civil society

Looking back on the past twelve months, I am thrilled by the results of IREX’ work and excited to consider the prospects for the coming year.  In 2012, with our generous donors’ support, it was possible to benefit more people than ever before. Over half a million lives have been touched this last year because an IREX’er -- in the U.S. and around the world -- was there to provide support. In doing so, we’ve had the privilege to work with more than 400 local partners in 125 countries.  

Reflections of a Voter in Liberia's presidential elections October 2011

Congratulations to USAID on its 50th Anniversary

When I began working with journalists, editors and civil society leaders- and the public they serve- in countries where media freedom is not a given, one of the first things I noticed was the low expectations that government should be accountable to its citizens. As a taxpayer and voter in the United States, I have a very vivid perception that I own a share of what government does and that I have a right to know in almost all cases how it goes about it. This is more often not the case in many of the countries in which we work where free elections, strong independent media, and basic individual rights are lacking.

I’ve worked on civil society development for almost twenty years now.  So I’ve seen my fill of inspirational project acronyms and transformative methodologies - each one more synergistic and sustainable than the next:  community mobilization, citizen participation, and other grassroots approaches to civil society capacity building. These are methodologies that frame the work of international NGOs like IREX around the world. And don’t misunderstand my lighthearted sarcasm, I believe in these concepts quite deeply and have dedicated myself to them passionately.  

As a volunteer in Russia, I was frequently asked to speak to youth and educators about community service in the United States. Preparing for these presentations, I reflected on the well-accepted culture of “pitching in” within the US and on the recognized value of service in helping young people develop confidence, a sense of responsibility, practical skills, and a greater awareness of social issues.

I am writing from the Philippines, where I spent the past week meeting with representatives of the vibrant civil society sector to discuss the potential for programming related to youth and conflict mitigation on the island of Mindanao. On the surface, the Philippines is perhaps the most accessible country in Southeast Asia. In a country of more than 7,000 islands and numerous languages, English is the common language and there is a fondness for anything from the United States– from fast food to malls to jeeps refashioned as the uniquely Filipino form of mass transport known as the “jeepney.” Yet, I discovered that everything in the Philippines is more complicated than it first appears.

I just came home from Rwanda, Liberia, Romania and Ukraine. What do these countries have in common you ask and why is IREX focusing on them right now? Each one of these countries is in transition from a difficult past to a hoped-for brighter future. Each one of these countries is in a better position now than in over a generation to make genuine progress toward the goals they’ve set for themselves. Each has its own unique set of challenges, naturally.

I’ve been back in the US for almost four years now, but the lessons and memories from 27 months in Ukraine continue to influence my perspective on life and my approach to development work.

I visited Nepal recently to learn more about local governance and civil society in order to assess the development context and possible opportunities for IREX.