Liberia’s complex path to lasting peace

Liberia, situated on West Africa's coast, claims the distinction of being Sub-Saharan Africa's oldest republic. Established in 1821 by freed American slaves through the American Colonization Society, it became independent in 1847. For 102 years, from 1878 to 1980, Liberia was governed by the True Whig Party, operating under a single-party system. Unfortunately, this era was defined by underdevelopment, widespread corruption, and the mismanagement of precious natural resources. A significant turning point emerged on April 12, 1980, when the People's Redemption Council (PRC), descendants of the military, orchestrated a brutal coup that thrust Liberia into an internal maelstrom. Tribal tensions [...]

2023-08-18T12:41:07+00:0018th August 2023|

“Supporting Zimbabwe to get free and fair elections is not an event but a process”: The Role of the EU Election Observation Mission

The European Union deploys one of the largest observer missions to monitor the 2023 Zimbabwe elections. We spoke to Dr McDonald Lewanika, politics and development professional, about the importance of the verdict by EU election observers and what contributions European actors can make to assist Zimbabweans in getting the elections they want. By McDonald Lewanika and Katrin Seidel Earlier in the year, the European Union had sent 46 long-term observers and 11 political analysts to Zimbabwe. On Election Day over 150 observers from EU member states as well as Canada, Norway and Switzerland will be monitoring the elections. This is [...]

2023-08-18T12:32:05+00:0018th August 2023|

Five reforms to strengthen World Bank engagement

The urgency for global climate action has prompted World Bank management to rethink the Bank's mission, vision, operations, and financing through the Evolution Roadmap. Following a public consultation that ended in July, the Bank has hosted regional consultations to inform stakeholders and gather their feedback. Despite the global scale of the climate crisis and the need to co-create solutions at the community level, the Evolution Roadmap, in its current form, does not identify citizen engagement and social accountability (CESA) as a significant pillar to deliver its ambitious goals. Much of the current focus has been on mobilizing finances to increase [...]

2023-08-21T10:31:01+00:0017th August 2023|

Ingredients for a meaningful and ethical career

Written by Dridhata Silwal Kalpana Adhikari is an Integrity Icon winner in Nepal whose remarkable journey from doubt to becoming a champion of integrity is a shining example of resilience, perseverance, and believing in oneself. Her story is not just a personal triumph but an inspiration for all who face challenges in pursuing a meaningful and ethical career. Kalpana's journey is a testament to the power of integrity, the importance of empathy, and the transformative potential of dedication to a higher purpose. Turning adversity into opportunity Kalpana's choice to enter the government sector was filled with doubt. She dreamed of [...]

2023-08-15T14:06:24+00:0015th August 2023|

Shaping the narrative: strategic communication as a catalyst for effective governance

By Enene Ejembi  People in positions of power need to improve how they communicate, and be more open, collaborative with their communities. Transparent and inclusive communication between the government and the public is essential for building trust, promoting accountability, and fostering a thriving democracy. Thus, strategic communication is a fundamental aspect of effective governance and leadership. When citizens have access to accurate and timely information, it helps build public trust. It's not just about disseminating information; it's about empowering citizens and enabling active participation in the democratic process. It provides material evidence for holding government officials accountable for their actions [...]

2023-08-24T16:50:09+00:0015th August 2023|

G20 and the crisis of corruption: what has been the story this year?

As we enter the final stretch of India’s Presidency of the G20, what progress has been made in relation to key anti-corruption priorities? Sanjeeta Pant and Kathryn Westmore take a closer look. The G20 Indian Presidency and Anti-Corruption Priorities When India took over the Presidency of the G20 earlier this year, there was real hope that it would herald an increased focus on anti-corruption issues. As the final meeting of the Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) approaches, attention has turned to what progress has been made on the three anti-corruption priorities for this year and what might lie ahead for the [...]

2023-08-14T12:10:04+00:008th August 2023|

Introducing the anti-corruption coalition readiness scorecard – Part 1

This is the first in a series of three blogs produced by a team of four delegates who participated in the World Bank’s International Corruption Hunters Alliance 2023 in the Ivory Coast. The team consists of Viva Pizzaro Seidu (Ghana), Sabrina Nassih (Morocco), Eze Edith Oluchi (Nigeria) and Martha Asire (Uganda).  They have developed the Anti-Corruption Coalition Readiness Scorecard (ACCRS), an integrative scorecard that seeks to enhance anti-corruption coalitions’ impact by assessing readiness and challenges, at the various stages of coalition development. Setting the Stage The chosen theme for ICHA 2023 couldn't be more pertinent and timely. It acknowledges the [...]

2023-08-14T12:11:20+00:0024th July 2023|

Introducing the anti-corruption coalition readiness scorecard – Part 2

This is the second in a series of three blogs produced by a team of four delegates who participated in the World Bank’s International Corruption Hunters Alliance 2023 in the Ivory Coast. The team consists of Viva Pizzaro Seidu (Ghana), Sabrina Nassih (Morocco), Eze Edith Oluchi (Nigeria) and Martha Asire (Uganda).  They have developed the Anti-Corruption Coalition Readiness Scorecard (ACCRS), an integrative scorecard that seeks to enhance anti-corruption coalitions’ impact by assessing readiness and challenges, at the various stages of coalition development. In our second blog of the series, we dive into how the ACCRS offers a comprehensive self-assessment process [...]

2023-08-14T12:11:26+00:0024th July 2023|

Introducing the anti-corruption coalition readiness scorecard – Part 3

This is the third in a series of three blogs produced by a team of four delegates who participated in the World Bank’s International Corruption Hunters Alliance 2023 in the Ivory Coast. The team consists of Viva Pizzaro Seidu (Ghana), Sabrina Nassih (Morocco), Eze Edith Oluchi (Nigeria) and Martha Asire (Uganda).  They have developed the Anti-Corruption Coalition Readiness Scorecard (ACCRS), an integrative scorecard that seeks to enhance anti-corruption coalitions’ impact by assessing readiness and challenges, at the various stages of coalition development. In our third and final blog of the series, we delve into the real-world impact of the Anti-Corruption [...]

2023-08-14T12:11:34+00:0024th July 2023|

Five ways to make regional collaborations meaningful

Accountability Lab Nepal (ALN) and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) are collaborating to promote youth engagement in democracy in Nepal and Bangladesh, respectively. The goal is to build and strengthen diverse and pluralistic networks of youth leaders through targeted support, collective learning and shared best practices to strengthen democracy.  This blog is based on a joint reflection between the program implementation teams during a learning exchange visit from Nepal to Bangladesh and summarizes the value of meaningful collaborations.This blog also highlights how young people from Nepal and Bangladesh uniquely catalyze their role to strengthen democracies, advance social changes and support innovation.  [...]

2023-08-14T12:08:06+00:0018th July 2023|
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