European Union Ambassador Tom Vens has called on government to work closely with civil society organisations to heighten transparency and accountability for the COVID-19 funds. Ambassador Vens made this statement during the inaugural dialogue between government and civil society at the Bintumani Conference Centre at Aberdeen in Freetown.
H.E. Tom Vens said he was delighted to join the aforementioned groups for the inaugural high-level dialogue between them, adding that the said event translates into action for President Bio’s commitment to enhance consultation of and collaboration with CSOs in addressing the crisis engendered by COVID-19 and on broader governance and developmental issues.
He opined that it takes leadership to rethink and take affirmative actions to reinvigorate the state-society social contract, even more so during difficult times. He asserted that fostering economic development and strengthening peace and democratic rule “is not only your priority but has been the principal aim of the European Union from its very outset 70 years ago”.
“As a community of like-minded states, the EU promotes the pursuit of peace and democracy both internally and in all its external actions, political and diplomatic relations with the rest of the world,” he said. Vens noted that there is no one democratic model that fits all, adding that it is crucial for CSOs to participate in decision making and voice their opinion that does not undermine stability.
He disclosed that strengthening the role of national CSOs in the democratic process, and promoting social accountability models based on transparency and sustained trust-building dialogue between state and non-state institutions have always been at the core of the EU’s engagement with its partner countries. “The prospect of a global economic recession and social instability has driven the EU to widen and intensify its efforts. In Sierra Leone, as elsewhere in the world, we have front-loaded our budget support, repurposed our cooperation programs, committed all available funds to support government’s efforts to contain the pandemic and ensure prompt economic recovery. And along with that, we have reinforced, widened and deepened our partnership with civil society organisations to become an effective force not just in the fight against COVID-19 but for deepening democracy, social cohesion and public accountability.
“We all agree; enhanced public participation through active involvement of civil society organisations in public policy planning, implementation and oversight can significantly accrue the benefits and potential for development as well as peace and social cohesion. This is even more so in the COVID-19 context, and for a number of reasons.”
Firstly, he said the speed and magnitude of the global crisis, with one-third of the global population under lockdown, mean that we are entering unchartered territory. “These have led to a new vision for action revolving around the concept of ‘resilient societies’ based on the mutually reinforcing pillars of peace and democracy and enhanced social accountability through the active engagement of civil society.
“It became evident to what extent a vibrant and digitally-enabled civil society can be a crucial asset for disseminating vital information and ensuring public accountability. “Several examples attest to the positive role of CSOs in helping shape and implement government’s response to the pandemic, ensure that this addresses the needs of the most vulnerable segments of society.
“In Sierra Leone as elsewhere in the world, CSOs have proven critical in supporting the good implementation of COVID-19 support packages, facilitating outreach to potential beneficiaries.”
Additionally, he said, “The amount of financial resources mobilised and the extraordinary measures adopted to respond to the crisis raise expectations, challenges and risks which call for heightened standards of transparency and accountability.” He went on to say that public accountability has always been critical, but now even more so, just as an essential element of the social contract between state and society but also in the broader framework of the partnership with the international community.
Citizens’ quest and expectations for effective and efficient implementation and tangible outcomes are high, with no space for politically motivated distortions or the pursuit of narrow personal interests by those with a say in the allocation of resources, he said.
“The call for sound financial management, fiscal transparency and public accountability by development partners is also strong. This is notably the case for those – like the European Union – providing direct budgetary aid to partner countries.”
Vens further noted that though the challenges and expectations are high, so is the potential to make a meaningful contribution. “Civil society can make COVID-19 response more effective, just and transparent,” he said. “It is our expectation the Civil Society Organisations will continue to help tracking and monitoring the implementation of measures, ensuring they target and reach the most vulnerable segment of society, providing government and development partners the much-needed input on possible corrective actions.
“Sierra Leone, like many countries in the world, has adopted extraordinary measures to respond to the crisis. Of all interventions two mechanisms call for particular attention: the national flagship cash-transfer programme and the COVID-19 extra-budgetary fund.”
He said that an extra-budgetary fund dedicated to COVID 19 has been established in view to overcome complex processes and delays and streamline the budgetary response to the crisis.
“While the exceptional situation justified the creation of COVID-19 Emergency Funds, lessons learnt from the past and from elsewhere in the world indicate how they can also create significant vulnerabilities. Extra Budgetary Funds can fragment policymaking and implementation and cloud citizens’ understanding and trust of government operations, as they are often regarded as potential sources of financial malpractice and corruption,” he said.
Against the above background he therefore welcomed and encouraged all efforts aimed at heightened standards of transparency and social accountability, with a potent role for CSOs to endeavour to contribute collaboratively to oversight mechanisms. The secondment of staff by the Auditor General in Sierra Leone to facilitate an interim audit of the special fund was quoted by the IMF as a global best practice. Such effort must be recognised, praised and pursued, and additional oversight mechanisms can be considered to enhance public accountability of crisis-related spending, he suggested.
These, he said, can include (as it has been done in Togo or Honduras) dedicated portals to publish information on the execution of COVID-19 related expenditure and updates on payments made by the flagship social transfer programme; or the establishment of hotlines and grievance mechanisms for citizens to voice their questions and concerns over the distribution of relief packages.
He added that CSOs along with the Supreme Audit Institution and the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament can be a powerful catalyst for enhancing the accountability of COVID-19 related spending.
Ambassador Vens spoke highly of the recommendations issued by IMF and the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency, and called on civil society and the Ministry of Finance to take practical steps to improve the transparency and accountability of COVID-19 related spending programmes and tax measures, including; enhanced reporting on emergency spending, stimulus plans and revenue sources and their impact on the economy and social development; transparency over the beneficiaries of these measures and; disclosing information on procurement tenders and contracts.
He added that it is an opportunity to create new transparency and accountability tools that will build citizens’ trust and confidence in government’s action, and yield benefits way beyond the lifetime of the current crisis.
By Sulaiman Karim Sesay