2009 annual report

Sierra Leone

Action Plus
$35,000
To increase grassroots participation in local government and train community leaders with strong commitments to democratic governance in southeastern Sierra Leone. Action Plus will organize a series of training workshops and monthly public forums for civil society representatives, local councilors, public officials, and other non-state actors. It will also facilitate the creation of an oversight mechanism to enhance communication and feedback between the local councils and civil society.

Campaign for Good Governance (CGG)
$50,985
To promote information, accountability and transparency in democratic governance and service delivery at the local government level. CGG will engage its field offices in monitoring the decentralization process. It will organize monthly public forums, publish a journal, and initiate advocacy programs to reform specific sections the 2004 Local Government Act.

Independent Radio Network (IRN)
$34,989
To strengthen a network of professional independent media practitioners, and promote public rights to access information. IRN will organize coalition-building meetings, and produce two weekly issue-based radio programs, IRN National News and Parliament Bol At.

Media Foundation for Peace and Development (MFPD)
$41,000
To support the democratic process and political participation through civic education radio programs. MFPD will continue broadcasting its live radio discussion program series, Democracy Now, Youth Now, and Women Now on both SKYY FM in Freetown and KISS FM in Bo, its affiliate, Radio Kunike and Radio Bintumani in the Northern Province, and Radio Tonya in the east.

National Accountability Group (NAG)
$47,800
To strengthen the capacity of local councils to track and monitor public revenues and expenditure in Pujehun, Kailahun and Port Loko. NAG will distribute copies of two types of ledgers to the local councils in each of the three towns, and train local council representatives on how to use the ledgers, as well as implement a “top-down” approach to monitor the local revenue process. NAG will coordinate monitoring visits and will make its findings public on radio discussion programs.

Network Movement for Justice and Development (MFJD)
$54,000
To promote basic human rights and peaceful co-existence in Kono district through mediation and public dialogue. MFJD will continue its access to justice program in five chiefdoms in the district. It will conduct baseline surveys, as well as select and train a total of 15 paralegals to provide pro-bono legal services and advice to members of the community.

Society for Democratic Initiatives (SDI)
$34,807
To sensitize civil society and policy makers on using laws that guarantee access to information. SDI will conduct a nationwide research to index and analyze existing laws that hinder or enhance public access to information. It will organize trainings for select stakeholders on how to use these laws, especially the pending Freedom of Information Bill (FOIB), to access information. SDI will organize a multi-faceted media campaign to create public awareness, and will publish policy research papers that discuss the links between freedom of information laws and basic human rights.