Sub-Saharan African Regional Chapter
A new regional chapter of WAPOR – WAPOR Sub-Saharan Africa – has been founded in August of 2022. WAPOR Council has approved the formal chapter application on August 17, 2022, and the festive launch of the new chapter took place on November 12, 2022, at the WAPOR 75th annual conference in Dubai, UAE. WAPOR-SSA is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. A Caretaker Executive Committee has been established before the chapter’s first elections due in 2023 comprising Interim President Angela Ambitho (Infotrak Research & Consulting, Kenya); Interim Vice-President Mari Harris (IPSOS, South Africa); Interim Secretary-Treasurer Paul Nnanwobu (Random Dynamic Resources, Nigeria). The WAPOR SSA Constitution was adopted in 2022 and amended in 2025 (Constitution text available here).
WAPOR sincerely congratulates the SSA team on this important achievement and greatly appreciate all their efforts, patience and persistence over the last 5 years which made this amazing project happen. WAPOR mission to promote the right to conduct and publish scientific public opinion research remains highly relevant in the conditions of new social, political, security, economic and healthcare challenges which societies worldwide face these days. The newly established WAPOR-SSA Regional Chapter is an important platform to extent WAPOR activities and mission further to the African continent.
Activities and membership of WAPOR SSA shall be primarily focused on the countries of Sub-Saharan African region. Public opinion researchers and WAPOR members from neighboring or other world regions will be welcome to join WAPOR SSA should they have the wiliness to do so. Acquiring membership in the new chapter will be possible from January 1, 2023, via the WAPOR membership portal: http://members.wapor.org/welcome.
WAPOR SSA and its members commit themselves to the professional and ethical principles summarized in the WAPOR Code of Professional Ethics and Practices. The new WAPOR-SSA Regional Chapter will engage in a robust ongoing conversation using publications, seminars, meetings and other educational initiatives about the best way to collect data and maintain data quality in and around the sub-Saharan African region. WAPOR-SSA will continue to promote in each country or region in Sub Saharan Africa the right to conduct and publish scientific research on what the people and its groups think and how this thinking is influenced by various factors. WAPOR-SSA will help to promote further professional and ethical standards to enhance the capacities and skills of the national public opinion research communities across the African continents. Activities of the new chapter will ensure the citizens’ voices as the critical force to shape and transform African societies are heard.
WAPOR SSA 2024 Conference – Advancing Public Opinion Research in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Sub-Saharan African (SSA) Regional Chapter of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR) successfully hosted its inaugural conference in April 2024 in Mombasa, Kenya. The event brought together over 100 participants from more than 20 countries, including academics, government officials, media professionals, and industry experts.
The conference provided a platform for discussions on the growing significance of public opinion research in governance, democracy, and policy-making across Africa. Key themes included:
- The Role of Opinion Polling in Governance: How public opinion research contributes to decision-making, election integrity, and political accountability.
- Innovations in Data Collection: The impact of digital technologies, mobile surveys, and AI-driven analytics on the accuracy and reach of public opinion polling.
- Public Opinion and Social Justice: Examining the influence of public sentiment on human rights, civic engagement, and socio-economic development.
- Challenges and Opportunities for Polling in Africa: Addressing obstacles such as data accessibility, political resistance, and methodological concerns while identifying opportunities for advancing research in the region.
The conference underscored the importance of reliable and transparent opinion research in strengthening democratic governance and fostering evidence-based policymaking. WAPOR SSA remains committed to promoting best practices, ethical research standards, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance the quality and impact of public opinion research in Sub-Saharan Africa.
For more details, visit: WAPOR SSA November 2024 Spotlight Interview
Contact details for WAPOR SSA
Mailing Address
WAPOR SSA
103 East Manani Rd, Lavington
Nairobi, Kenya
E-mail: info@wapor-ssa.org
Website: https://wapor-ssa.org/