Afrobarometer, a pan-African research network dedicated to making citizen voice a key pillar of Africa policy making, kicked off a four-day workshop in Accra, Ghana, aimed at equipping civil society organisations (CSOs) and journalists with the necessary skills to use public attitude data effectively.

In an era when access to credible data is increasingly crucial for journalists and CSOs, Afrobarometer works to empower individuals and organisations with the skills needed to make evidence-based decisions, advocate effectively, and report accurately on issues impacting communities.

Through this free training workshop, 20 CSO representatives and 20 journalists from West Africa will gain experience in accessing, analysing, and leveraging survey data relevant to their daily work. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the range of data made available through Afrobarometer surveys, as well as how to use Afrobarometer’s free online data analysis tool.

Training modules include how to understand and analyse survey data as well as best practices for incorporating data into reporting and advocacy initiatives.

"Afrobarometer provides an invaluable resource for accessing data on key issues affecting our communities and our countries,” says Joseph Asunka, CEO of Afrobarometer.

“By capacitating people to use Afrobarometer data, we can better equip various policy actors with the knowledge and tools necessary to report accurately and advocate effectively on the critical issues that affect us all”, he added.

In addition to producing and disseminating high-quality survey data and analysis on African attitudes, experiences, and aspirations, building capacity on the continent for survey research, analysis, and communication is a core goal of the Afrobarometer network.

About Afrobarometer

Afrobarometer (AB) is a trusted source of high-quality data and analysis on what Africans are thinking. With an unmatched track record of 350,000+ interviews in 39 countries, representing the views of 80% of the African population, AB is leading the charge to bridge the continent’s data gap. AB data inform many global indices, such as the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer, and the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators. The data are also used for country risk analyses and by credit rating and forecasting agencies such as the Economist Intelligence Unit. All AB data sets are publicly available on the website and may be analysed free of charge using AB’s online data analysis tool.