What the client needed
Local governments in Zambia need to raise revenue fairly and transparently, and property tax is a key source. The Local Government Revenue Initiative (LoGRI), led by the International Centre for Tax and Development, develops policy tools to help them do so.
In Mansa, LoGRI needed accurate data on the external features of about 5% of all properties, around 1,300 to 1,400 buildings across every neighbourhood, to inform property tax reform and build trust between the council and citizens.
How M31 Research delivered
M31 Research secured approvals, sensitised communities, and recruited and trained enumerators, supervisors and back-checkers on the survey protocols, tools and COVID-19 safety measures. Enumerators used LoGRI's GPS coordinates and a controlled random walk to reach sampled properties, recording features such as floors, wall materials and condition on tablets running ODK.
Data was uploaded daily and checked through high-frequency checks, back-checking, supervisor spot checks and GIS mapping. A follow-up round revisited about 944 properties to validate street information.
What we delivered
- Stratified random sample of about 5% of properties in Mansa
- ODK survey tools with GPS capture
- High-frequency checks, back-checks and spot checks
- Follow-up visits to about 944 properties
- Dissemination events in Lusaka and Mansa
What changed for the client
The survey covered the full target sample and gave LoGRI high-quality property data to support its policy goals. Findings were shared with stakeholders at dissemination events in Lusaka and Mansa, contributing to fairer local revenue systems and greater transparency, trust and accountability in property tax administration.
Key findings and outcomes
- Full target sample of properties covered
- Street data validated through targeted follow-up visits
- Findings presented to stakeholders in Lusaka and Mansa
