2013 Ibrahim Index of African Governance - summary

The 2013 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) provides a framework for citizens and key stakeholders to assess the delivery of public goods and services (including health services), and policy outcomes, across Africa.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation defines governance as:

“the provision of the political, social and economic public goods and services that a citizen has the right to expect from his or her state, and that a state has the responsibility to deliver to its citizens”.

The IIAG is compiled using many international and African data sources.

The IIAG focuses on four overarching categories:

• Safety and rule of law
• Participation and human rights
• Sustainable economic opportunity
• Human development

The latter includes health, which encompasses six indicators: maternal and child mortality, antiretroviral treatment provision, malaria and tuberculosis, undernourishment, and immunisation (Measles and DPT).

The 2013 IIAG assesses progress made in all six MamaYe countries in each of the aforementioned thematic areas:

• Ghana stands out, as it ranks 7th out of 52 African countries in term of overall governance performance in 2013 and scores above the West African average. It has undergone the biggest improvements in the human development category, including health. To read more about how Ghana is faring, click here.

• Sierra Leone ranks 31st out of 52. Despite the fact that its overall governance score remains below both the continental and West African average, it is one of the five countries which have undergone the most significant improvements in governance since 2000, and it has shown particular improvements in the areas of Safety and rule of law. However, it ranks its lowest in the health sub-category (49th out of 52). To read more about how Sierra Leone is faring, click here.

• Malawi ranks 16th out of 52, but its overall governance score remains below the Southern African average. It has however undergone notable improvements since 2000, with the biggest improvements relating to human development and more specifically to the health sub-category. To read more about how Malawi is faring, click here.

• Tanzania ranks 17th out of 52 African countries and third out of 11 in the East Africa region. It has shown the biggest improvement in the human development category since 2000, and more specifically in the health sub-category. To read more about how Tanzania is faring, click here.

• Despite improvements since 2000, Nigeria ranks the lowest amongst all MamaYe countries (41st out of 52 African countries). In addition, its ranking has fallen eight places since 2000. It furthermore underwent decline in scores for two categories (safety and rule of law, participation and human rights), while progressing significantly with regard to human development and more specifically health. To read more about how Nigeria is faring, click here.

• Ethiopia ranks 33rd out of 52. Since 2000, Ethiopia has progressed the most in the category human development and the sub-category health, as well as progressing in a range of other categories. However, its overall score remains below both the African and East African average. To read more about how Ethiopia is faring, click here.

 You can explore the findings from the report interactively here.