Campaign for Good Governance
Encyclopedia
The Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) is democracy-supporting NGO
in Sierra Leone
. CGG promotes the building of democratic institutions, transparency and accountability in government, active citizen participation in the political process, voter education, human rights, and the rule of law. CGG also sponsors research projects that explore the social conditions that impact good governance
. In recent years CGG has been involved in projects in such diverse areas as gender rights, children’s rights, HIV/AIDS, elections, local government, and official corruption.
and Julius Spencer, Sierra Leonean human rights activists, and Joseph Opala
, an American historian who lived in the country for many years. During the lead-up to 1996 elections, the founders worked with other civil society
groups to help organize citizen participation. Bangura, in particular, organized thousands of women to demand their democratic rights as citizens. CGG emerged from the alliances forged during that period. The International Crisis Group
was also instrumental in helping establish CGG.
Bangura was CGG’s first Coordinator. After she left that position in 2002, several others succeeded her, including Abdul Tejan-Cole
, Olayinka Creighton-Randall, and Valnora Edwin, CGG’s current Coordinator.
, the National Endowment for Democracy
(Washington, DC), Britain's Department for International Development
, and Dutch Interchurch Aid.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. CGG promotes the building of democratic institutions, transparency and accountability in government, active citizen participation in the political process, voter education, human rights, and the rule of law. CGG also sponsors research projects that explore the social conditions that impact good governance
Good governance
Good governance is an indeterminate term used in development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. Governance describes "the process of decision-making and the process by which...
. In recent years CGG has been involved in projects in such diverse areas as gender rights, children’s rights, HIV/AIDS, elections, local government, and official corruption.
History
The Campaign for Good Governance was formally established in July 1996 after Sierra Leone’s first multi-party democratic elections in three decades. The founders of CGG were Zainab BanguraZainab Bangura
Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura is a Sierra Leonean politician and social activist. She is currently Sierra Leone minister of Health and sanitation. In 2007 Bangura became Sierra Leone's foreign minister in the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People's Congress Party...
and Julius Spencer, Sierra Leonean human rights activists, and Joseph Opala
Joseph Opala
Joseph A. Opala is an American historian who documented the "Gullah Connection," the historical link between the Gullah people in South Carolina and Georgia, and the West African nation of Sierra Leone...
, an American historian who lived in the country for many years. During the lead-up to 1996 elections, the founders worked with other civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
groups to help organize citizen participation. Bangura, in particular, organized thousands of women to demand their democratic rights as citizens. CGG emerged from the alliances forged during that period. The International Crisis Group
International Crisis Group
The International Crisis Group is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to prevent and resolve deadly conflicts around the world through field-based analyses and high-level advocacy.-History:...
was also instrumental in helping establish CGG.
Bangura was CGG’s first Coordinator. After she left that position in 2002, several others succeeded her, including Abdul Tejan-Cole
Abdul Tejan-Cole
Abdul Tejan-Cole is a Sierra Leonean legal practitioner and the Commissioner of Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission. He was awarded the 2001 Human Rights Watch award....
, Olayinka Creighton-Randall, and Valnora Edwin, CGG’s current Coordinator.
Funding
CGG is funded primarily through external sources, including the United States Agency for International DevelopmentUnited States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
, the National Endowment for Democracy
National Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, is a U.S. non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 to promote US-friendly democracy by providing cash grants funded primarily through an annual allocation from the U.S. Congress...
(Washington, DC), Britain's Department for International Development
Department for International Development
The Department For International Development is a United Kingdom government department with a Cabinet Minister in charge. It was separated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. The goal of the department is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". The current...
, and Dutch Interchurch Aid.