Transparency and Accountability Initiatives

Programme Coordinator: Jakhongir Nigmatov

jahongirn@osi.tajik.net

Projects Coordinator: Firuza Achilova

firuza@osi.tajik.net

The program "Transparency and Accountability" is the result of combining components of priority programs at OSI Tajikistan - "Economic development and business development" and "Local Government Initiatives". Currently, the program continues the unique initiatives of the Foundation to support civic initiatives in improving the transparency of the state budget at various levels, the effective participation of civil society in the budget process, improving access to information and public services, and facilitating the assessment of good governance in various sectors.

Goal:

To promote responsible governance, transparency, and capacity of civil society organizations in Tajikistan to ensure the accountability of government and private sector to the public

Priorities:

Priority 1: Local incorporation of international accountability systems

1) The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). EITI is a global standard for transparency in the extractive industries implemented in more than 30 countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia in the Central Asian region. Publishing Reports to the EITI will enable citizens to access information about the actual income received by the Government of Tajikistan from extractive industries;

2) The Open Budget Index (OBI) is periodically (every 2 years) produced by the authoritative American organization IBP. The index evaluates not only the transparency of budgetary information, but also the extent to which the public is involved in the budgetary process and can influence budget decisions taken;

3) The Electricity Governance Initiative (EGI) is a multilateral initiative to improve transparency of decision-making in the electricity sector. Despite the multifaceted nature of this initiative, civil society is its driving force.

Priority 2: Development of public policy in Tajikistan

The previous activities of Local Government Initiatives Program (LGI) were rendered in supporting the analytical capacity building in the country. It is vitally important to have analytical capacities reflecting the realities of life and suggesting concrete solutions to the existing problems. It is a very essential tool for governance and decision making, especially in the periods of crisis. Since 2008, the a few projects have been launched within the Program. These projects were targeted to analytical capacity building in Tajikistan, and it was planned to focus available resources on the creation of first independent analytical centers involving local experts capable of conducting impartial assessment of problems in various spheres of the social policy.

Priority 3: Improving citizen access to information and public services

1. Capacity building among participants of the budget process and technical assistance to ensure budget transparency.

The Program has a good experience in implementation of projects which introduce tools for provision of local budget transparency and accountability and citizen involvement to the budgeting process. In this regard the Program will cooperate with local governments to organize trainings and technical assistance on improving transparency and accountability at the local level.

2 Introducing the e-governance

The e-governance is one of the most efficient tools ensuring transparency in decision making, access to information and improvement of accountability of the state structures, the Program is planning to continue developing this component and extend these activities jointly with the Foundation's Information Program.

3. Monitoring of public services' quality

The monitoring of public services (involving the civil society) can become an efficient mechanism improving the quality of services provided by the state and local self-governance bodies; it will also contribute to elimination of corruption, i.e. will become a new form of "popular control" – for the benefit of the state and its people.

Partners:

Coalition of Civil Society Organizations "Transparency for Development"

Consumer Union of Tajikistan

Center for municipal development

Center for social- economic education and development