ogi website

OPEN GOVERNMENT INTIATIVE

The main aim of OGI is to bring the government closer to the people and the people closer to the government through dialogue.

The main objective of OGI is to promote platforms through which the Government and the population directly interact, thereby enhancing transparency, accountability and the free-flow of information in the process of the business of governance. OGI aims to bring elected and appointed officials to account to the population for actions taken on their behalf and to enable the Government feel the pulse of the people and better understand their development needs and priorities. The project also provides the government an opportunity to receive feedback on its performances and areas for alignment. Overall, the result will be people-centered governance leading to the deepening of democracy and trust in the governance authorities.

The Presidency, relevant Ministers, Members of Parliament, Local Government and the Judiciary visit the districts to have face to face discussions with the people about their day to day challenges, such as agriculture, stable energy supply, water and sanitation, promotion of girl’s education, youth employment, improvement of health, education, prison and police facilities. People can ask any respectable and developmental questions and the authorities are required to answer them and utilize the voices of people into their policy development. Available information communication technologies, such as the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Cooperation (S.L.B.C), community radio networks, mobile text messaging are used to engage the people nation-wide in this policy dialogue

Mission Statement

Open Government Initiative coordinates an open dialogue between the government and the people of Sierra Leone to contribute to policy making implementation and strategies for the socio economic development of the country. OGI promotes participatory democracy accountability and transparency by providing a forum where government functionaries account for its stewardship to the people. OGI also provides an opportunity for the government to mirror its activities and identify areas for national development.

Our Vision

OGI aims to establish an enabling environment or develop a culture of democracy where citizens can have dialogue with their government to explain national policies that directly affect their lives. OGI also helps us strengthen Civil Society organizations countrywide to mobilize assess and set the agenda about their needs and aspirations.
OGI aims at building national structures that will be sustainable or serve as a catalyst for good governance and democracy.The Open Government Initiative will promote transparency, accountability, participation, collaboration, dialogue and consultation

Aims and Objectives

Aims

• To facilitate and coordinate a weekly all inclusive open dialogue between government and the national audience through television and radio network.
• Improving citizen’s knowledge about the institutional features of the different branches of government and to connect them to those institutions and the responsibilities they have to perform for the people.
• Bring elected and appointed officials to account to the population for actions taken on their behalf and to enable the Government feel the pulse of the people and better understand their development needs and priorities.
• Open up civic education channels of communication through which the public can connect with the three arms of government at national and local levels.
• Encourage responsible and informed political participation through discussions, debates etc.

Objectives

• Promote platforms through which the government and the population directly interact, thereby enhancing transparency in the process of the business of governance.
• Provides the government an opportunity to receive feedback on its performances and areas for alignment.
• Strengthening the mechanism for public information flow from the three branches of government while providing opportunities for a public dialogue on development policies and programmes.
• Executive branch’s strategy and actions regularly communicated and discussed with the general public.
• Improved dialogue between members of Parliament and their constituents.
• Increased public knowledge and progress of the judicial process.

Achivements

This project greatly contributed to the people’s perception on increased transparency and accountability of the government, as well as to bringing the government and people together, which has not been fully achieved by the challenging decentralization processes. Sierra Leone has been polarized along political party lines since the 2007 Presidential elections and there has been a strong perception from the opposition party that the Government is neglecting the interest of the opposition communities. The OGI enabled the President and his cabinet to visit some of these Districts and reassure citizens that he is a President for all Sierra Leoneans.

OGI was highly welcomed by the public as it was the first experience to have the Presidency in their own communities discussing people’s daily concerns of poverty, health, education, employment, and infrastructure. In 2009, OGI started a new series of town hall meetings, this time focusing on the Legislature. These town hall meetings, held in Kenema, Koinadugu and Pujehun Districts, were significant as most of the people believe that this was the first time they were given the opportunity to meet with and talk to their Parliamentarians after the elections in 2007.

Community members in the rural areas whose voices and concerns are hardly heard by the central government now have a platform for being heard. Between 300 and 1000 people attended each town hall meeting. Together over 200 questions were asked and answered on people`s daily concerns by the Presidency, Parliamentarians and members of the Justice Sector to be utilized for policy making.

Strengthened transparency and accountability
After town hall meetings in the districts, a feedback survey is implemented to collect views and perceptions of the participants on the event. This survey showed that people strongly welcomed and appreciated the opportunity to directly discuss issues affecting their community with their Members of Parliament and Local Council. One participant expressed it very eloquently: “This is the first time I have seen the faces of all honorable Members of Parliament and a golden opportunity to hear them addressed the numerous questions asked and the answers supplied.” In addition, many people commented that the town hall meeting was an “eye opener”, very educative and important for the community as it contributed to information flow between the Parliamentarians, Mayors, Chairmen, Councilors and the people. This forum thus contributed not only to transparency and accountability in the government but strengthening democracy and good governance. As for the Justice Sector Wide Approach (Judiciary) town hall meetings, similar positive changes in attitude were recorded among participants of town hall meetings held in Kambia, Bonthe and Kailahun. One Kambia participant expressed, “The meeting changed my perception towards the justice sector positively.” A member of Bonthe community stated similarly, “This meeting rebuilt my trust in the justice system in the country.”

