On January 26th, CARL and Action Aid-SL hosted a National Conference on Addressing Socio- Economic Justice Through Effective Public Resource Management in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone.. Various members of local government and civil society gathered to develop practical solutions to serious challenges of development and resource management. Many productive solutions were generated, however, one notion has presented itself as the most urgent and striking. Thus, the most critical finding of the conference has been the need for increased citizen participation in public resource management.
An informed and participatory public is essential to good and responsible governance. Without diligent civil society and active citizenry, mechanisms of transparency and accountability are weak and likely to fail. As public information is restricted and discretion is left to a select few, opportunities for corruption and misappropriation are exponentially increased. Regardless of age, gender and socio-economic background, all people of Sierra Leone deserve to have their voices heard equally. A bottom up approach to development will yield far better results for the nation than the current top down methodology.
For too long, the needs of marginalized groups have been neglected by the government. And for too long, self-proclaimed elites and greedy foreigners have been enjoying more than their fair share of Sierra Leone’s wealth. Despite the fact that this land has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources, the country continues to suffer in poverty, still struggling to provide basic social services to the citizens of the country. It is time that the citizens of Sierra Leone take back control of what is rightfully theirs and begin to benefit from the wealth of their land. It is time that citizens demand responsible public resource management and opportunities for involvement. This process must first begin with demands for legitimate knowledge in an effective and relevant manner. Civil society and local government are tools meant to be utilized by the people for communication and education, as well as to agitate and advocate on their behalf.
We at CARL urgently call for the following actions in regards to public participation in resource management, increased transparency and accountability in governance:
Accountability and honesty must become a part of everyday life, as it affects all people in a society, not just those of authority. It is important to instill these principles in the youth of the nation in order to create a responsible citizenry for the future. By practicing accountability in the home, school and workplace, a true attitudinal change towards corruption and accountability may occur.
All governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in public resource management must account for their activities. Those who handle public funds and goods must be able to clearly articulate the ways in which they are being used. Through the creation and maintenance of public notice boards, particularly at the local level, institutions may demonstrate their dedication to efficient and honest work in an easily accessible fashion.
Aforementioned institutions should also be able to produce documentation on accountability policies and practices upon request. Official policy statements ensure that actors stay true to their values in both word and deed. Official documentation protects institutions and the public by giving clear and objective standards for dealing with conflict. It goes without saying that a Freedom of Information law is a critical requirement for citizens to be able to fully utilize such documents.
In 2012, Sierra Leone received a score of 39 out of 100 on the Open Budget Index. This score indicates that minimal information has been provided to the public, in effect, limiting public participation. We call for an improvement of this score through the timely publication of eight key annual budget documents, including, the pre-budget statement, mid year review and citizen’s budget. The present deliberate restriction of budget information has created a breeding ground for corruption.
Opportunities must be provided for citizen participation in budget creation. We call for legitimate venues for public opinion to be heard, such as the allowance for public testimonies during budget hearings.
Lastly, it is necessary to reestablish roles of landowners, paramount chiefs and central government in public resource management. CSOs and local government must advocate for the protection of resources. Protective measures must be put in place in order for Sierra Leone to begin enjoying the wealth of the land.
It is our hope that the implementation of these recommendations leads to responsible public resource management and true socio-economic justice. As always, our mission at CARL is to improve governance through transparency and accountability. However, this mission will not be accomplished without widespread public participation and support. Communication and cooperation between citizens and institutions will be necessary in order to assert demands for public information and involvement. Immediate action must be taken in this matter before more opportunities slip away and additional resources go to waste.
