Africa Freedom of Information Centre is seeking to engage experienced and highly skilled resource persons to develop high end impact documentaries in project countries; Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda. The resource person to undertake the task is required to be a local resident for...
Public procurement plays a vital role in economic growth and development, as it provides opportunities for businesses to supply goods and services to the government.In Tanzania, the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) in partnership with The Chanzo conducted a research study to understand...
Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) has welcomed a proposal by Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) to reserve 15% for special interest (women, youth and persons with disabilities groups in Uganda. This was revealed during a stakeholder consultative meeting organized by AFIC...
Africa Freedom of Information Centre(AFIC) had an opportunity to participate in the East African Business Expo from 4th to 7th May at UMA Grounds, Kampala, Uganda.The East African Business Expo is an annual event that brings together businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors from East Africa and...
TISA in collaboration with Women in Business (WIB) have launched women in business GROW Study at a women convening on 30th March 2023 at The Golden Tulip Hotel-Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya.The meeting objective was to reflect on the significance of affirmative action in public procurement and...
Public access to information is at the heart of the work of the United Nations System. Whether it is fighting poverty and corruption, promoting health and well being, education for boys and girls, gender equality, conflict prevention and management or climate justice, access to information...
We are pleased to share our new report on the barriers and solutions to women’s participation in public procurement in Eastern Africa produced by Africa Freedom of Information Centre with our partners, The Open Contracting Partnership and The Institute for Social Accountability. Gender inequality is...
A recent regional study by the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) indicates that Tanzania's public procurement scheme, introduced seven years ago, has yet to be implemented successfully, raising questions about the success of its intended objectives.As AFIC continues to work around transparency and accountability issues in...
Healthcare is a fundamental human right, and access to adequate healthcare services is critical for every community's well-being and development.Access to healthcare has long been a problem in Gulu, a bustling city in Northern Uganda. Despite efforts by the government and other organizations to enhance...
In 2022, Africa Freedom of Information Centre did a procurement data study in the five countries of Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, and Nigeria, and the results revealed a direct association between disclosure, contract supplies, and service delivery.According to Charity Komujjurizi, the project's lead, the study...
Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) initiated a community dialogue on access to information on April 26th, 2023 at Cwero, Paicho Sub-county, Gulu district in its efforts to develop citizens' capacities to seek and use public information.[caption id="attachment_22191" align="alignnone" width="315"] Community dialogue hosted by AFIC...
On April 26th, 2023, the Africa Freedom of Information Centre held an engagement meeting with district officials, municipal councils, and stakeholders in Gulu district at the Dove hotel in Gulu city.The purpose of the conference was to examine the results of data analysis on procurement...
Water is a basic prerequisite for schools to function properly. It is impossible to maintain basic hygiene standards in the absence of water, which can lead to the development of diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid. Furthermore, a lack of access to water can lead...
The electoral processes in Africa have largely been characterized by lack of transparency and accountability with citizens not being informed on key issues such as the appointment of members of election management bodies, registration of voters, nomination of candidates and conduct of campaigns, polling dates...
Public procurement is a critical part of the economy, and all members of society must have access to opportunities in this sector. However, women in Uganda suffer many barriers to engaging in public procurement.The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, 2003 governs the...
Government procurement is the biggest public market in the world. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries spend an average of 12% of annual GDP procuring goods, works, and services while Low and Middle-Income countries spend an even greater proportion on such...
On 27th January 2022, the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) a pan African membership civil society network and resource center promoting the right of access to information welcomed a new Governing Council. The election occurred during the 5th General Assembly held virtually on the...
Op-EdIn June 2021 the president of Uganda gave a directive to install digital motoring systems in all motorcycles and vehicles as means to crack down on rising insecurity in the country. However, reports indicate that Joint Stock Company Global Security that was awarded the 10-year...
Corruption is the silent destruction of a nation!In countries worldwide, it has been shown that when there's corruption in politics and economics, many people suffer. Corrupt governments stifle economic growth by diverting resources away from programs that benefit society as a whole; this means less...
The Government of Uganda has decentralized the power to develop the nation's resources to the district level under the principles of responsive and open local government. This has enhanced transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. Districts are expected to use the resources in the district to...