Furthermore, besides learning about various issues pertinent to the communities, the public strongly appreciated learning about the functions of parliamentarians in the Government, their role in development, or the relationship between the Parliament and the Local Council. These meetings were equally important for the MPs to acknowledge some of the most critical issues affecting the lives of people in their constituencies. Participants of Judiciary town hall meetings mostly appreciated OGI forum for teaching them about their rights and responsibilities. In line with this, one community member stated, “I benefited a lot from this meeting because it has provided us with an opportunity where we can stand before our leaders and express our direct constraints without a threat. OGI gives us hope that our rights will not be abused with the presence of this forum.”

Open and direct information flow through the media
In order to enhance the transparency and accountability of the three key state institutions – executive, legislative, and judiciary – OGI utilizes available media and information technology, such as TV, radio, phone and mobile SMS, to foster open dialogue between them and the general public. Radio especially has proven to be the most effective means to disseminating the message and increasing participation. In the interactive radio/TV program, “OGI Hour – Have your say in governance,” total of over 1000 questions and comments were sent in by text messages during the past programs from the audience and discussed by the panelists on issues ranging from Bumbuna hydro and gender laws to land reform and increase in prices.

Furthermore, in order to ensure that the project achievements are further disseminated to the general public, the print and electronic media are engaged. Following the Parliamentarian town hall meetings, press conference was held with the Civil Society and the media to evaluate the OGI activities and to emphasize the political impartiality of the Initiative.

Reaching the wider population through partnership with CSOs
OGI has strengthened partnership with CSOs in order to enhance the impact of its activities to the Sierra Leonean society. CSOs have been contributing to OGI in the areas of sensitization and mobilization as well as monitoring of the initiative`s impact through the conduct of survey after town hall meetings. In addition, the involvement of Civil Society in OGI contributed to political neutrality on the ground as no political slogans or other party undertones were noticed among the government officials or the general public despite the fact that some meetings took place in the opposition stronghold.

– See more at: http://ogi.gov.sl/about-us#sthash.Hw3Sdvl9.dpuf

The main aim of OGI is to bring the government closer to the people and the people closer to the government through dialogue.

The main objective of OGI is to promote platforms through which the Government and the population directly interact, thereby enhancing transparency, accountability and the free-flow of information in the process of the business of governance. OGI aims to bring elected and appointed officials to account to the population for actions taken on their behalf and to enable the Government feel the pulse of the people and better understand their development needs and priorities. The project also provides the government an opportunity to receive feedback on its performances and areas for alignment. Overall, the result will be people-centered governance leading to the deepening of democracy and trust in the governance authorities.

The Presidency, relevant Ministers, Members of Parliament, Local Government and the Judiciary visit the districts to have face to face discussions with the people about their day to day challenges, such as agriculture, stable energy supply, water and sanitation, promotion of girl’s education, youth employment, improvement of health, education, prison and police facilities. People can ask any respectable and developmental questions and the authorities are required to answer them and utilize the voices of people into their policy development. Available information communication technologies, such as the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Cooperation (S.L.B.C), community radio networks, mobile text messaging are used to engage the people nation-wide in this policy dialogue

Mission Statement

Open Government Initiative coordinates an open dialogue between the government and the people of Sierra Leone to contribute to policy making implementation and strategies for the socio economic development of the country. OGI promotes participatory democracy accountability and transparency by providing a forum where government functionaries account for its stewardship to the people. OGI also provides an opportunity for the government to mirror its activities and identify areas for national development.

Our Vision

OGI aims to establish an enabling environment or develop a culture of democracy where citizens can have dialogue with their government to explain national policies that directly affect their lives. OGI also helps us strengthen Civil Society organizations countrywide to mobilize assess and set the agenda about their needs and aspirations.
OGI aims at building national structures that will be sustainable or serve as a catalyst for good governance and democracy.The Open Government Initiative will promote transparency, accountability, participation, collaboration, dialogue and consultation

Aims and Objectives

Aims

• To facilitate and coordinate a weekly all inclusive open dialogue between government and the national audience through television and radio network.
• Improving citizen’s knowledge about the institutional features of the different branches of government and to connect them to those institutions and the responsibilities they have to perform for the people.
• Bring elected and appointed officials to account to the population for actions taken on their behalf and to enable the Government feel the pulse of the people and better understand their development needs and priorities.
• Open up civic education channels of communication through which the public can connect with the three arms of government at national and local levels.
• Encourage responsible and informed political participation through discussions, debates etc.

