Download - Uchaguzi Kenya 2013: Citizens Monitoring Elections through SMS and Web Platforms

Transcript
Page 1: Uchaguzi Kenya 2013: Citizens Monitoring Elections through SMS and Web Platforms

UCHAGUZI KENYA 2013CITIZENS MONITORING ELECTIONS THROUGH SMS AND WEB PLATFORMS

7KH�IRFXV�RI �FURZGVRXUFLQJ�LV�LQFUHDVLQJO\�VKLIWLQJ�WR�WKH�RQOLQH�UHDOP��ZLWK�PRVW�FRPPRQ�H[-DPSOHV�RI �,&7�EDVHG�FURZGVRXUFLQJ�RFFXUULQJ�GXULQJ�GLVDVWHU�UHOLHI �DQG�FULVLV�PDSSLQJ�VLWXDWLRQV��([DPSOHV�LQFOXGH�WKH������HDUWKTXDNHV�LQ�+DLWL�DQG�&KLOH��ZKHUH�8VKDKLGL�FURZGVRXUFLQJ�RQOLQH�SODWIRUP�ZDV�XVHG��,Q�WKLV�SODWIRUP��606�PHVVDJHV�ZHUH�VHQW�WR�WKH�SODWIRUP�DQG�D�QHWZRUN�RI �

YROXQWHHUV�YHULÀHG�WKH�LQIRUPDWLRQ�DQG�PDSSHG�LQ�RQWR�D�SXEOLF�FURZGPDS��606�ZDV�QRW�WKH�RQO\�media used as Twitter was also used to provide situational awareness and to marshal people and or-

JDQL]DWLRQV�WR�SURYLGH�DVVLVWDQFH�ZKHUH�QHHGHG��'XULQJ�WKH�����������$XVWUDOLDQ�ÁRRGV��4XHHQV-land police also took to Twitter and Facebook to provide the public with regular updates and to

deal with the spread of misinformation on Twitter.

7KH�RYHUDUFKLQJ�OHVVRQV�OHDUQHG�IURP�RXU�HYDOXDWLRQ�RI �8FKDJX]L�DSSO\�WR�DQ\�QDWLRQ�ZLVKLQJ�WR�FDUU\�RXW�DQ�,&7�EDVHG�HOHFWLRQ�PRQLWRULQJ��)RU�RQH��VXFK�D�GHSOR\PHQW�LV�D�FRPSOH[�HFRV\VWHP�

of organization, resources and volunteers and therefore requires all processes to began early to

build effective partnerships that will be able to arrange all the various aspects needed. Due to the

FRPSOH[LW\�RI �UXQQLQJ�VXFK�DQ�H[WHQVLYH�HOHFWLRQ�ZDWFK��FDUU\LQJ�RXW�VXFK�D�GHSOR\PHQW�UHTXLUHV�many resources. Therefore it is vital to have a strong project lead that is supported by a team of

project managers from each core organization who can then manage the available resources for

PD[LPXP�HIIHFWLYHQHVV�LQ�SURSHU�WLPLQJ��

'RFXPHQWDWLRQ�RI �WKH�ZKROH�SURFHVV�LV�DOVR�YLWDO�WR�HQDEOH�UHÁHFWLRQ�LQ�KLQGVLJKW�DIWHU�WKH�GHSOR\-PHQW��)RU�8FKDJX]L�.(��WKLV�ZDV�ZHOO�GRQH�WKURXJK�RQOLQH�WKURXJK�ZLNL�GRFXPHQWV��7KH�JUHDWHVW�OHVVRQ�LV�WKDW�IXWXUH�GHSOR\PHQWV�VKRXOG�OHDUQ�IURP�SUHYLRXV�GHSOR\PHQWV��)RU�H[DPSOH��WKH�QH[W�QDWLRQ�WR�FDUU\�RXW�DQ�,&7�EDVHG�HOHFWLRQ�PRQLWRULQJ�VKRXOG�OHDUQ�IURP�WKH�.HQ\DQ�FRQWH[W�DQG�

improve on their deployment so that each deployment is more effective.

2XU�HYDOXDWLRQ�UHYHDOV�WKDW�WKH�GHSOR\PHQW�ZRXOG�KDYH�EHHQ�VWUHQJWKHQHG�ZLWK�H[SOLFLW�VWUDWHJLHV�guiding the various areas of the deployment and communicated well to all partners. A partnership

strategy would have indicated the roles and responsibilities of partners and made provisions for

VDIHJXDUGLQJ�FRPPLWPHQWV��)RU�H[DPSOH��DQ�RYHUDOO�RXWUHDFK�DQG�SXEOLFLW\�VWUDWHJ\�ZRXOG�KDYH�detailed the activities needed to improve awareness and use of the platform by Kenyan citizens

and organizations. For future deployments, considerations should be made around whether deploy-

PHQWV�ZLOO�EH�RQH�WLPH�HYHQW�EDVHG�RU�SURORQJHG�RYHU�WKH�HOHFWLRQ�F\FOH��*UHDWHU�DXWRPDWLRQ�RI �the platform should also be seriously looked at as this will help to reduce the manual processing

time.

There are lessons for mainstream media and for government agencies with responsibilities for

ensuring public safety, such as the police, where social media is concerned. The mainstream media

and government have a key role in helping to educate the citizenry on their responsibilities as citi-

]HQV�DQG�DOVR�RQ�LQFUHDVLQJ�DZDUHQHVV�DQG�XVH�RI �,&7�EDVHG�(OHFWLRQ�:DWFK��7KLV�DZDUHQHVV�DQG�civic education should not be a singular event but a continuous process of training and educating.

7KLV�VKRXOG�EH�GRQH�H[WHQVLYHO\�DPRQJ�PHPEHUV�UDWKHU�WKDQ�D�VHOHFW�IHZ��6HFRQGO\��PDLQVWUHDP�media has shown adaptation towards the same by creating their online presence and engaging with

FLWL]HQV��*RYHUQPHQW�DJHQFLHV�QHHG�WR�EH�PRUH�SURDFWLYH�LQ�WKH�VDPH��)RU�ERWK�PHGLD�DQG�JRYHUQ-

ment, their greatest challenge will be ensuring validity of information received in the quickest time

possible to allow for reactionary measures to be taken.

)URP�WKLV�GHSOR\PHQW��WKH�SURRI �RI �FRQFHSW�RI �8FKDJX]L�KDV�EHHQ�FOHDUO\�PDGH��WKH�IDFW�WKDW�XV-HUV�DQG�SDUWQHUV�VLQFHUHO\�EHOLHYHG�LQ�WKH�XWLOLW\�RI �WKH�SURGXFW�KLJKOLJKWV�WKH�YDOXH�RI �VXFK�DQ�,&7�HOHFWLRQ�ZDWFK�LQLWLDWLYH��1RQHWKHOHVV��LW�LV�KLJKO\�UHFRPPHQGHG�WKDW�8FKDJX]L�SDUWQHUV�DSSO\�WKH�LGHQWLÀHG�OHVVRQV�OHDUQHG�WR�WKHLU�RSHUDWLRQV�DQG�IXWXUH�GHSOR\PHQWV��RWKHUZLVH��WKH�VDPH�UHFRP-

mendations will be repeated each time a deployment is held, as observed when comparing this

UHSRUW�WR�WKH�HYDOXDWLRQ�RI �WKH�8FKDJX]L������GHSOR\PHQW��:LWK�SURSHU�SURMHFW��WLPH�DQG�UHVRXUFH�PDQDJHPHQW��PDQDJHPHQW�RI �FLWL]HQ�H[SHFWDWLRQV��DQG�YDOXH�FUHDWLRQ�DPRQJVW�SDUWQHUV��IXWXUH�

GHSOR\PHQWV�ZLOO�LPSURYH�LQ�WKHLU�HIÀFLHQF\�DQG�LPSDFW�

7KH�8VKDKLGL�SODWIRUP�LV�RSHQ�VRXUFH�DQG�DYDLODEOH�IRU�IUHH�WR�LQGLYLGXDOV�DQG�RUJDQL]DWLRQV�DQG�LV�now being utilized by organizations worldwide for information collection, visualization and inter-

