Transparency & Accountability Programs

Corruption and opaque government practices plague the lives of tens of millions around the globe by increasing poverty, despair and political turmoil.

Transparent public administration and business practices and the rule of law are critical components of any democratic society. Good governance prevails when government officials manage public institutions in an efficient, accountable manner that is responsive to, and in partnership with, its citizenry. Public checks and balances ensure that the administrative authority in a nation/state operate to the benefit of the local constituency rather than the benefit of a few. These accountable branches of government, coupled with an independent media, the unencumbered flow of information and an empowered civil society, serve critical purposes in free societies.

The Democracy Council works with local partners to enhance the transparency and accountability of public and private institutions.

Council staff have earned a proven reputation for designing practical programs to foster dialogue, mitigate corrupt systems, and promote public participation at all levels of government and corporate activity.

Democracy Council transparency and accountability projects include the Council’s groundbreaking work in the Palestinian Authority and Timor L’este. The Palestine Transparency & Accountability Project, first made public during the annual conference of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, received widespread support from around the world, including accolades by organizations such as Transparency International, the World Bank, and the U.S. Department of State.

… “The Democracy Council previously founded the Palestinian Transparency & Accountability Project and the Palestine Investment Fund to promote financial and governance reform. The group’s work was largely credited with revealing a $900 million gap in the PA budget….”

Letter signed by members of the U.S. Congress on 23 June 2006

Democracy Council’s Transparency and Accountability in Government project, conducted in Timor L’este (formerly East Timor), was hailed by President Xanaa Gusmao. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the training program surveyed how governments around the world manage petroleum generated revenues and resources, assessed common sources of corruption, and discussed effective measures that the press and civil society could take to help ensure more transparent and effective government practices. The workshop trained representatives of local civil society on methods to combat corruption and improve government transparency in the use of oil revenues.