Want to find safe, clean water in Zanzibar? Just Google it

The partnership between Google and UN-Habitat will establish citizen-based participatory monitoring techniques to support and empower targeted communities.

It has developed new systems for collection of geo-referenced data that is ranked according to gender and socio-economic groups, and supported by information on the health and environmental status of the target groups and project areas.

It has also established a system of benchmarking service providers not only to improve service coverage and efficiency, but also to enhance accountability to customers.

Data collection and monitoring is an essential tool in tracking progress towards the achievement of the water and sanitation targets of the Millennium Development Goals.

In addition to helping policy- and decision-makers to improve their performance, it also provides communities with information that will empower them to demand better services.