World Bank Country Manager in Sierra Leone, Gayle Martin, says government’s dialogue with civil society organisations (CSOs) promotes good governance, transparency, and accountability.
Martin made the remarks two weeks after a civil society coalition, National Consortium on Public Accountability (NCOPA), faulted corruption surveys conducted by Institute of Governance Reform (IGR) and the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL).
Development Diaries understands that the findings, which were published in September 2020, claimed that parliamentarians were among the most corrupt public servants in the country.
CARL and IGR have defended their reports, claiming that the data produced were independently gathered, analysed, and verified by experts and head of institutions.
Addressing dignitaries, including ministers and representatives of CSOs, the World Bank chief called on development stakeholders to be transparent and honest in their dealings.
‘I am sure everyone can agree that development does not happen without engaging people’, she said.
‘The economy [does not] grow without engaging people. Reduced poverty [does not] happen without people being at the centre of such efforts.
‘Improved prosperity, therefore, requires strong linkages between governments and communities. CSOs are a critical vehicle to accomplish these linkages. But development is also about sharing prosperity.
‘Again, this is where CSOs are even more critical to ensure that progress is shared and not to benefit just a few with voice and influence’.
She also said, ‘CSOs were able to support the distribution of Covid-19 support packages, and also facilitated outreach and getting messages to households at greatest risk. This underscores the importance of why we are here today’.
Source: Sierra Leone Telegraph
Photo source: Bob the Magic Dragon
