The TI chapter in Morocco launched a new publication looking at municipality governance and its implications for local development. The publication is the fourth edition of the Transparency News, looking at past work and focusing on one editorial issue. The publication is elaborated by the chapter’s project, the Observatoire de la Corruption that, in short, monitors national news stories on corruption to identify key areas where the national integrity system fails and makes recommendations on how corruption in different sectors can be tackled. The number can be downloaded at: www.transparencymaroc.ma

Poder Ciudadano, the TI chapter in Argentina, launched an online database with information on how the executive branch distributes the advertising public/official space. The objective is to examine the relationship between this branch and the media. The free-access database is being used extensively by journalists, academics and civil society. Poder Ciudadano has been monitoring the expenditures in advertising since 2003. The information (available for the period 2000-2008) can be accessed at: www.publicidadoficial.org.ar

The TI chapter, Transparencia por Colombia, released a survey on how citizens view the functions and structure of the Congress.

The joint initiative, done by the chapter and the National Consultancy Center, focused on how citizens view the role of the National Congress and covered almost 1000 citizens from five different cities. Only one in every four people knew that the government is divided into two chambers (Senate and Representative’s chamber). Almost half of the population surveyed (45 per cent), were unaware of congress’ functions. With regards to access to information, only three per cent of those surveyed had filed an inquiry with Congress, and 82 per cent expressed no interest in doing so.

Transparencia por Colombia is using this information to raise awareness among media, politicians and activists to start working on the issue, as the access to information on the Congress work is fundamental to fighting corruption. For more information please click here.

Proética, the TI chapter in Peru, will establish an anti-corruption school through which civil society leaders (journalists, academics, etc.) will be trained on corruption issues and how to promote transparency, responsibility and accountability in their respective areas.

Proética has signed a cooperation agreement with USAID/Peru as part of the civil society component of the Anti-corruption Dawn programme. USAID/Peru seeks to strengthen the skills of civil society to fight corruption in the country.

The Chair of TI Australia Frank Costigan QC sadly passed away in April. He was appointed as director in 2003, bringing to the organisation his professional and personal integrity and his commitment to social justice. He was known for advocating for the rights of the poorest, recognising that they are most vulnerable to the impact of corruption. Frank Costigan was respected across the legal profession and political parties in Australia. We sincerely express our condolences to his friends and family.

TI Bangladesh will launch the project Paribartan – Driving Change, which aims to promote accountable and transparent governance in Bangladesh. The project expects to strengthen the country’s institutions, reduce the costs of corruption and improve citizens’ access to basic services through a bolstered and sustained social movement. The project will be supported by bilateral development organisations from Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, who have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Transparency International Bangladesh

TI Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) announced the launch of an Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre and the Forest Governance Initiative at its Annual General Meeting held in March. The Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre will provide advice and assistance to victims of corruption and help citizens pursue corruption-related complaints. “With the establishment of the centre, TIPNG will provide a facility to receive the concerns of the people and assist anti-corruption authorities with their important work,” said Chair Mr Aitsi. Meanwhile, the Forest Governance Initiative is a regional project aiming to monitor forestry laws and regulations, and conduct research into their effectiveness and abuse.

TI Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) published an analysis of the agreement on privatisation of the Oil sector of the Republika Srpska (NIRS) in April. The detailed analysis demonstrates that in case of the NIRS sale no positive privatisation effects exist, while its negative balance will have to be covered by the citizens and the Budget of Republic of Serbia. After examining the available documentation, a conservative calculation suggests the outflow of funds and capital from RS and Bosnia and Herzegovina following the privatisation arrangement in the total amount of KM 985,595,521.19 (€400 million). The full report can be downloaded (in local language) from the chapter’s website at www.ti-bih.org.

In a joint initiative, TI Hungary and Freedom House Europe have initiated the campaign “Kepmutatas” to promote more transparency and accountability to party- and campaign financing in Hungary. The campaign platform at www.kepmutatas.hu provides valuable background information and presents key recommendations, from introducing a designated bank account from which all campaign spending be conducted; to strengthening the oversight of campaigns.

To coincide with a draft law on whistleblowers, TI Switzerland held a press conference in March to highlight the lack of protection for them in the country. The chapter called for the law to be more comprehensive, as according to current law, whistleblowers are not protected from being fired. Other issues raised by the chapter included what business could do to assist internal reporting mechanisms, legal aspects of the current draft law, national approaches to support whistleblowing, and recommendations on the draft law.

For more information please click here.