The Afrobarometer is an independent, nonpartisan research project that measures the social, political, and economic atmosphere in Africa. By using, among other things, questionnaires the barometer collects and disseminates information regarding Africans’ views on democracy,  governance, economic reform, civil society, and quality of life. Round 1 surveys were conducted  between 1999 and 2001. At that time, the project covered seven countries in Southern Africa  (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe), three countries in West  Africa (Ghana, Nigeria and Mali) and two in East Africa (Uganda and Tanzania). Round 2 surveys  were completed by November 2003 with four new countries added: Kenya, Senegal, Cape Verde and  Mozambique. Round 3 surveys were conducted from March 2005 to February 2006 in the same  countries, plus Benin and Madagascar.  Round 4 surveys were conducted during 2008 and 2009 in 20 countries, reflecting the addition of Burkina Faso and Liberia.

The Survey Manuals 4 & 5 aims to assist Afrobarometer National Investigators and other members of the Country Team in preparing and implementing the Rounds surveys. The Survey Manual lays out the methodologies for managing, conducting, and reporting on Afrobarometer surveys. It distills the practical knowledge accumulated from the different rounds, it lists the project’s best practices and reflects in-depth discussions from Planning Workshops for Afrobarometer Round. The Manual should thus be regarded as the essential guidebook to the Afrobarometer. Unlike round 5, the manual from Round 4 contains a conceptual map of the questionnaires used for this round.