About Transparency International Sierra Leone — TISL
Transparency International Sierra Leone, formerly the National Accountability Group is a local non-profit, non-governmental anti-corruption advocacy civil society organization established as a taskforce in 2001 under Campaign for Good Governance after 7 professional Sierra Leoneans participated in the Annual Members Meeting and International Anti Corruption Conference in Prague, Czech Republic organised by Transparency International. The trip was funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Sierra Leone and the Open Society Institute (OSI) in New York and was organized and led by the then-Coordinator of Campaign for Good Governance and former Executive Director of NAG, Mrs Zainab Hawa Bangura.
In July 2004, TISL formerly NAG was reorganized as an independent organization with a mandate to achieve greater accountability, transparency and integrity in private and public affairs. It’s work is mainly dedicated to curb corruption; by holding local and national governments and public duty bearers accountable to the people of Sierra Leone, and to assist victims of corrupt practices.
In March 2008, TISL was granted a National Chapter in Formation Status by Transparency International Secretariat in Berlin, Germany
In September 2010, after duly serving as a Local Chapter in Formation and completing a Self Assessment Form of Transparency International Secretariat in Berlin, Germany for Full Chapter status, TISL was granted Full Accreditation by TI Secretariat as the Local Chapter in Sierra Leone.
This led to the change of name and logo in April 2011 at a ceremony held at the headquarters at 20 Dundas Street by the Vice Chairperson of the TI Movement, Barrister Akere Muna and the former Executive Director, Mrs Zainab Hawa Bangura.
Organizational Objectives
TISL is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation with a focus on promoting integrity, ethics and anti-corruption values in personal and national development efforts
our work as an organization
TISL is a civil society anti-corruption advocacy organization dedicated to promoting integrity, ethics and anti-corruption values in personal and national development efforts in Sierra Leone. It is the National Chapter of Transparency International in Sierra Leone. Though, it is accredited to TI, the organization has its own projects and sometimes works in partnership with TI-Secretariat to implement some projects and tools in addition to its specific projects.
TI-SL’s work is based on a three-pronged approach:
To work with government, state institutions and other authorities to put adequate measures in place and also enforce the implementation of adequate measures to curb corruption as well as create an enabling environment to discourage corrupt practices.
To work with key stakeholders and partners to develop evidence based documents, monitor, interact and collaborate with like minded groups and target beneficiaries to take a stance against all forms of corruption and impropriety.
To supporting specific vulnerable groups with information, skills and opportunities to advocate against and resist corruption, engage authorities to address corrupt practices. Specifically TI-SL facilitates opportunities and support to enable vulnerable groups (women, children, youth and the physically challenged) that have suffered most from the effects/impact of corruption to overcome its effect on their lives.
Our activities have been centered on the following:
core prograamm area
Research and Surveys :
Through Research and Surveys, TISL seeks to ascertain the cause or concern about certain challenges related to corruption, lack of integrity, accountability and transparency to discern the factors responsible for the issues/problems/challenges encountered.
Public Education and Awareness Raising :
Through Public Education and Awareness Raising, TISL seeks to provide general and specific information to the public and key stakeholders on the causes and effects of corruption. Also, specific information on policies and processes geared towards curbing corruption and promoting integrity, good governance and democracy, as well as national and international instruments to curb corruption.
Monitoring :
Through Monitoring, TISL seeks to follow up closely on institutions and national development processes that are responsible for promoting democracy and good governance by ensuring transparency, accountability and integrity in their implementation.
Coalition and Institutional Capacity Building :
Through Coalition and Institutional Capacity Building, TISL seeks to create and foster linkages and alliances, work in cooperation and partnership with like-minded agencies and organizations, strengthen their capacity and that of TISL to promote transparency, accountability and Integrity with one voice nationally, sub-regionally and internationally.
Technical Assistance, Fiscal Sponsorship/Grant making, Legal Advice :
Through Technical Assistance, Fiscal Sponsorship/Grant making and Legal Advice, TISL seeks to provide specialized training skills to staff, field workers and beneficiaries of organizations: facilitate opportunities for vulnerable groups receive and judiciously utilize assistance in the form of funds to overcome the effect of corruption (poverty and underdevelopment) on their lives: provide free legal advice for the citizenry to address concerns related to corrupt acts.
Challenges
TI-SL’s work has been hampered by the following:
