The Mwananchi Programme works to strengthen ordinary citizens voices, and improve state accountability and responsiveness to citizens' interests in Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia.

We create change by maximising the ability of civil society organisations, the media, elected representatives and traditional leaders to enable citizens to effectively hold their governments to account. Read more about our theory of change>

We do this by supporting over 60 innovative projects which work closely with communities to trial new ways of amplifying citizens’ voices, increase access to public services and enable them to interact with the state to further good development outcomes. Read more about our projects>

What works in citizen voice and accountability in Africa? Read our stories of change.

Sierra Leone - Let us talk... about women's participation in local politics

Ethiopia - Accountability starts with acknowledgement: local media and health care

Uganda - Building political ground - undermining accountability?

Ghana - Welcoming unexpected outcomes: media for good governance in Ghana

Malawi - Using 'village voices' to facilitate development at the community level

Zambia - Local radio turns up the volume on local voices

New video: introduction to Mwananchi in Sierra Leone