Page 12 - 15 years of TI-Rwanda experience : citizen engagement as the driver to fight against corruption
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12  Transparency International Rwanda                                                                                                                                                                    Transparency International Rwanda  13









                                             Ulrich Berdelmann,                                                                                                                 Thomas Lansner,

                                             Program Director Decentralisation and Good                                                                                         Director of The Social Accountability Media Initiative,

                                             Governance Program, Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer                                                                                     A project of the Aga Khan University Graduate

                                             International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)                                                                                                 School of Media and Communications, Nairobi



                                                      e value the merits and        The development of a society cannot                                                                                 is             partner NGOs, and government
                                                      endeavors of our partner      be obtained if citizen are left aside                                                      TI-RW                                   officials to gauge the impact of social
                                                                                                                                                                                                        partnering
                                             WTransparency International            and corruption is tolerated.                                                                                        with the       accountability efforts on the ground.
                                             Rwanda for the development of civil                                                                                                Social Accountability Media Initiative
                                             society in Rwanda.                     Therefore, the positioning of                                                               (SAMI) to enhance its advocacy         Through the SAMI project at TI-RW,
                                                                                    Transparency International Rwanda                                                           communications skills and those of     we aim to grow skills and partnerships
                                              Its on-going activities to enhance    with citizen participation and the fight                                                    civil society partners.                that bring even the most marginalized
                                             citizen participation for the          against corruption is an important                                                                                                 citizens’ voices, such as those of the
                                             development of Rwanda and the          support for the development of                                                             In collaboration with the Rwanda news   Rwandan farmers visited in Kayonza
                                             fight against corruption through       Rwanda.                                                                                    agency and media development NGO,       and Nyanza, into discussions on
                                             instruments like the so-called ALAC                                                                                               Pax Press, several activities are also   policy and practice. Working with
                                             – Centers and the bribery reports as                                                                                              aimed at helping journalists working    independent journalists who tell
                                             well “IFATE”, an online complaint                                                                                                 across a variety of platforms to better   these people’s stories can provide a
                                             possibility are just a few examples.                                                                                              understand and report on social         powerful megaphone for those voices.
                                                                                                                                                                               accountability projects – and through
                                             We, from the program of the                                                                                                       this, ensure citizens’ views are part of   Yet these efforts can be effective only
                                             German cooperation “Support to                                                                                                    the development debate.                 if they demonstrate “360-degree
                                             Decentralization as a support to                                                                                                                                          accountability” which exempts no
                                             Good Governance” (DGG), are proud                                                                                                 These efforts are initially focused on   institution or individual from critical
                                             and grateful to have Transparency                                                                                                 a project run by TI-Rw with support     scrutiny. Better collaboration with
                                             International Rwanda as implementing                                                                                              from the World Bank’s Global            media grows with trust, but always
                                             partner of our program.                                                                                                           Partnership for Social Accountability.   on the basis of “trust but verify” — in
                                                                                                                                                                               A crucial element of this effort is     Kinyarwanda,  Izere ariko usuzume
                                                                                                                                                                               taking journalists to the field to meet   — that helps all involved serve their
                                                                                                                                                                               with farmers, cooperative leaders,      communities better.


            Together Against Corruption                                                                                                                                                                                         Together Against Corruption
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