Transparent, accountable, and responsive governance is the lynchpin of thriving communities, countries, and democracies. OSC understands that improvements in Democracy and Governance have a direct and organic impact on all other sectors of society. By supporting accountable and transparent institutions, emphasizing anti-corruption, and encouraging citizen participation and accountability, we help to create an enabling environment for policy reform, improved rule of law and justice, and more responsive systems for health, education, the environment, and the economy.
OSC builds productive dialogue to create transparency in political processes and encourage free and fair elections. OSC has a proven track record of increasing citizens’ participation in develop initiatives and creating platforms for critical dialogue and engagement with government, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other key stakeholders. OSC delivers advocacy and public education capacity building for CSOs, NGOs, community groups, and citizens to enable them to effectively target and advocate for policy reform, fiscal support, and other contributions to citizen-led development initiatives. We help local organizations communicate with their government and citizen counterparts. We also empower journalists with training and increased access to government and industry officials, leading to better reporting and robust public discourse.
On one project, OSC is building the capacity of district government to more effectively engage with citizens, district departments, line ministries, and provincial government counterparts. OSC also trains government officials in both public outreach and intra-governmental communications/advocacy, with the aim of influencing individual behavior at a variety of levels. Collectively, these trainings enable counterparts to increase demand for government services and promote sustained, productive engagement with government entities through public meetings, media outreach, printed materials, participation in radio and television programming, and phone-based media.
OSC is building the capacity of government officials for public outreach and communications in order to engage citizens in dialogue about governance and economics and to promote more responsive and transparent government institutions. In addition, OSC is facilitating roundtable discussions with government officials and CSOs on issues of policy and legal barriers to economic inclusion for vulnerable populations including women and ethnic minorities.
OSC emphasizes innovative technologies and approaches to ensure far-reaching and broad-based impact on D&G initiatives. Twenty-first century technology provides a means to develop linkages, integrate feedback into programming, and create the kind of fluid, flexible, and responsive mechanisms necessary for bolstering accountable governments and reaching a broader set of individuals and audiences.