The LGPI in Malawi: Selected Findings on Livelihood

Daily life for the average Malawian is characterized by an array of challenges. Given their reliance on subsistence agriculture, exposure to frequent climate shocks, and lack of a robust social safety net, many of the country’s citizens are trapped in a cycle of poverty. In response to these challenges, Malawians have developed a variety of coping mechanisms, primarily of an interpersonal nature. While there is some regional variation, the majority of Malawians report helping one another and engaging in mutually beneficial collective action on a regular basis. This reflects the fact that Malawian communities tend to be cohesive. It also reflects widely held perceptions that citizens must rely on each other, and not the state, when it comes to providing social insurance. That said, Malawians participate in formal politics at a high rate.

The Tunisian LGPI: Selected Findings on Political Participation

Political participation has become increasingly important in Tunisia following the Arab uprisings of 2011. Tunisia has taken significant steps toward democracy and done so in a relatively peaceful manner, avoiding the violent chaos and authoritarian resurrection seen in other Arab Spring countries. In October 2011, a Constituent Assembly election was held, and the new Tunisian constitution was passed in January 2014. In 2014, the parliamentary election was held in October, and two rounds of presidential elections were held in November and December, marking the completion of a four-year transitional period.

The Tunisian LGPI: Selected Findings on Gender

Tunisia has long been at the forefront of efforts to promote women’s rights in the Arab world, beginning with the 1956 passage by Prime Minister (later President) Habib Bourguiba of the region’s most secular and progressive Code of Personal Status. The code abolished polygamy and unilateral divorce, granted women the right to initiate divorce, and set a minimum age for marriage. In the years since Tunisian independence (which took place from 1952 to 1956), women have expanded their roles in the labor force and in politics. In 2004, the dominant party, the National Rally for Democracy (RCD), implemented gender quotas at the local, regional, and national levels, bringing the proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament to 23 percent and at the local level to 27percent.

The Tunisian Local Governance Performance Index: Selected Findings on Education

Tunisia has long recognized the importance of education for its development. The Education Act of 2002 deems education a “national priority” and makes schooling compulsory for children ages 6 to 16. Education is not only a “national right” for all citizens but “incumbent upon the citizens and the community.” Despite good intentions, however, progress has been sluggish in the past decade. In international TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) and PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests, Tunisians scored considerably lower than the global average. Tunisia must continue to invest efforts in enhancing education if it is to meet its goals. This report aims to assist citizens, policymakers, and educators in improving education by providing a snapshot of citizens’ experience with schools, drawn from the Local Governance Performance Index (LGPI).

LGPI Report

The Local Governance Performance Index (LGPI) provides a new approach to the measurement, analysis and improvement of local governances. The LGPI is a tool that aims to help countries collect, assess, and benchmark detailed information around issues of local and public sector performance and service delivery to citizens and businesses. It is also a methodology, using heavily clustered surveys to uncover important local - level variation in governance and service provision. This information aid s policymakers and development specialists in designing specific action plans, provide s an initial benchmark from which to measure of progress, and empower s citizens ’ and businesses’ voices to influence government efforts on improving quality and access of public service delivery.