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Quarterly Newsletter
July-Sept 2014
Volume XXVVI “The duty of youth is to challenge corruption” – Kurt Cobain.
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ALAC Pakistan
Contact Us
Editor: Akber Panjwani Layout: Maryam Khalid Cartoonist: Zahid Gara
Inside this
Issue
TI Pakistan Activities
July-Sep 2014
Anti-Fraud Hotline
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Transparency International Pakistan strongly feels that the viability of robust democratic establishments in Pakistan is not achievable without the youth’s action in democratic execution. This also makes sense in the context of Pakistan since 25 million individuals are between the ages of 15 and 24. Through organizing events such as leadership and advocacy trainings for the youth and involving them in international youth camps, we aim to prepare the youth of the country by altering their perspective towards corruption; the primary goal is to make integrity a ‘trend’ among them. We want to ensure that the desired result is that adolescents take a progressive approach in decision making mechanisms to bring about the required development. We want to honour the young adults that have taken a prominent role in battling wrongdoings in their homes and communities. We would like to exhibit that given the right skills, they can make a difference. We wish to devise a youth network that unites young people who want to bring about social change with leading social entrepreneurs. We aim to seek the cooperation of the youth. We assure to continue this drive and work in sync to ensure that the youth, especially the most susceptible and marginalized, are harnessed with the legitimate expertise and means needed to lead us towards a better Pakistan and a better world.
“We are victims of the unfortunate war mostly because we haven’t facilitated our youth to get engaged in positive activities,” said Inayatullah Khan, King of Afghanistan in 1929. Taking an inspiration from this quote, we are taking an advanced step through creating a platform for a structured dialogue between students (from various universities across Pakistan) and decision makers. We will strive to ensure that their voices are heard in the political arena in both local and national matters, as we want to uphold the right of young people to engage in the evolution of policies that affect them. We want advancement in youth leadership in order to provide them with the competence to mentor and direct others on a better course of action. We also want the youth to plan and implement youth-led community service projects within their institutions and local youth organizations. As a starting point, we wish to learn what the youth thinks about corruption. So, if you (or anyone you know) are between the ages of 15 and 30, please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Zpaeg2X2l2U6KRWssRBa-CGpxILLMoiDV_Kqc3hj5yE/viewform?c=0&w=1 and fill our confidential survey. Thank you.
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TIP
AFH SYNOPSIS
This quarter successfully ends the fourth year of the Anti-Fraud Hotline (AFH) project. The Anti-Fraud Hotline is built on the premise of empowering the aggrieved and giving a voice to the vulnerable. The direct result of this action has led to the restoration of rights and/or property of wronged citizens in most cases. Suffice it to say, the AFH is a one-of-a-kind and innovative initiative. The success of the project is dependent on an exceptional and all-encompassing marketing strategy. This is because the project’s outcome is measured through complaints received which can only occur if thorough advertising has taken place all over the country. The AFH also accepts and manages confidential complaints. Through our various advertisements and marketing techniques, citizens are encouraged to report fraudulent cases to the AFH regardless of what they are, or when and where they may have occurred. Several modes of advertising are used when marketing the project and it is due to this scaled marketing approach, AFH received well over 5,000 calls during the reporting quarter. These include calls through our advertisement on television, radio, billboards and newspapers. In order to ensure quality and continuity, these marketing activities are monitored by the AFH team on a daily basis. Further, our internal operations team makes daily call reports, which help in the evaluation and feedback of the marketing strategy. This result is primarily achieved through the efforts of the well-trained and multilingual complaint officers that operate the state-of-the-art complaint management cell. This process includes data collection through AFH’s toll-free helpline, text messages (or sms technology), fax, email, website and postal mail. The Hotline has received a wide variety of complaints with various types of allegations over the past four years. The majority of these complaints usually relate to Service Delivery (mainly for flood affected), bribery and procurement fraud. Recently, after the floods and operation in Waziristan, the country has been faced with a surge of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Due to the aid that has been pouring in for these victims of forced displacement, the AFH placed many of its advertisements around IDP camps and sure enough calls and complaints are being continuously registered from these areas.