The quality of citizen feedback has a significant role in determining the quality of integrity in public procurement. Under the Hewlett Foundation-funded project, From Disclosure to Impact: Deepening and Broadening Open Contracting in Africa, the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) works to ensure quality...
Press ReleaseAFIC released its research report "Sunlight in Digital Technologies". This report analyzes data gathered through triangulation from varied secondary and primary sources, using an exploratory research design combining a scoping review of grey and published literature with key informant interviews and a survey in Uganda, Liberia,...
Some government operations rely heavily on digital technology, which includes software, hardware, and services. Technology is used to generate revenue, deliver services, and engage citizens. Digital technology facilitates the delivery of public services, creates efficiencies, encourages citizen participation, and improves communications for local governments.“Digital...
A global network of major news organizations, press freedom organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), activists, and journalists is working together to safeguard everyone's right to free expression. However, journalists' capacity to conduct their work is being harmed by violence, intimidation, harassment, and censorship. Vigils are being...
The IDUAI 2021 Continental Youth Essay Competition is intended to facilitate youth awareness and participation of young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years in the adoption and implementation of the Access to Information Laws in Eastern Africa.As part of the 2021 IDUAI...
What are effective ways civil society can advance access to information at the national level? What are the obstacles to effective access to information? These questions were at the center of the third regional meeting on access to information for the Sub-Saharan Africa region, attended...
Over 200 participants representing Inter-Governmental organizations, Government, Private Sector, Civil Society Organisations, the Media, and the UN system gathered online and in person at the Kampala Serena Hotel, Uganda, for a public dialogue to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2021....
UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa and its partners, joined the rest of the world to commemorate 28th September, the 2021 International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) under the theme, The Right to Know: Building Back Better with Access to Information.”The regional dialogue,...
The Access to Information Bill has been reintroduced in the National Assembly (NA) for discussion, following its initial tabling early last year.Although the bill was submitted to parliament last year, parliamentarians did not discuss it because of COVID-19 lockdowns restricting parliamentary sessions.The access to information...
Organizations promoting access to information and journalists have asked government to prevail over Public offices charging exorbitantly for access of information in Public interest.The Access to information Act provides that information should be mandatorily disclosed in Public interest at no fee. Although the act also...
Whereas public support for freedom of expression is strong and growing, a large majority of citizens still hold the view that government should only be able to restrict access to information when that information is vital to national security but it should not use it...
As East Africa prepares to join the rest of the world to commemorate 28th September 2021, the 2nd International Day for Universal Access to Information [IDUAI 2021], the media fraternity commended Twaweza East Africa and Africa Freedom for information Centre [AFIC] which are spearheading this...
Kampala, UgandaThe Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has called for the establishment of free internet access facilities in all districts of Uganda.The call comes as Uganda prepares to join the world to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information on September 28,...
AFIC has reminded government that an informed public shall always make informed decisions that subsequently leads to economic development of that country and that a society which is deprived of vital information will always remain backward.Mr. Gilbert Sendugwa made these remarks yesterday during the...
Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) and partners- the Office of United Nations High Commissioner, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, the African Union Commission, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and Twaweza East Africa have today, the 14th of September 2021 launched The...
The International Day of Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) will be commemorated on the 28th of September 2021. IDUAI is an opportunity to highlight the importance of expanding access to information laws and their implementation worldwide, in order to build back strong institutions for sustainable...
''Over the past ten years of my work on access to information- campaigning for adoption of access to information laws, training public officials, civil society organisations and journalists and researching- I have learnt that public access to information is as important for public officials as...
August 23, 2021Kampala, UgandaOver 100 participants from Eastern Africa and beyond representing line Ministries, Parastatals, Agencies, Parliament, Private Sector, Civil society Organizations, Media, and the UN system have re-affirmed their commitment to promote access to information and protection of fundamental freedoms in Eastern Africa.The commitment...
Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) joins the rest of the world to congratulate the Gambia upon getting new Access to Information Act which was accented to by President Adama Barrow, after the National Assembly passed the Bill on 1st July, this year. The signing...
17-19 August 2021One hundred forty-nine participants representing line Ministries, Parastatals, Agencies, Parliament, Private Sector, Civil Society Organisations, the Media and the UN system gathered online for a workshop to train stakeholders from across Eastern Africa on the Promotion of Knowledge Society Policy in National Information...
