WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG Swaziland Strives To Reduce Poverty, Empower Women Swaziland Round 5 Release Event 4
What is the Afrobarometer? The Afrobarometer is an independent, nonpartisan research project that measures the social, political, and economic atmosphere in Africa. It is a comparative series of public attitude surveys that covers up to 35 African countries in Round 5 (2011-2013). Based on representative national samples, the surveys assess citizen attitudes to democracy and governance, markets, and civil society, among other topics. Purpose: To measure popular perspectives on the social, political, and economic environments in each country where it is implemented and across Africa. Goal: To give the public a voice in policy making processes by providing high-quality public opinion data to policy-makers, policy advocates and civil society organizations, academics, media, donors and investors, and ordinary Africans. WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
Who is the Afrobarometer? An African-led Network of survey researchers and analysts: In each country there is a National Partner responsible for survey implementation. In Swaziland, the National Partner is activquest (Pty) Ltd. Four Core Partners provide technical assistance and Network management: Center for Democratic Development (CDD), Ghana Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), based in Cape Town Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi, Kenya Institute for Empirical Research in Political Economy (IREEP), Benin Two Support Units for capacity building and quality assurance Michigan State University University of Cape Town Round 5 Core Funders include DFID, SIDA, USAID and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
Survey Methodology Sample design was nationally representative, random, clustered, stratified, multi-stage area probability sample The survey targets all adult citizens of Swaziland (Swazi s 18 years and older). A standard questionnaire with a section for country specific questions is used in all 35 countries. Household survey utilizing face to face interviews in the language of the respondent s choice. The survey interviewed 1200 adult Swazi s with a +/- 3% margin of error at 95% confidence interval Afrobarometer s work in Swaziland is coordinated by the research team at activquest (Pty) Ltd. a research consultancy based at the Gables in Ezulwini WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
Survey Demographics Gender Location Region Education Unweighted Weighted Male 50% 50% Female 50% 50% Urban 22% 22% Rural 78% 78% Hhohho 27% 28% Manzini 31% 31% Shiselweni 21% 20% Lubombo 21% 20% No formal schooling 11% 11% Primary school completed 23% 24% Secondary school completed/high school 50% 51% Post-secondary/high school qualifications 16% 15% WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG GENDER EQUALITY AND THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN PUBLIC OFFICE IN SWAZILAND
Topic 1: Key Findings Majority of women feel politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me cannot really understand what is going on Significant number of women not interested in public affairs. Swazis say women are unequally treated by employers WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 Over 65 Average Interest In Public Affairs Participants were asked: How interested would you say you are in public affairs; you know, in politics and government? 60% 50% 49% 51% 53% 47% 56% 44% 56% 56% 44% 43% 56% 44% 50% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Not at all interested/not very interested Somewhat interested/very Interested
Percent Percentage of Women who say Politics & Government are Complicated Participants were asked: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me cannot really understand what is going on? 90 80 77 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 9 14 0 Strongly Agree/Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree/Strongly Disagree
Participation in National Elections Demographic of those who voted in 2008 by Age and Gender 70% 60% 50% 40% 52% 48% 58% 42% 41% 59% 52% 48% 43% 57% 52% 48% 49% 51% 30% 20% 10% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 Over 65 Average Male Female
Attend a Campaign Meeting or Rally by Gender Participants were asked: Thinking about the last national election in September 2008, did you: Attend a campaign meeting or rally? Male Gender Female Total Last national election: attend a campaign meeting or rally No 74% 84% 79% Yes 25% 15% 20% Don't know 1% 1% 1% Total 100% 100% 100%
Gender Equality Statement 1: In our country, women should have equal rights and receive the same treatment as men do. Statement 2: Women have always been subject to traditional laws and customs, and should remain so 26% 2% 72% Strongly Agree/Agree that women should have equal rights and receive the same treatment as men do Agree/Strongly Agree that women have always been subject to traditional laws and customs, and should remain so Agree with neither
Gender Equality Gender Equality by Urban/Rural Strongly Agree/Agree that women should have equal rights and receive the same treatment as men do Agree/Strongly Agree that women have always been subject to traditional laws and customs, and should remain so Urban Rural 78% 70% 20% 28% Agree with neither 2% 2% Equal Rights by Gender Strongly Agree/Agree that women should have equal rights and receive the same treatment as men do Agree/Strongly Agree that women have always been subject to traditional laws and customs, and should remain so Male Female Total 64% 79% 72% 34% 19% 26% Agree with neither 2% 2% 2%