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H O T L I N E
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For the last four years, the AFH has provided a platform for aggrieved citizens that are supposed to benefit from USAID funded projects to raise their voice against corruption. The citizens’ demand for corruption-free service delivery is seen as a direct result of the AFH project and thus, is seen as a resounding success for us. This can be seen in the successful recovery of USAID funds worth millions of dollars by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) based on AFH’s findings. Moreover, due to this groundbreaking project, corruption has been detected in USAID funds in numerous projects across various sectors. The advocacy strategy for the next year has been planned according to the project’s previous successes. This includes awareness sessions specifically designed for implementing partners and the government. More importantly, TI Pakistan’s emphasis on the youth of the country is dedicated and focused as they are of critical importance. This is reflected in TI Pakistan’s strategy where the youth have been made a specific priority. This is because the youth of today desperately need positive examples of integrity which can be emulated. Moreover, young people are usually more open to change and possess the courage and vitality that is required to actually execute it. Thus, TI Pakistan wants to focus on mobilizing a great number of youth and indoctrinate them to reject corruption and practice integrity. Thus, the strategy employed for the youth will encompass awareness sessions in youth colleges and universities that are in close proximity of USAID-funded projects are underway. These include the Assessment Strengthening Program (ASP) in Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the two-year Associate's Degree in Education (ADE) and four-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed. [Hons.] Elementary degree programs etc. offered in government colleges of education and universities across Pakistan, as well as scholarship programs for students. These sessions will be tailored specifically to direct their concerns regarding corruption in USAID-funded projects which may have severely undermined developmental progress and may have severe impact on the sovereignty and prosperity of the country. The awareness raising sessions will help direct this passionate drive in promoting the hotline platform.
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The National Integrity Context & Systems Analysis (NICSA)
In order to examine the formal framework of each institution in Pakistan, Transparency International Pakistan undertook the National Integrity Context & Systems Analysis (NICSA) project. This project was imperative to examine the capacity and the role of the key institutions of the country. Before concluding the report, a formal focus group was arranged where all the professional experts related to the key pillars participated. Recommendations formulated by TI Pakistan served as a catalyst in extracting relevant information and suggestions from the participants The main findings of the NICSA research stressed the need for better legislation for ‘Right to Information’ (RTI) and ‘Whistle blowers protection’ laws. There is a Right to Information Law at the Federal level and at the Provincial level. The RTI law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) ranks among the best freedom of information laws all over the world, closely followed by Punjab. However, the laws at the Federal level and in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces are weak and need to be strengthened in order to emulate international standards. As far as whistle blowers are concerned, there is no law at the federal or provincial level except within the KPK’s RTI law; this gap needs to be filled. For promoting awareness regarding the right to information and whistle blowing culture, TI Pakistan has conducted two seminars with the participation of various stakeholders representing all the pillars. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is collaborating with TI Pakistan in these advocacy interventions. We have disseminated over 1,000 copies of the NICSA research to the relevant government officials, academia, donors, foreign missions, legislature and the public.
For promoting awareness regarding the right to information and whistle blowing culture, TI Pakistan has conducted two seminars with the participation of various stakeholders representing all the pillars (photographs above). Recently TI Pakistan has joined a coalition with the Shehri foundation which comprises of 20 civil society organisations. Our aim is to work towards strengthening Pakistan’s existing Freedom of Information laws. Out of the four provinces of the country, the RTI law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) ranks among the best freedom of information laws all over the world, closely followed by Punjab. However, the laws at the Federal level and in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces are weak and need to be strengthened in order to emulate international standards. As far as whistle blowers are concerned, there is no law at the federal or provincial level except within the KPK’s RTI law; this gap needs to be filled. Our ultimate goal is that at the federal and provincial level, Pakistan should have strong RTI laws emulating or inspired from the one in the KPK province.
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Advocacy & Legal Advice Centre
After the successful completion of Mobile ALACs in the previous quarter, the ALAC team decided to continue this innovative idea to reach out to more people at the grass root level. However, due to the recent monsoon rains and the subsequent floods in a vast area of Pakistan, only two Mobile ALACs were organized. One was organized in Punjab and the other in the Sindh province in collaboration with our local partners Sudhar Development Organization and Human Friends Citizen Community Board Thul respectively. The Mobile ALAC is a resounding success with many citizens requesting TI Pakistan to carry out more events in their areas and neighbourhoods. It has helped us address the issues of people at the grass root level. It is usually held in areas where legal assistance does not come by easily. Therefore, due to Mobile ALACs, we have collected more complaints, and have increased the ALAC’s number of initial contacts per quarter. The Mobile ALAC in Sudhar brought out a large number of women who highlighted several issues that they had been facing. Not all of these complaints were corruption related, but Mobile ALAC lawyers are advised to facilitate everyone who comes to them. They usually refer the clients to the appropriate authority or suggest alternate solutions to the problem, whichever may apply. These satisfied people will be potential clients in the future.
