By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
The Building Accountability Systems through Empowered Communities (BASE) project marked a significant milestone on Friday, April 12th, 2024, with the launch of consultative planning at the Institute for Government Reforms (IGR) office. This initiative, led by Andrew Lavali, Executive Director of IGR, sets out to enhance development efforts by focusing on revenue enhancement and service improvement across select regions of Sierra Leone.
Andrew Lavali, elucidating the project’s overarching objectives, emphasized the need for a structured approach towards development, likening it to a journey with a clearly defined beginning and end. Lavali underscored the project’s dual focus on bolstering revenue generation and enhancing service delivery within five districts and six councils.
“This initiative aims to address fundamental questions regarding community organization and household welfare,” Lavali remarked during the launch event. He outlined the targeted districts and councils, including Kono District with its two councils, Falaba District Council, Tonkolili District Council, Moyamba District Council, and the Karene District Council.
Assuring a comprehensive and inclusive planning process, Lavali highlighted the pivotal role of civil society organizations in leading the development of these plans—a departure from previous practices dominated by governmental entities. He pledged direct engagement with citizens and media throughout the planning stages.
The methodology for executing the project was elucidated, with Lavali detailing a process that involves consultations at the chiefdom level and subsequent decision-making at the technical level. Key stakeholders from various ministries would collaborate to draft plans, with chiefdom profiles serving as a blueprint highlighting needs, challenges, and opportunities.
Despite resource constraints, Lavali assured ample participation from localcommunities, with each chiefdom expected to contribute insights through a diverse representation of 50 participants. Lavali emphasized simplicity and participation as guiding principles throughout the process.
Justifying the project’s design, Lavali pointed to pervasive distrust between citizens and authorities, exacerbated by economic hardships and high expectations. The project aims to bridge this trust gap by prioritizing community involvement and transparent decision-making.
Anticipating a swift rollout, Lavali projected the commencement of consultations on April 24th, 2024, with plans to conclude discussions by the end of May—an alignment with the National Development Plan’s seven-year timeline.
The launch event witnessed the participation of various Civil Society Organizations forming the BASE Consortium, along with representatives from the United States Government, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and other stakeholders.
Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the BASE partnership program aims to foster trust and collaboration among government, communities, and civil society actors for sustainable development in Sierra Leone. Key members of the consortium include the Institute for Governance Reforms (IGR), Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), Independent Radio Network (IRN), 50-50 Group, and Budget Advocacy Network (BAN).
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