Search Results for: Citizen Engagement World Bank

  PTF Calls on IDA21 To Expand Partnerships with Local CSOs to Do Better at the Country Level April 17, 2024 PTF representatives attended the roundtable discussions among CSOs, the International Development Association, and the World Bank Board on April 17, 2024, during the World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC, and called for an action plan and funding for the expansion of partnerships with local civil society organizations (CSOs) as an integral part of a bigger and better IDA21. Dr. Vinay Bhargava, PTF Chief Technical Adviser, said: “PTF supports a bigger and better IDA21, and the commitment to deepen partnership with civil society as part of the new Playbook. This statement of intent needs to be followed up by a detailed framework and action plan for deeper partnerships with civil society in IDA21. Such an action plan should be included as part of the IDA21 Strategic Directions paper and draw on the World Bank’s extensive experience with civil society engagement as well as the studies and recommendations by PTF and other CSOs”. According to the PTF report, Partnering with Civil Society for Citizen-Driven Country Engagement, Delivery, and Accountability in IDA- and IBRD-Financed Operations would enhance development effectiveness and accountability in Bank-supported operations, strengthen country-ownership, and promote open government. The PTF report makes ten recommendations for how the Bank can more closely involve local civil society in its work at the country level, beyond consultations. PTF recommends three areas for expanded partnerships with local CSOs: Expand partnerships with CSOs to monitor implementation and results, improve project outcomes, and help detect and prevent waste, fraud, and corruption. This would increase the efficiency and responsiveness of public expenditures in the investment project and budget support financing by the Bank. Proactively promote the use of CSOs during implementation (especially in fragile, conflict, and violent situations) to deliver faster and better results than can be achieved by governments acting alone. Increase the use and effectiveness of multistakeholder platforms (MSPs) started under IDA19, and support the creation of local CSO knowledge content and its use in MSP dialogues, in line with the Knowledge Compact and locally-led development goals under the Evolution Roadmap. Funding for partnerships with local CSOs would be essential. PTF recommends that the Bank mobilize a consequential amount of money to deepen partnerships with local CSOs, with initial emphasis on IDA-eligible countries. Specifically, PTF proposes the establishment of a financing facility of at least $65-70 million a year (about $200 million for the three years of IDA21) to fund local CSOs in IDA-eligible countries; a tiny amount relative to the proposed IDA21 financing package. This very small financial outlay could have significant social and economic benefits and help counter corruption in the use of IDA and IBRD funds. PTF calls upon the IDA Deputies, the World Bank’s management, and the Bank’s Executive Board of Directors to approve an ambitious action plan and financing for deeper partnerships with civil society as part of the IDA21 policy and financing package within the context of a “better Bank”.   The full PTF report and its Executive Summary can be accessed here. For further information please contact […]

Partnership for Transparency (PTF) Chief Technical Advisor Vinay Bhargava participated in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Tallinn, Estonia on September 6 and 7, 2023. On September 8th, PTF hosted a side event entitled How to Leverage Multilateral Development Banks to Support the Creation and Implementation of OGP Action Plans. Vinay was joined on the panel by Aly Rahim, Program Manager, World Bank Global Partnership for Social Accountability. The main message from the OGP Global Summit is that, in this era of declining trust in government and the rising need for governments to deliver effective responses, it is more important than ever for governments and civil society to work together. Political will and support are needed to emulate the many good practice examples that were discussed at the Summit. While these are hard to come by, the prospects are not bleak, as many champions of open government are increasing their support. At the Summit, the civil society members of the OGP Steering Committee issued a statement on the World Bank Evolution Roadmap entitled Empowering Civil Society: Envisioning Collaborative Transformation in World Bank Initiatives. The statement, which is open for endorsement, calls on the World Bank to re-articulate clear roles for citizens and CSOs in its lending and policy engagement at the country level and ensure financial support for civil society. The statement reinforces the recommendations of the draft PTF study on Enhancing Citizen-Driven Delivery and Accountability in IDA Operations.                                                             

Partnership for Transparency (PTF) is calling on the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) to boost the roles of and funding for civil society organizations (CSOs) in the $93 billion grant and loan program for the world’s 75 poorest countries for a period of three years (2022 to 2025). PTF drafted a report on “Enhancing Citizen-Driven Delivery and Accountability in IDA Operations” with specific recommendations for actions that the Bank can take in this regard. On March 30, 2023 at 9:30 am EDT, in collaboration with Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), PTF will be hosting a webinar for organizations and persons interested in learning more about the IDA study. The webinar will be chaired by Shaheen Anam, MJF Executive Director, and moderated by Aileen Marshall, PTF Adviser. There will be opening remarks by Ms. Anam, followed by a brief presentation (about 20 minutes) by Vinay Bhargava, PTF Chief Technical Adviser, and reactions from a discussant (to be announced). The rest of the time will be devoted to discussion as we look forward to hearing your views and feedback. Registration is open now. The draft study, which was partially funded by the Open Society Foundations, is available for comments through the end of April 2023. Please feel free to provide feedback to Vinay Bhargava at info@ptfund.org. Full details are available here.