Are women treated unequally by traditional leaders Are women treated unequally by the police and courts Are women treated unequally by employers Treatment of Women Participants were asked: In your opinion, how often, in this country: Are women treated unequally by (a) traditional leaders, (b) police and courts (c) employers Total Rural 50 52 Urban 58 Total 39 Rural 36 Urban 46 Total Rural 46 48 Urban 55 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Percentage of Population Segment Who Answered 'Often/Always' (%)
Swaziland Lesotho Mozambique Zimbabwe South Africa Malawi Namibia Zambia Botswana No of Respondents Who Answered (Often/Always) % Cross Country Comparison Of How Often Women Are Treated Unequally 60 50 40 30 20 48 38 52 33 34 44 42 41 39 40 40 37 34 31 29 33 29 26 21 21 30 32 27 27 24 18 15 10 0 How often women treated unequally by traditional leaders How often women treated unequally by police and courts How often women treated unequally by employers
WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG SWAZI PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS WITHIN A POVERTY CONTEXT
Topic 2: Key Findings Top three problems facing Swaziland are Unemployment, Poverty/Destitution and Management of The Economy. Swazis are of the opinion that their present living conditions have not improved or have taken a turn for the worse in the last twelve months. Majority of Swazis have experienced some form of deprivation at least once or twice in the past year. WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG
Percent Swazi Perceptions of Their Current Living Conditions Participants were asked: In general, how would you describe your own present living conditions? 60 50 49 40 30 25 26 20 10 0 Your Present Living Conditions Very Bad/Fairly Bad Neither Good Nor Bad Fairly Good/Very Good
Percent Swazi Perceptions of Their Living Conditions Compared To 12 Months Ago Participants were asked: Looking back, how do you rate the following compared to twelve months ago 45 40 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 32 28 0 Much worse/ Worse Same Better/ Much better
Percent Most important problems facing Swaziland Participants were asked: In your opinion, what are the most important problems facing this country that government should address 25 20 21 15 10 5 9 8 0 Unemployment Poverty/destitution Management of economy MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES
Percent Most important problems facing Swaziland by Age Group Participants were asked: In your opinion, what are the most important problems facing this country that government should address 30 27 25 24 21 21 21 20 17 15 10 5 7 11 8 8 7 7 12 6 13 9 7 12 4 9 8 0 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 Over 65 Overall Age Group Unemployment Poverty/ destitution Management of economy
Gender Most important problems facing Swaziland by Gender Participants were asked: In your opinion, what are the most important problems facing this country that government should address Female 17% 11% 8% Male 25% 7% 8% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% Percent Unemployment Poverty/ destitution Management of economy
Percent Unemployment Status Participants were asked: Do you have a job that pays cash income? If yes, is it full-time or part-time? If no, are you presently looking for a job? (Unemployed refers to no (looking) and no (not looking) and employed refers to yes, part time and yes, full time. ) 50 45 45 40 35 30 29 25 20 15 10 5 10 15 0 No (not looking) No (looking) Yes, part time Yes, full time
Percentage Government Performance in managing the economy Question: How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following matters, or haven t you heard enough to say? 90 80 82 77 70 65 68 60 58 50 40 30 36 33 30 20 17 19 10 0 5 Managing the economy Improving the living standards of the poor 2 2 1 Creating jobs Keeping prices down 5 Narrowing gaps between rich and poor Very Badly / Fairly Badly Fairly Well / Very Well Don't know/haven't heard enough
Experienced deprivation in the past year Participants were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without water or medical care or cooking fuel or food to eat or cash income 50% 45% 46% 40% 35% 30% 31% 28% 25% 20% 15% 10% Never Just Once Or Twice/Several Times Many Times/Always
Experience of deprivation in the past year Participants were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without water or medical care or cooking fuel or food to eat or cash income Cash Income 15 38 47 Enough Fuel To Cook Your Food 60 29 11 Medicines or Medical Treatment 52 37 10 Enough Clean Water For Home Use 47 29 24 Enough Food To Eat 34 46 19 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Never Just once or twice / Several Times Many times / Always
Experience of deprivation in the past year Participants were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without water or medical care or cooking fuel or food to eat or cash income 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 78% 75%73% 70% 69% 67%66% Burundi Liberia Lesotho Madagascar Sierra Leone Niger Swaziland 50% 33% 27% 25%21%19% Egypt 34 Country Average Ghana Cape Verde Tunisia Morocco 9% 7% Mauritius Algeria At Least One Food Shortage
For more information and publications, please contact Edward Okoth (info@activquest.com) and visit the Afrobarometer website at: www.afrobarometer.org WWW.AFROBAROMETER.ORG