of their governments performance on these issues, to the goals of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. The analysis is designed to help governments and advocates design more effective interventions through a better understanding of how their intended beneficiaries ordinary citizens perceive and prioritize these goals. Key findings Across 34 surveyed countries, unemployment tops the most important problems that Africans want their governments to address, followed by health, infrastructure/roads, water/sanitation, education, management of the economy, and poverty (Figure 1). Based on mapping the most important problems identified by Afrobarometer respondents onto the SDGs, SDG8, decent work and economic growth, is the highest-priority SDG (), by a wide margin (Figure 2). Each of seven other SDGs captures the attention of between 20% and of respondents, including SDG2 ( zero hunger ) (), SDG3 ( good health and wellbeing ) (), SDG16 ( peace, justice and strong institutions ) (), SDG9 ( industry, innovation and infrastructure ) (), SDG6 ( clean water and sanitation ) (), SDG1 ( no poverty ) (2), and SDG4 ( quality education ) (), The remaining SDGs draw only very modest levels of attention from respondents as most important priorities. However, other Afrobarometer data reveal that African publics typically also value these goals (e.g. gender equality, climate change), even if they are not the first things on their minds in the struggle for daily survival. Poverty and low socioeconomic development, both at the individual level and the country level, strongly shape priorities. Jobs/economic growth and good governance are higher priorities for wealthier individuals and for more economically developed countries. Among poorer people and countries, jobs and growth are still important, Copyright Afrobarometer

2 but people place higher priority on fighting hunger and having adequate supplies of clean water and energy. The highest-priority sectors often record the worst government performance (e.g. jobs and economic management) (Figure 3). Afrobarometer surveys Afrobarometer is a pan-african, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues in African countries. Six rounds of surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2015, and Round 7 survey findings in 34 countries are being released in 2018/2019. Interested readers may follow our releases, including our Pan-Africa Profiles series of Round 7 cross-country analyses, at #VoicesAfrica and sign up for our distribution list at Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent s choice with nationally representative samples. Sample sizes of 1,200 or 2,400 yield country-level results with a margin of sampling error of +/-3 or 2 percentage points, respectively, at a 95% confidence level. Charts Figure 1: Most important problems 34 countries 2016/2018 Unemployment Health Infrastructure/transport/roads Water and sanitation Education Management of the economy Poverty/destitution Food shortage/famine Farming/agriculture Other economic issues Electricity Crime and security Corruption Political violence/war/terrorism Housing Discrimination/inequality (incl. gender) Democracy/political rights 5% 4% 3% 18% 17% 16% % 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Respondents were asked: In your opinion, what are the most important problems facing this country that government should address? (Note: Respondents could give up to three responses. Figures show % of respondents who cite each problem as among their top three.) Copyright Afrobarometer

3 Figure 2: Citizen prioritization of the SDGs 34 countries 2016/2018 SDG8: Decent work and economic growth SDG2: Zero hunger SDG3: Good health and well-being SDG16: Peace, justice and strong institutions SDG9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure SDG6: Clean water and sanitation SDG1: No poverty 2 SDG4: Quality education SDG7: Affordable and clean energy SDG11: Sustainable cities and communities SDG13: Climate action 4% 3% SDG10: Reduced inequalities SDG5: Gender equality 1% 0% 20% 40% 60% (Figure shows % of responses to the question In your opinion, what are the most important problems facing this country that government should address? mapped onto the SDGs.) Copyright Afrobarometer

4 Figure 3: SDG priority vs. government performance 34 countries 2016/2018 SDG8 ("decent work and economic growth") Perf: Managing the economy SDG8 ("decent work and economic growth") Perf: Creating jobs SDG2 ("zero hunger") Perf: Ensuring everyone has enough to eat 36% SDG3 ("good health and well-being") Perf: Improving basic health services SDG16 ("peace, justice and strong institutions") Perf: Fighting corruption in government SDG16 ("peace, justice and strong institutions") Perf: Reducing crime SDG6 ("clean water and sanitation") Perf: Providing water and sanitation services SDG9 ("industry, innovation and infrastructure") Perf: Maintaining roads and bridges SDG1 ("no poverty") Perf: Improving living standards of the poor 5 34% 49% 44% 46% 2 30% SDG4 ("quality education") Perf: Addressing educational needs 54% SDG7 ("affordable and clean energy") Perf: Providing a reliable supply of electricity SDG10 ("reduced inequalities") Perf: Narrowing gaps between rich and poor SDG10 ("reduced inequalities") Perf: Protecting rights and promoting opportunities for disabled people SDG5 ("gender equality") Perf: Promoting opportunities and equality for women 1% 20% 45% 49% 64% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Priority Performance (Figure shows % of responses to Afrobarometer questions about most important problems ( Priority ) and government performance ( Performance, fairly well or very well ), mapped onto the SDGs.) Copyright Afrobarometer

5 For more information, please contact: Afrobarometer Brian Howard Telephone: Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Telephone: Visit us online at: Follow our releases on #VoicesAfrica. Copyright Afrobarometer