Provincial Accountability and Governance Project

Project Active:

October 2009 - September 2011

The goal of the project is to bring about change in knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding ethical provincial administration, and to instill a new culture of transparency, accountability, and good governance. Through educating, monitoring, and building alliances between provincial officials and local civic leaders, Iraq Foundation will chart a course for change toward more responsive, more accountable government in Iraq.

IF will implement the project in 15 provinces to achieve the following objectives:

Objective (1) increase capacity to implement Iraqi anti-corruption measures at the provincial level. With the Commission on Integrity, IF will hold workshops to educate civic leaders on Iraq’s legal framework to combat corruption, and will educate public officials on codes of conduct and compliance laws. IF will also print posters and pamphlets to be displayed in all provincial offices and public venues.

Objective (2) promote government accountability and transparency by strengthening civic and official capacity to conduct oversight monitoring. In collaboration with the Lebanese Transparency Association, IF will provide Training of Trainer (TOT) on international anti-corruption indicators and monitoring methodologies for civic leaders and government officials. The TOT will culminate in the development of an indicator-based Agenda for Change that will act as a road map for monitoring accountability and transparency with recommendations for achieving progress in the provinces.

Objective (3), IF will nurture the formation of province-based Integrity Monitoring Groups that will implement newly acquired oversight monitoring skills by tracking progress against the Agenda for Change. Monitoring groups will increase access to officials through radio talk shows and town hall meetings, and will produce periodic reports and recommendations based on the Agenda for Change. A national television campaign will spotlight the impact of corruption on the welfare of citizens and the country at large.

IF will promote coalition-building and networking among the province-based Monitoring Groups. A final report on progress and recommendations, based on reports by the Monitoring Groups, will be presented at a national press conference in Baghdad.

The results of the project will be to empower civic groups in the provinces to hold provincial governments accountable by monitoring, engaging with, and reporting on the workings of the government according to internationally recognized standards of good governance, and thereby motivating provincial institutions to adopt more ethical, responsive and accountable practices.

Links to previous anti-corruption projects:

ACT I and II

Last Update: Wednesday, January 25, 2012