Penplusbytes on Friday 17th May, hosted a three-member delegation
from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) based in the
United Kingdom for an assessment of Penplusbytes’ STAR-Ghana funded
programmes and its impact on its beneficiaries.
The
purpose of the visit was in connection with the general assessment of
STAR-Ghana (a grant making organisation who receive substantial funds
from the UK through DFID) and provide avenues for the future of
STAR-Ghana and UK support to civil society in Ghana. It also served as
grounds for knowledge and information exchange between grantees of
STAR-Ghana and the ICAI team on best practices.
The Team Leader
of the group, Mr. Marcus Cox, said Penplusbytes was selected among the
many STAR-Ghana grantees for the visit mainly due to the leadership role
Penplusbytes is playing in using ICTs and New Media to advance the
cause of democracy in Ghana and other parts of the continent and also
the innovative ways in which the organisation uses mobile applications
and other to engage citizens especially those at the grassroots and CSOs
on issues of transparency and accountability.
Some of the
issues raised centered on sustained partnership building with Civil
Society Organisations and other stakeholders and how these partnerships
are producing tangible results in the area of transparency,
accountability and responsiveness.
Speaking on STAR-Ghana’s work
with Grant Partners, Mr. Jeremiah Sam said that “they have been of
enormous support over the past couple of years, providing both technical
and advisory support and a platform for Civil Society Organisations to
collaborate and work together whiles reducing duplication of efforts in
achieving common goals.” The have provided both technical and advisory
support to the team.”
Penplusbytes with grants from STAR-Ghana
has successfully covered the 2012 Ghana elections using new media to
enabling peaceful, transparent and credible elections and is currently
undertaking a two year project aimed at improving coverage of oil and
gas stories by the Ghanaian media leading to an increase in the quantity
and quality (in terms of in-depth and investigative reporting) of oil
and gas stories thus leading to the media playing an effective watchdog
role over Ghana’s Oil and Gas revenues and resources.
Editors Note
PENPLUSBYTES www.penplusbytes.org is a registered not for profit organization since 18th July 2001 with the vision of driving excellence in ICT journalism.
ICAI
is the independent body responsible for scrutiny of UK aid. It focuses
on maximizing the impact and effectiveness of the UK aid budget for
intended beneficiaries and the delivery of value for money for the UK
taxpayer. Its reports are submitted directly to the UK Parliament.
STAR-Ghana
STAR-Ghana
is a multi- donor pooled funding mechanism (Funded by DFID, DANIDA, EU
and USAID) to increase the influence of civil society and Parliament in
the governance of public goods and service delivery, with the ultimate
goal of improving the accountability and responsiveness of Ghana's
government, traditional authorities and the private sector.
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