Mobile ALAC in district Vehari
Mobile ALAC in district Jacobabad
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More than 219 initial contacts have been made through these two Mobile ALACs. Once the complaints are physically received, we enter them into the database and each one of them is given an initial contact number. A detailed analysis of each of the complaint is also carried out and the complainant is also contacted when required. We also call them to verify whether the complainant is satisfied with the advice given during the Mobile ALAC or not; if the complainant needs further assistance, ALAC’s lawyer and staff are there to guide and/or provide solutions. Due to these activities, ALAC Pakistan is reaching the grass root level more effectively, by directly hearing the concerns of the citizens and giving them free legal advice in their areas. Local lawyers are employed to carry out these tasks so that they are better able to communicate with the clients in their respective regional languages. Due to these activities and services, the common citizen becomes aware about ALAC and subsequently TI Pakistan. Furthermore, women’s participation in these activities is very encouraging, while their gathering at a common place brings more awareness about their rights, which eventually helps them empower them.
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ALAC
Mobile ALAC in district Jacobabad
Mobile ALAC in district Vehari
ALAC is in contact with local NGOs that aim to communicate how anti-corruption activities are carried out in specific situations with the masses. We hold detailed meetings whenever representatives of partner NGOs visit the ALAC office. In this quarter, a representative of Human Friends Citizen Community Board Thul visited TI Pakistan and discussed many corruption-related cases from his district. ALAC offers its support and trains these people on how to pursue the authorities. It is also trying to establish a strong presence all over Pakistan. An NGO named Sabawoon for Peace & Sustainable Development (SPSD) from Balochistan has contacted us and is eager to join hands with TI Pakistan to combat corruption in the region. Communication with other NGOs is also in
Gathering of women during a session in Vehari
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process specially those who have strong presence at the grass root level. We are working towards collaborating with them in the next quarter. These NGOs help our cause and take our message to the people to whom we do not have direct access. The locals know them and communicate with them with ease. The recent increased number of initial contacts is the direct result of ALAC’s continuous engagement with these partner NGOs. Capacity Building In order to build the capacities of the national chapter staff on case work and strategic advocacy, and to enhance the community of national chapters’ program staff from the Asia Pacific region, a workshop was held in Cambodia by TI Cambodia in collaboration with TI Secretariat. ALAC Pakistan’s Assistant Project Coordinator participated in the workshop.
In the next quarter, we will continue to organize more Mobile ALACs. We find that this is a better method to receive complaints from the public while satisfying our budgeting limitations as well. Moreover, we are focusing to expand our services to the remote areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provinces. We are in contact with some new local NGOs and are trying to communicate TI Pakistan’s message on anti-corruption along with the different services that we offer.
Capacity Building In order to build the capacities of the national chapter staff on case work and strategic advocacy, and to enhance the community of national chapters’ program staff from the Asia Pacific region, a workshop was held in Cambodia by TI Cambodia in collaboration with TI Secretariat. ALAC Pakistan’s Assistant Project Coordinator participated in the workshop.
Mobile ALAC in district Jacobabad
Mobile ALAC in district Vehari
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4th – 6th September
Mr. Ashfaque participated in a workshop in Cambodia. This workshop was organized in order to build the capacities of national chapter staff on case work and strategic advocacy and to enhance the community of national chapters’ program staff from the Asia Pacific region.
19th
September Mobile ALAC organized in District Vehari in collaboration with Sudhar Development Organization.
28th
September Mobile ALAC organized in District Jacobabad in collaboration with Human Friends Citizen Community Board Thul.
Contact Us
5-C, 2nd Floor, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase VII, D.H.A, Karachi.
92 21 3 5390408/9 Fax: 92 21 3 5390410
www.transparency.org.pk
www.facebook.com/ TransparencyInternational.Pakistan
Transparency International Pakistan
Transparency International Pakistan Activities
July ~ September 2014
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