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Accountability Alert (AA): A New “Watch Dog” to hold NGOs’ and other Institutions’ Accountable starts operations in Sierra Leone

Author: SEM Contributor

9 November 2009 – A new initiative designed to hold NGOs and other Institutions accountable in Sierra Leone has been officially given the nod to commence operation by the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development. For the small group of Sierra Leonean professionals working at home and abroad in various fields of work, some with experience in NGO and Donor operations, theirs was the belief that NOW was the time to demand for accountability from our NGOs, the Government and the Donors themselves.Â Â

It is a fact the country is a donor driven economy, on life support by the generosity of the International community. In 2006 for example, a whopping USD$ 364 million (or 44 % of the country’s national budget) was received as development assistance mainly from multilateral / bilateral partners and UN Agencies. DFID, the largest bilateral development partner have provided some Â£91 million in aid during the past three recent years, including the Â£47.8 million in 2008-2009 financial year^{^[1]}.

The donors have not only been benevolent to the Government but are even more inclined to channel development assistance mostly through NGOs perceived as more competent to handle beneficiary funds.Â It is interesting to note that in 2005 (courtesy of Development Assistance Report 2004 & 2005,) some US$ 94.1 million was channeled through NGOs, accounting for some 26 percent of total support to Sierra Leone.

At Accountability Alert-Sierra Leone (AA-SL) we believe the vast sums of development aid poured into the country so far, is not in tandem with the realities on the ground, and there is not much tangibles to write home about. This view was recently re-enforced by the deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Richard Conteh in a press conference held September 2008 on NGO reform initiative his ministry was pushing, admitted of the non-profit community:

Â “We don’t know how much is being spent and what they are doing.Â The majority of the country’s development activities-channeled through 300 non-profit organizations – have made little difference^{^[2]}.”

Yes, some progress has been made to date by the Government, the NGOs, the International community and the Donors towards the country’s recovery process following an 11 year old civil war, but there is still much work to be accomplished as the country’s development indicators continue to be appalling.

The United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) for 2009, which draws data from 2007, had again ranked Sierra Leone 180^th out of 182[3] of the countries surveyed, re-enforcing the notion that it is probably one of the least developed or the poorest in the world. With 267 children out of every 1,000 live births dying by theÂ age ofÂ 5, 1,300 mothers dying for every 100,000 live births^{^[4]}, to an illiteracy and poverty rate as high as 70 %, and a high unemployment rate especially among youths, with some 40 % or less of the population having access to safe drinking water; are all part of the grim and troubling statistics that simply won’t simply go away. Hence there is a call for closer examination of the performances of the NGOs and the Government Institutions at the frontline of managing the people’s funds.Â

Our thought process at AA-SL is not whether NGOs should be the point of convergence between donors and beneficiaries, for we see their role as critical in the fight against poverty and economic realization, and their interventions in the provisions of food security, health and education, community services, peace building and youth employment, are unquestionable.

What is at stake transcends the mere handling of donor funds by the NGOs; it is the question of utilization and appropriation of these meager resources for the specific purpose they are meant to support, for there is still the lingering question of NGO credibility amongst the 300^{^[5]} charities receiving funds on behalf of the people.

Even though there has been a small decrease (with local charities being impacted the most) inÂ overall number of NGO’s operational in the country due to the global economic downturn, the 176^{^[6]}Â officially registered NGO’s with the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO) charged with NGO coordination, are still receiving funds on behalf of the people. And there are still several more NGO’s who have not signed up with the governing body, but are instead practicing there trade without any iota of accountability.

What we have therefore is a once noble Institution (which still is) despite its benevolent intentions being pervaded by a good number of ill-intentioned NGOs (local/international) designed to rake in their own cuts from this funding whirlpool meant for the people of Sierra Leone. These ‘portfolio’ NGOs mainly managed by ill-motivated individuals knowledgeable in the NGO funding game, have converted (and continue to divert) beneficiary funds to their own use, becoming wealthier than even the organization they are heading, and leaving the beneficiaries ‘pauperized’ than before the projects are conceived.

As recently as August 2008, the consensus amongst participants at the SLANGO Annual General Meeting held at the British Council Auditorium in Freetown, was that a good number of NGOs (both local and International) were misappropriating funds meant for the people, with staff of these institutions (local as well as expatriates) allegedly spending 55% of beneficiary’s money on incentives[7]. In the midst of the flurry for the available scarce resources and corruption scandals rocking the establishment, well meaning Sierra Leoneans and the public has become disenchanted with the little or apparent lack of accountability and transparency, leaving them no choice but being emboldened to call for some form of Accountability.

AA-SL, a Non-partisan, Independent Research Program is being rolled out to provide leadership and direction in the call for accountability and transparency within the NGO community and the Government Institutions handling donor funds.

