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Governance Village

Sierra Leone: African Success Story?

By Governance Village - 17 months ago

Despite its last place standing on the UN's Human Development Index (HDI), the people of Sierra Leone - only eight years removed from a brutal civil war - have proved to be remarkably resilient. With a successful transition of power between political parties in last year's presidential and parliamentary elections, what other governance lessons can we learn from the West African nation? This week, the GV News Blog highlights what the latest publications and research tell us.

Through Sierra Leone, Exploring the Media's Role in Post-Conflict Reconstruction
by Christopher Mason

"Perhaps as Governance Village turns its attention to Sierra Leone, we can use that as an opportunity to explore media development in that country and how it has evolved since 2002." [MORE]

SMS as a Tool in Election Observation
By the National Democracy Institute (NDI)

"In its efforts to safeguard Sierra Leone's elections, NEW, like election-monitoring organizations in many other countries, deployed thousands of trained accredited local volunteer observers to polling stations around the country. Their mere presence helped to protect the rights of voters and promote a fair and peaceful election environment. Equally important, they collected valuable information about what happened at each polling station:Were all eligible voters permitted to cast ballots? Did poll workers follow appropriate procedures? Did anyone attempt to disrupt the process? What were the results of the ballot count and did these results reflect the will of voters? This information would allow the leadership of NEW to provide an objective and independent assessment of the conduct of the elections and the credibility of the result." [MORE]

How Our Laws are Made: The Legislative Process in Sierra Leone
By the National Democracy Institute

"Since launching its Sierra Leone program in 2001, NDI has worked with CSOs, Members of Parliament (MPs), political parties, the security sector, and other actors to strengthen civic participation and political institutions in Sierra Leone. Following the 2007 legislative elections, NDI conducted an orientation program for Members of Parliament and legislative staff to strengthen the capacity of the Parliament of Sierra Leone to serve as a democratic and responsive legislative body. The program assisted MPs and staff to have a better understanding of the role of parliament, parliamentary processes and functions, executive oversight, constituency outreach, and the principles of accountability and representation." [MORE]

Artisanal Diamond Co-operatives in Sierra Leone: Success or Failure?
By Partnership Africa-Canada

From September 1999 to December 2007, Management Systems International (MSI) was contracted by USAID to manage its US$6.5 million Integrated Diamond Management
Program (IDMP) and its Peace Diamond Alliance (PDA) in Sierra Leone. The project aimed to formalize and rationalize the artisanal sector, and increase local beneficiation. In Sierra Leone, artisanal diamond mining is traditionally done by landowner or tenant miners employing ‘diggers’ on a seasonal or occasional basis. In the most common system of production diggers work in exchange for support (meals, accommodation, basic health care and other ‘perks’) with a share of the ‘winnings’ when diamonds are found." [MORE]
 

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