Please join Partnership for Transparency (PTF) for an online discussion of the roles CSOs can play in delivering more accountable and better results in the largest ever ($93 billion for 2022 to 2025) grant and loan program by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) for the world’s 75 poorest countries. On March 2 and 9, 2023 (at 8:00 am and 9:00 am EST respectively), PTF will be hosting webinars for organizations and persons interested in learning more about this topic and helping shape recommendations on needed actions. The webinars will be of special interest to those who engage in development in one or more of the 75 IDA borrowing countries. Registration is now open. Please feel free to forward this invitation to organizations that you think might be interested. During the webinars, PTF will make a brief presentation (about 20 minutes) on the findings and recommendations of a study it is preparing on how best to elevate and adequately fund CSO engagement in IDA20 implementation. The rest of the time in the webinars, we look forward to hearing your views and feedback. The draft report, which was partially funded by the Open Society Foundations, is available for comments through the end of March 2023. A two-page overview is available here. You are invited to send written comments and suggestions to info@ptfund.org to the attention of Vinay Bhargava. PTF will be scheduling a webinar at a time more convenient for participants based in Asia. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to info@ptfund.org.

Please join Partnership for Transparency (PTF) for an online discussion of the roles CSOs can play in delivering more accountable and better results in the largest ever ($93 billion for 2022 to 2025) grant and loan program by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) for the world’s 75 poorest countries. On March 2 and 9, 2023 (at 8:00 am and 9:00 am EST respectively), PTF will be hosting webinars for organizations and persons interested in learning more about this topic and helping shape recommendations on needed actions. The webinars will be of special interest to those who engage in development in one or more of the 75 IDA borrowing countries. Registration is now open. Please feel free to forward this invitation to organizations that you think might be interested. During the webinars, PTF will make a brief presentation (about 20 minutes) on the findings and recommendations of a study it is preparing on how best to elevate and adequately fund CSO engagement in IDA20 implementation. The rest of the time in the webinars, we look forward to hearing your views and feedback. The draft report, which was partially funded by the Open Society Foundations, is available for comments through the end of March 2023. A two-page overview is available here. You are invited to send written comments and suggestions to info@ptfund.org to the attention of Vinay Bhargava. PTF will be scheduling a webinar at a time more convenient for participants based in Asia. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to info@ptfund.org.

February 1, 2023 Partnership for Transparency’s Vision: A world free of corruption in which citizens trust public officials and institutions and hold them accountable and responsive to their communities’ needs. Today, Washington, DC-based Partnership for Transparency (PTF) launched its 2023 to 2026 strategy to strengthen support for civil society organizations as they lead the fight to counter corruption in their countries. The new strategy defines PTF’s mission to support innovative civil society organization-led and related approaches to reduce corruption, increase transparency, strengthen governance, and enhance accountability in low- and middle-income economies and widely share knowledge gleaned through its work. “Never before have political pressures to curb civil society organizations (CSOs) been greater in scores of countries than they are today,” said Frank Vogl, Chair of the PTF Board of Directors. “Our new strategy will strengthen our ability to provide CSO support in the key areas where we have established outstanding development expertise. A critical strategic aim is to build deeper partnerships in our work with CSOs, official aid agencies, philanthropic foundations, and anti-corruption experts,” added Vogl. PTF’s 2023 to 2026 strategy details six operational goals: program scope and activities, knowledge management, advocacy and advisory services, financial resources, strategic partnerships, and communications. PTF President Dirk Mattheisen said, "Our new strategy strengthens our focus on anti-corruption in areas where our teams of advisors have exceptional sectoral expertise, notably in public procurement, health, and other areas of public services, as well as supporting civil society engagement more broadly. We are also building on our relationships with outstanding local civil society partners in a range of countries where we are now working, or where we have recently worked, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Malawi, Moldova, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Ukraine, and Zambia.” PTF is a 501(c)(3) Washington, DC-based non-governmental organization founded in 1998. Since it started operations in 2000, PTF has supported more than 200 projects in over 50 countries, published reports and extensive articles on the lessons learned from its projects, and provided advice to multilateral institutions. The expert advisors working with PTF are all volunteers, most of whom are retired former senior officials at the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and other agencies. PTF has affiliated regional organizations based in Munich, Germany and Manilla, Philippines and it pursues further regional goals through special committees for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. PTF’s Board of Directors, Management Team, and Advisors represent many nationalities and have a common passion for supporting CSOs in their work to secure transparency, accountability, and integrity in the public sector. Under the new strategy, PTF intends to strengthen its selection criteria for projects financed by its own grants, as well as the funds for which it bids to sharpen its focus on anti-corruption and empowerment of local civil society. Selection criteria will include: alignment with mission, focus countries and sectors, sustainable and qualified CSO recipients, impact as assessed by a realistic monitoring framework, sustainability, and clear value added for PTF. The 2023 to 2026 strategy stresses an increased focus by PTF on its knowledge work by producing a multi-year knowledge plan that will incorporate an annual flagship [...]