The study by the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) attributed this finding to lack of technical expertise and small financial muscle to supply the systems. The study investigated the procurement and deployment of (DTS) in Liberia, Uganda and Nigeria.The main DTSs Uganda has invested...
African governments are embracing the procurement of digital technology systems and the opportunities they present. The digital technology systems most African governments are adopting have the potential to transform governance and public services. Digital systems can increase access to government services, improve the quality of...
To support citizens’ right to information (right to know) concerning the procurement and governance of DTS, AFIC in partnership with CEMESP and PPDC, with support from the Omidyar Network conducted a pilot study on “Government Procurement of Digital Technology Systems (DTSs) in Africa”.This study attempted...
This article is part of a pilot study which investigated the procurement and deployment of Digital Technology Systems in Liberia, Uganda and Nigeria, conducted by Africa Freedom of Information Centre in partnership with CEMESP and PPDC with support from Omidyar Network.Digital technology systems are increasingly...
Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) is pleased to join over 90 other organisations and individuals in endorsing a letter in solidarity with Ivan Pavlov, a Russian human rights activist and lawyer who has been criminally charged with disclosing data of a preliminary investigation which...
The Eighth General Meeting of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), a network of African freedom of expression and media development organisations which are members of the global press freedom advocacy network, IFEX, was held in Accra, Ghana, from 25 to 26 June 2021.The...
In the last few weeks, countless protests against police brutality, corruption and for democratic reforms have spread throughout Eswatini. After the mysterious murder of a young student, Thabani Nkomonye at the hands of police, many took to the streets, calling for justice and investigations into...
The Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) implemented a GPSA funded project, ‘Enhancing Performance and Accountability of Social Service Contracts in Uganda’ " to enhance to enhance transparency and accountability of public contracting in the agriculture, education and health sectors through support to meaningful engagement...
Digital rights featured prominently at the 68th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), held virtually from 14 April to 4 May 2021. The session also provided a platform to take stock of the general state of the human rights situation on the...
The African Platform on Access to Information (2011), adopted a decade ago by a group of leading African media and information stakeholders, recognizes access to information as a fundamental human right. Since endorsed by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (2019) and the...
Recent decisions on regarding one of social media's well-known users, former US President Donald Trump, have ignited a broad, global debate on Big Tech's role in controlling content. With the public space having moved online- it's where we live, learn, work and protest- there's a...
In an increasingly competitive and unstable global environment, procurement strategies and project management practices are undergoing continuous changes. These changes result in a reduction in efficiency, increase in costs and risk exposure; the need for public integrity in public procurement.While at the recently concluded 13th...
Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) is pleased to join over 90 other organisations and individuals in endorsing a letter in solidarity with Ivan Pavlov, a Russian human rights activist and lawyer who has been criminally charged with disclosing data of a preliminary investigation which...
Twaweza Uganda and Africa Freedom of Information Centre, in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance have today the 6th of May 2021, officially launched the Access to Information Guide for Civil Servants. The Minister for State for ICT and National Guidance, Hon....
Annually, African governments spend over 60% of national budget through public contracting while over 70% of Malawi Governments’ annual budget is spent through public procurement (Hivos report). Women-owned enterprises win less than 1% of contracts. However, over the last decade, governments and multilateral development organizations...
The World Bank (2020) estimates that public procurement accounts for between 13-20% of global GPD every year, amounting to a staggering USD 9.5 trillion . Public procurement thus represents an unprecedented opportunity to boost local economies and drive development and growth.Unlocking this potential, however, is...
As we countdown to 12th August 2021 when Zambia will hold general elections to elect the Republican President, Members of Parliament, Councilors, Council Chairperson and Mayors, the media must intensify its public education efforts to inform and influence citizens participation in the electoral process.The preamble...
In August 2019, Africa Freedom of Information Centre conducted a contracts monitoring of selected districts for FY2018/19, and it was observed that strengthening the performance of public contracts at local government in Uganda will be an important factor for ensuring that both the government and...
PANOS Institute Southern Africa (PSAf) has called for the reformation or abolition of restrictive laws that are limiting citizens’ use of the media and other platforms to seek, share and receive information as a public good in a manner that will enable them to participate...