Sunlight Foundation shows real levels of U.S. transparency
The Sunlight Foundation yesterday, 8th September, launched Clearspending.com, a site analysing how well U.S. government agencies are reporting their spending data on USASpending.gov.
Who is responsible for USAID transparency?
A debate has ensued online after Till Brucker’s guest post on the Aid Watch blog on NGO transparency in Georgia. After having asked USAID to release budget details of NGOs operating in Georgia, he was sent the information (18 months later) with varying costs and totals blacked out.
ARTICLE 19 launch London Declaration and welcome FoI Act in Liberia
ARTICLE 19, the campaign defending the right to free speech, yesterday launched a Declaration marking a new consensus on the role of transparency and free flow of information in achieving the MDGs.
President of Pakistan calls for aid transparency
President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan said on Friday 3rd September 2010 that aid transparency is still critical to the effective delivery of assistance to flood victims. The President also urged that this information be put online to achieve “total transparency in foreign aid”.
Eurodad and Publish What You Fund ask for transparency in climate funds
PRESS RELEASE:
WANTED: the truth behind climate funds
Brussels, September 3, 2010
Transparency = Searchable, usable, accessible information
Russell Williams, writing for Government Technology, says online transparency remains a top priority for federal government agencies as it builds trust, saves money, and encourages users to come back. However, the ACSO E-transaprency Index report has shown a recent decline in citizen satisfaction with government transparency online.
What is highlighted is that while the information may be available online, it is not accessible or user-friendly enough: “Some sites may need to put more emphasis on improving search, navigation or site functionality.”