DFWLYH�PDSSLQJ��,WV�NH\�IHDWXUHV�LQFOXGH�

� �� )UHH��2SHQ�6RXUFH��7KH�8VKDKLGL�3ODWIRUP�LV�IUHH�IRU�GRZQORDG�DQG�XVH��,W�LV�UH�� � OHDVHG�XQGHU�WKH�*18�/HVVHU�*HQHUDO�3XEOLF�/LFHQVH��/*3/��� �� ,QWHUDFWLYH�0DSSLQJ��7KH�8VKDKLGL�SODWIRUP�JLYHV�LQIRUPDWLRQ�PDSSLQJ�WRROV�� �� '\QDPLF�7LPHOLQH��2QH�FDQ�WUDFN�UHSRUWV�RQ�WKH�PDS�RYHU�WLPH��2QH�FDQ�ÀOWHU�GDWD��� � E\�WLPH�DQG�VHH�ZKHQ�WKLQJV�KDSSHQHG�DQG�ZKHUH��DV�LW·V�DOVR�WLHG�WR�WKH�PDS�� �� 0XOWLSOH�'DWD�6WUHDPV��7KH�8VKDKLGL�3ODWIRUP�DOORZV�RQH�WR�HDVLO\�FROOHFW�LQIRUPD�� � WLRQ�YLD�WH[W�PHVVDJHV��HPDLO��7ZLWWHU�DQG�ZHE�IRUPV�

,Q�WKH�\HDU������WR�������8VKDKLGL�KDV�JURZQ�LQ�DGRSWLRQ�DQG��JHQHUDWLYH�XVHV�RI �WKH�SODWIRUP��0RVW�8VKDKLGL�PDSV�GHYHORSHG�DIWHU������KDYH�DGGUHVVHG�FULVHV�RU�HOHFWLRQV�ZLWK�D�VWURQJ�HPHU-JHQFH�RI �KXPDQLWDULDQ�PDSV�DURXQG�WKH�ZRUOG��(J\SW��(XURSH��:HVWHUQ�6DKDUD��3DOHVWLQH��/LEHULD��6DXGL�$UDELD��3DNLVWDQ��$WKHQV�DQG�6RXWKHUQ�$IULFD��2WKHU�QRWDEOH�H[DPSOHV�RI �8VKDKLGL�GHSOR\-ments include:

� �� +DUDVV0DS�LQ�&DLUR��ZKLFK�DOORZV�ZRPHQ�WR�UHSRUW�RQ�VH[XDO�KDUDVVPHQW�LQ�WKH�FLW\� �� 7KH�8FKDJX]L�GHSOR\PHQW�IRU�HOHFWLRQ�PRQLWRULQJ�LQ�.HQ\D·V������JHQHUDO�HOHFWLRQ� �� )DFLOLW\�PDSSLQJ�IRU�/LEHULD·V�HDUO\�ZDUQLQJ�V\VWHP� �� 2LO�VSLOO�UHSRUWV�IURP�WKH�*XOI �&RDVW�LQ�/RXLVLDQD�DQG�7H[DV� �� (OHFWLRQ�LUUHJXODULW\�UHSRUWLQJ�LQ�DOPRVW�HYHU\�6RXWK�$PHULFDQ�FRXQWU\� �� /LE\D�FULVLV�UHSRUWLQJ� �� -DSDQHVH�HDUWKTXDNH�DQG�WVXQDPL� �� +DLWL�HDUWKTXDNH� �� 3DNLVWDQ�ÁRRGV� �� 5XVVLDQ�ÀUHV� �� 7DQ]DQLDQ�JHQHUDO�HOHFWLRQV� �� .HQ\DQ�UHIHUHQGXP�DQG�HOHFWLRQ� �� $UDE�VSULQJ

USHAHIDI//

THE POWER OF CROWDSOURCING//

CONCLUSIONS//

UCHAGUZI

MEDIA MONITORING TEAM SMS TEAM

3$571(56 CROWD

TRANSLATION

GEO LOCATION

REPORT

EMERGENCY

VERIFICATION

TECHANALYSIS

VHDUFK��ÀOWHULQJ��HGLWLQJ�DQG�initial categorization

locate

reports

categorization, editing,

and approval of reports

analyzing information recieved in the

platform. provide situation room data

technical support

translate

relevant

messages

creation of report out

RI �606

send urgent

messages

urgent reports

are immidiately

geo-located and

categorised

triangulation of information

DQG�YHULÀFDWLRQ�RI �XUJHQWinformarion on the ground

THE UCHAGUZI

WORKFLOW

The ideal feedback loop of a crowdsourcing deployment

Angela Crandall and Rhoda Omenya