Post by Centre for Statistical Analysis and Research - CESAR

CESAR is proud to share the findings of a national qualitative study we conducted for the Government Communication and Information System GCIS. "From Awareness to Influence" explored what it truly means to be an informed and empowered citizen in South Africa. We conducted the study across all 9 provinces and 27 districts, interviewed GCIS leadership, and held 27 focus group discussions with 255 purposively sampled community participants to reflect South Africa's full diversity. What we found challenges a common assumption. South Africans are not uninformed. They are informed citizens whose participation does not consistently translate into influence. The barrier is not awareness. It is the institutional gap between consultation and meaningful outcomes. The findings are clear, and the recommendations are actionable. At CESAR, we are proud to contribute evidence that supports stronger public participation, more responsive governance and more citizen-centred outcomes in South Africa. #PublicPolicy #GovernmentCommunication #Research #CitizenEngagement #PublicSector #EvidenceBasedPolicy #SouthAfrica #CommunicationStrategy #SocialImpact #PolicyResearch