Our approach in perfecting an NGO Accountability norm will seek a methodology easily understandable by all stakeholders, and will be fair across the board. Ours will be a process where the AA-SL Team will be developing Accountability Standards (i.e. Program and Operational Accountability standards) around which NGOs are evaluated in their judicious use of donor funds received on behalf of the beneficiaries.Â

For us at AA-SL, the way and means by which an NGO utilizes program funds is a measure of Program Accountability. A percent estimate of the NGO’s total expense vs. what is actually spent on program activities is indicative of the organization’s genuine affirmation to the cause it sets out to deliver. For the NGO to spend more on programs there has to be a hold on the administrative expense to a reasonable proportion, so that more funds can be freed for program implementation.

Those NGOs that spend 75% and upwards of their funds will have exceeded expectations, and truly delivering on their promise of getting funds to the beneficiaries through the various programs being implemented. We expect 50% to be the minimum NGOs can navigate to be seen to have met the basic accepted accountability standards. A 50% or less show that the NGOs are mishandling the funds committed to them and are not living up to their mission. An organization that spends a greater share of its expense on administrative services has to provide justification in the use of its funds other than on programs.

On the question of Operational Accountability, we are saying that the way and manner NGOs manage their activities, and share information about their work in many ways underpins the organizations operational accountability. This will be measured across a set of Ten (10) parameters (i.e. COI policy, annual report, Board of directors, access to information policy, website etc) that the NGOs are required to provide honest ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ responses.

The AA-SL Team of Researchers is currently putting together a funding proposal for capacity building and training for NGOs, Government Institutions and the Donors in all aspects of accountability. Part of this proposal calls for bringing Mr. Stuart P. Sobel from the US to Freetown (if funding is secured) to implement an accountability training package.Â Stuart P. Sobel is the President of Stuart Sobel Consulting, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana, and also a member of the board of the Central Indiana Better Business Bureau. See Stuart’s website http://www.taxexemptstartup.com

As a “Watch Dog” we would be monitoring the receipt of Development Aid, spotlighting any exploitation and abuses when they occur. As a credible stakeholder, the Donors will be made fully aware of these occurrences and mobilized to exert pressure on the NGOs and Governments Institutions found wanting to reform such practices. By documenting and reporting on incidences of corruption as they occur within the humanitarian community and other Institutions, our efforts will help serve as a regulatory check to some of the excesses of our NGOs and Government Institutions. Â Fighting corruption, we believe should not be the sole prerogative of the Government and the law enforcement, but rather the concerted effort of every patriotic citizen or organization.

AA-SL will not be working in isolation, but will strive for collaboration with organizations at home and abroad to ensure that NGOs live to their cause and serve the people in a transparent and accountable manner. Every organization that has a stake in the growth and development of Sierra Leone, working to promote corruption, AID Accountability and Transparency will be a partner to AA-SL. At home we would collaborate with the Sierra Leone Association for Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO,) the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC,) Development Assistance Coordination Office (DACO,) Ministry of Finance & Economic Development, the Media and other Civil Society organizations. We support the work of philanthropic organizations like ZAIN, Africell, and other Telecoms operations, local businesses, and individuals, and will seek to strengthen local funding initiative, by these organizations to local NGOs through an informed giving decision.

By building a strong alliance with the donor community, AA-SL will help ensure development funds meant for the people, particularly ordinary folks are managed judiciously for maximum impact. AA-SL shall add its voice to the growing list of actors’ campaigning to make Poverty history, and lobbying to donors for increased and quality aid, to ensure that the nation achieves on the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In the International arena, AA-SL will seek collaboration with organizations like the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA,) Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP,) NGO Watch, NGO Monitor, Transparency International (TI,) Better Business Bureaus (BBB,) Global Integrity and Charity Navigator, to name but a few.Â

In the days and weeks to come, AA-SL will be sending out introductory letters to the NGOs, Government Institutions and Donor community about our plans to provide leadership in the area of Accountability and transparency. Well meaning Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad who wants to participate in this imitative are encouraged to get in touch. We look forward to your continuous support now and in the years to come.Â Â

Edie Vandy, AA-SL

Note: Edie Vandy is a founding member of the Accountability Alert Project. For any clarifications, and additional information, please contact the author at ediepauljoseph@yahoo.com, Tel. 919-923-4764

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^{^[1]} Â DFID -Â Major Challenges

^{^[2]} Â Sierra Leone: Government tightens control of NGOs

[3] Human Development Report 2009

^{^[4]} Â DFID: Working to reduce poverty in Sierra Leone

^{^[5]} Â IRIN News – September 2, 2008

^{^[6]} Â SLANGO 10th Annual General Meeting – June 22, 2009

[7] NGO’s misdirecting donor funds! – SLANGO AGM reveals

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