MONROVIA – An electronic platform that would create a platform for citizens to interact directly with government in concession communities has been launched in Grand Cape Mount and Nimba Counties.
The Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD), the implementor of the project, says it would inform citizens in concession communities about concession signed by government and afford them the opportunity to connect with the government if concessionaires failed to live up to the agreement.
“We don’t want people setting roadblocks in concession communities only to claim government attention. We want Government and communities to interact freely. People should channel their concerns in a non-violence.”
The monitoring project for concessional communities will focus on monitoring compliance of class A and B mining contracts using an integrated mobile and web-based interactive platform with functional reporting interface capabilities that enables citizens to amplify their voices to advocate for improved contract compliance and social services (health, education, water and sanitation, etc.), by channeling their concerns and observations about services standards directly to service providers and authorities for redress, using simple, fast and low cost digital technologies (such as WhatsApp, text messaging (SMS), emails, voice, video, etc.). Through a provider feedback and tracking interface.
The system would provide functionality for relaying in real-time citizens’ queries to the concerned service providers and other responsible authorities through public dashboards, as well as tracking of redress actions at multiple levels.
The project will also seek to build the capability of community monitors from over 30 mining communities on the usability of this platform, facilitate community dialogue forums to discuss feedback and redress in ways that create dispute mechanism at mining communities and advocate for reform at the national level for improved transparency and greater accountability in natural resource governance.
The project is believed to support Pillar I and IV of the Government of Liberia Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development and the African Mining Vision and will be implemented in three mining counties (Grand Cape Mount, Nimba and Bong Counties) over 18 months period.