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 Philippines. It notes that “Groups such as Government Watch, the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections, and even the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts mobilized thousands of volunteers to help track textbook deliveries to public schools.” And goes on to describe how the Coca-Cola Company used its delivery trucks to transport textbooks to schools in far-flung areas of the country. The report indicates that by 2005, textbook prices had fallen by 50%, binding and printing quality had improved, and volunteer observers reported 95% error-free deliveries.
The World Bank’s Changing Norms is Key to Fighting Everyday Corruption by Sabina Panth cites two PTF funded projects and includes 2-3 page case studies of each. One case study refers to a vehicle monitoring project by ECOLINK in the Philippines and finds that the misuse of government-issued vehicles has been completely eradicated in the area covered by the project. Additionally the ombudsman for the city of Oroquieta has committed to take action against 50 high-ranking government officials who have been alleged to have illegally used government vehicles for private purposes. A second Case study refers to a PTF funded project in Uganda implemented by the National Foundation for Democracy and Human Rights in Uganda (NAFODU). It found that a radio call-in program and constructive engagement with police authorities increased awareness of corruption and led to a rise in number of official complaints & grievances filed. Additional findings pointed to evidence of wider spread disciplinary actions taken against errant officers and subsequent improved behavior of police officials in their daily engagement with villagers.
