By Jenneh Braima
A four-member delegation to the Philippines, led by the Open Government Initiative (OGI), has returned to tell a press conference in Freetown that that country's national action plan (NAP) failed because it was government-driven.
The former Spanish colony’s first national action plan “was government driven which culminated into its failure. Thus, the independent monitors recommended that an active involvement of civil society will enhance confidence in the process.”
In a statement issued to the media, OGI said that weakness in Philippines culminated into government securing the active involvement of civil society in the conceptualisation and implementation of the second NAP. “As a result, confidence has been restored and ordinary citizens and civil society now see the process as inclusive and transparent” in that country, the statement says.
The delegation which comprised Joseph Kamara, Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission; Lawyer Emanuel Saffa-Abdulai, head of the civil society group SDI; Osho Coker, Secretary to the President and Khadija Sesay who runs the OGI from the office of the president at State House, said there was so much the country could learn.
“Lessons learnt from the implementation of the first NAP ensured an open communication, feedback and resolution framework" the statement says of the Filipino authorities, adding "The second one witnessed the enhancement of civil society engagement through an umbrella civil society organization. This helped to mobilise and engage communities for social change”.
The team therefore recommended that building trust was a long and painful process but each institution must be able to let go of distrust before meaningful participation could be achieved.
They said avenues for communication, feedback and resolutions must always be open while civil society organisations and government must learn to understand each other’s process and operating procedures.
“The role of a civil society facilitator or enabler is important. They help bridge the gap between the government and its stakeholders. Creativity is important and government must learn to navigate and find ways to provide solution to implement challenges,” the document said.
(C) Politico 11/07/14
