Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the largest public health challenges of our time. Yet global action to tackle AMR is insufficient - with a complex maze of issues to navigate, poor understanding of the drivers and impacts, and relatively limited public engagement to raise awareness and change behaviors. 

Citizen-generated data (CGD) can help close this global knowledge and policy gap through generating rich, personal insights from citizens and communities that cannot be gained through routine surveillance data. Better CGD is central to improving community awareness around AMR and informing decision-making among communities and policymakers to take collective action on AMR.  

With funding from Wellcome, Africa's Voices Foundation and the Global Partnership are collaborating to generate and use Citizen-Generated Data to tackle antimicrobial resistance in Kenya.

We are using CGD collection methods across three counties in Kenya Kiambu, Bungoma and Kilifi - to empower communities, health-workers, researchers and policymakers to generate and use data on AMR. 

Data collection methods include:

  1. Working with local radio stations on the county level. We are running 8 radio shows in each county running for two months. Each radio show brings in an AMR expert to discuss issues on AMR pertinent to the county and allows for conversations on how citizens can play a more active role. Each radio show is accompanied by a ‘question of the day’ which allows participants to respond to the question via SMS through a shortcode. 
  2. Listening groups to increase citizen input on policy projects. For participants who are not able to listen to the show, we have organized listening groups where about 10-15 participants listen to the radio show together and engage in a discussion on the conversation on the radio show. 
  3. SMS Surveys for a wide span of data, to receive feedback from listeners. We ask the audience to respond to a question that is asked during the radio show. The SMS is through a free short code.  
  4. Interviews with key AMR informants at the county level to understand policy priorities and the direction for strengthening AMR in the counties. 

Please read how we are adhering to data ethics in this project.