Blog

Insights from Transparency and Access to Information Projects in Argentina

10 PTF-supported projects in Argentina were recently reviewed confirming that small, short, one-off projects can make a difference even if they are barely a drop in the bucket of fighting corruption. Political will, stakeholder collaboration, and continuity of effort were key determinants of success in the short and longer terms.…...

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Learning from Unsatisfactory Results – Questions on Implementing Capacity

Donors must be especially rigorous in identifying and assessing the implementing capacity of civil society organizations CSOs seeking support. There are many CSOs with a determination to improve governance in their countries, but do they have the capacity to do so? Screening grant applicants in this regard can be difficult,…...

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Strengthening Understanding of How Civil Society Contributes to Curbing Corruption

Workshops involving donors and CSO project implementers can yield solid outcomes when there is a common purpose and sharp focus. A PTF – ACT workshop in Kenya concluded with a bold “Vision of the Future” that encapsulates decisions on how to strengthen work by listing what CSOs and what governments…...

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Pro-Active Project Planning – Serbian Example

Considerations of three PTF-supported projects in Serbia, all of which impacted sensitive political and judicial developments, highlighted the crucial need for sponsors (donors – in this case PTF) to pursue sound and substantial planning to provide an enhanced assurance of positive outcomes and a greater ability to assist the project-implementing…...

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Champions Can Be Essential to Project Success – Example Cameroon Education Projects

In seeking to enhance governmental transparency and accountability constructive engagement with public officials works much better than denouncing malpractice and confronting public officials, argues the author. Project experiences in Cameroon highlight the roles of champions – a person, or a group of people in official positions - who believe that…...

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Barry Metzger – In Memoriam

Barry Metzer, a founding Board Member of the Partnership for Transparency Fund and for a dozen years its beacon and moral compass, died on Saturday, December 22, 2012 of complications from chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer ......

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How Civic Media can help citizens fight corruption

Last week I was honored to be a guest speaker at the Center for Civic Media at the MIT Media Lab in Boston (click to read the live blog from the event). You may be wondering what is civic media. Civic media is defined by this group as “any form…...

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Writing on the Wall as Appropriate Technology for Transparency

The "Transparency Wall" in Ranga Reddy village in Andhra Pradesh, India fully serves its purpose of transparency and accountability and is a great example of appropriate technology ......

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Princeton University and the World Bank laud PTF funded projects

Three PTF funded projects were featured in recent publications by Princeton University's Innovations for Successful Societies and the World Bank's Innovative Solutions for Governance series. The Princeton paper cites the PTF funded G-Watch implemented textbook procurement program in the ......

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Why Puerto Rico Should Look to Uganda in the Fight Against Police Corruption

In October 2010, 61 Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) officers were arrested on charges related to corruption.  Specifically, the police were failing “to police sex crimes and incidents of domestic violence” and participating in “discriminatory policing practices that target individuals of Dominican descent.”  They also abused their power in conducting…...

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