Objectives

• Promote platforms through which the government and the population directly interact, thereby enhancing transparency in the process of the business of governance.
• Provides the government an opportunity to receive feedback on its performances and areas for alignment.
• Strengthening the mechanism for public information flow from the three branches of government while providing opportunities for a public dialogue on development policies and programmes.
• Executive branch’s strategy and actions regularly communicated and discussed with the general public.
• Improved dialogue between members of Parliament and their constituents.
• Increased public knowledge and progress of the judicial process.

Achivements

This project greatly contributed to the people’s perception on increased transparency and accountability of the government, as well as to bringing the government and people together, which has not been fully achieved by the challenging decentralization processes. Sierra Leone has been polarized along political party lines since the 2007 Presidential elections and there has been a strong perception from the opposition party that the Government is neglecting the interest of the opposition communities. The OGI enabled the President and his cabinet to visit some of these Districts and reassure citizens that he is a President for all Sierra Leoneans.

OGI was highly welcomed by the public as it was the first experience to have the Presidency in their own communities discussing people’s daily concerns of poverty, health, education, employment, and infrastructure. In 2009, OGI started a new series of town hall meetings, this time focusing on the Legislature. These town hall meetings, held in Kenema, Koinadugu and Pujehun Districts, were significant as most of the people believe that this was the first time they were given the opportunity to meet with and talk to their Parliamentarians after the elections in 2007.

Community members in the rural areas whose voices and concerns are hardly heard by the central government now have a platform for being heard. Between 300 and 1000 people attended each town hall meeting. Together over 200 questions were asked and answered on people`s daily concerns by the Presidency, Parliamentarians and members of the Justice Sector to be utilized for policy making.

Strengthened transparency and accountability
After town hall meetings in the districts, a feedback survey is implemented to collect views and perceptions of the participants on the event. This survey showed that people strongly welcomed and appreciated the opportunity to directly discuss issues affecting their community with their Members of Parliament and Local Council. One participant expressed it very eloquently: “This is the first time I have seen the faces of all honorable Members of Parliament and a golden opportunity to hear them addressed the numerous questions asked and the answers supplied.” In addition, many people commented that the town hall meeting was an “eye opener”, very educative and important for the community as it contributed to information flow between the Parliamentarians, Mayors, Chairmen, Councilors and the people. This forum thus contributed not only to transparency and accountability in the government but strengthening democracy and good governance. As for the Justice Sector Wide Approach (Judiciary) town hall meetings, similar positive changes in attitude were recorded among participants of town hall meetings held in Kambia, Bonthe and Kailahun. One Kambia participant expressed, “The meeting changed my perception towards the justice sector positively.” A member of Bonthe community stated similarly, “This meeting rebuilt my trust in the justice system in the country.”

Furthermore, besides learning about various issues pertinent to the communities, the public strongly appreciated learning about the functions of parliamentarians in the Government, their role in development, or the relationship between the Parliament and the Local Council. These meetings were equally important for the MPs to acknowledge some of the most critical issues affecting the lives of people in their constituencies. Participants of Judiciary town hall meetings mostly appreciated OGI forum for teaching them about their rights and responsibilities. In line with this, one community member stated, “I benefited a lot from this meeting because it has provided us with an opportunity where we can stand before our leaders and express our direct constraints without a threat. OGI gives us hope that our rights will not be abused with the presence of this forum.”

Open and direct information flow through the media
In order to enhance the transparency and accountability of the three key state institutions – executive, legislative, and judiciary – OGI utilizes available media and information technology, such as TV, radio, phone and mobile SMS, to foster open dialogue between them and the general public. Radio especially has proven to be the most effective means to disseminating the message and increasing participation. In the interactive radio/TV program, “OGI Hour – Have your say in governance,” total of over 1000 questions and comments were sent in by text messages during the past programs from the audience and discussed by the panelists on issues ranging from Bumbuna hydro and gender laws to land reform and increase in prices.

Furthermore, in order to ensure that the project achievements are further disseminated to the general public, the print and electronic media are engaged. Following the Parliamentarian town hall meetings, press conference was held with the Civil Society and the media to evaluate the OGI activities and to emphasize the political impartiality of the Initiative.

Reaching the wider population through partnership with CSOs
OGI has strengthened partnership with CSOs in order to enhance the impact of its activities to the Sierra Leonean society. CSOs have been contributing to OGI in the areas of sensitization and mobilization as well as monitoring of the initiative`s impact through the conduct of survey after town hall meetings. In addition, the involvement of Civil Society in OGI contributed to political neutrality on the ground as no political slogans or other party undertones were noticed among the government officials or the general public despite the fact that some meetings took place in the opposition