ustawi

Ustawi is a term from the Swahili language that broadly denotes orderliness, civility, and social cohesion. In everyday usage, it refers to the state of being well-organized and disciplined, in both individuals and communities.

The word is used in academic and policy discussions in East Africa to describe aspects of governance, public behavior, and social development that contribute to stable and functional societies.

Its etymology in Swahili relates to arranging or putting in proper order, and it is often discussed in discussions about social life in contrast to disorder or chaos.

In public discourse, ustawi is invoked when examining how institutions, communities, and citizens cooperate to maintain law, security, and the common welfare. It can frame initiatives aimed at improving civic responsibility, education, or local governance.

As a proper noun, ustawi is also used as the name for programs, organizations, or campaigns in East Africa that aim to promote social order, ethical conduct, or community development, though such uses are diverse and not standardized.

See also: Swahili language; governance; social cohesion.