Washington, DC-based Partnership for Transparency (PTF) launched its 2023 to 2026 strategy to strengthen support for civil society organizations as they lead the fight to counter corruption in their countries.

The new strategy defines PTF’s mission to support innovative civil society organization-led and related approaches to reduce corruption, increase transparency, strengthen governance, and enhance accountability in low- and middle-income economies and widely share knowledge gleaned through its work.

Voice and Accountability: Community Empowerment for Improved Local Service Delivery in Zambia OverviewVoice and Accountability: Community Empowerment for Improved Local Service Delivery in Zambia is a four-year, $2.75 million project, targeting approximately 86,000 citizens, for accountable education services in 45 primary and secondary schools in nine districts in the Western and Eastern provinces. Funded by the Japan Social Development Fund and administered by the World Bank, the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) in Zambia will implement project activities in collaboration with PTF. The project will empower citizens to use their voices to communicate with local authorities by building community awareness and capacity to apply social accountability tools in education service delivery and increasing community participation in a dialogue with school management and local authorities. This work will also raise awareness among government stakeholders about the benefits from engaging communities in monitoring the quality of education service delivery. Project ObjectivesThe overall project development objective of strengthening community awareness and participation with school management and local authorities for accountable primary and secondary education services will have three components: Component 1: Increasing Community Awareness of the Delivery of Education Services Component 2: Enhancing Community Engagement and Participation in the Delivery of Education Services Component 3: Project Management and Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Knowledge Dissemination Project ActivitiesThe three components will be filled through the following activities: 1. Development of training materials and social accountability tools to be shared with project beneficiaries to teach them the principles of social accountability and promote transparency and accountability among duty bearers. 2. Capacity development for community members through the formation of PTAs and ward development committees. 3. Awareness building for school management and local authorities through training activities and meetings. 4. Strengthening the capacity of communities to monitor local education services, including safe school plan implementation, school construction and renovation, school budgets and effective resource use, textbook delivery, and teachers and pupil absenteeism. 5. Effective community engagement with school management and local authorities through consultations with communities, primary and secondary school management, local authorities, and other stakeholders. 6. Exchanges in community knowledge and experience in social accountability with community reporting and awards, peer-to-peer learning, and capacity building of local CSOs. Project TeamTjaarda Storm van Leeuwen Project Manager, PTF Robert Liebenthal Project Adviser and PTF Africa Subcommittee Liaison, PTF Eluned Schweitzer Education and M&E Expert, PTF Frank McNerney Project Adviser, PTF Richard Holloway Social Accountability Expert, PTF Rachel Ansley Project Consultant, PTF Mubyana Kakenenw Project Manager, CSPR Christabel Ngoma Finance and Operations Director, CSPR Edward Musosa Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, CSPR Enson Mwale Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, CSPR Mwila Musona Communications and Advocacy Director, CSPR Patrick Malekani Procurement Officer, CSPR About Our Partner CSPR is a Zambian civil society network that has been building the voice for citizens in the fight against poverty since 2000. Additional Information Grant Agreement Signed, Social Accountability in Education Project to Begin The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) in Zambia signed a grant agreement on September 21, 2021 with the World Bank to begin implementation of Voice and Accountability: Community Empowerment for Improved Local Service Delivery in Zambia. The project will [...]

The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) in Zambia signed a grant agreement on September 21, 2021 with the World Bank to begin implementation of Voice and Accountability: Community Empowerment for Improved Local Service Delivery in Zambia. The project will be implemented in partnership with PTF.

Bhuvan Bhatnagar is a seasoned leader in international development who has worked in two premier multilateral development banks, a grassroots NGO, five global regions, 40+ countries, multiple sectors, and complex corporate roles for 25+ years, including 10 years in field assignments. He is passionate about multi-stakeholder partnerships and constructive engagement between citizens, civil society, governments, businesses, academic institutions, and international aid agencies. He has catalyzed several “firsts” at the World Bank including: the first Participation Sourcebook; the first Citizen Report Card on Pro-Poor Services; the first stand-alone IDA project focused entirely on the demand side of governance; and the first large-scale initiative for independent monitoring of Bank projects valued at about $2B by CSO and citizens in South Asia and East Asia Regions. He served as the Manager for Trust Funds and Partner Relations at the World Bank between 2016-2020 overseeing a grant portfolio of about $11B, and has been an entrepreneurial fundraiser for the World Bank throughout his career.