Aid in Action

USAID/Djibouti Fights Corruption Via the Air Waves

 | Monday, October 05, 2009

 

USAID/Djibouti is sponsoring  anti-corruption public service announcements (PSAs) that are being aired on Djiboutian radio over the next four months in four languages—Somali, Afar, French and Arabic.  The announcements are targeted to inform the public about good governance, transparency and accountability; to sensitize the public on the role of the Inspector General’s Office and other institutions that help in the fight against corruption; and about public sector accountability and transparency.  The PSAs raise awareness about how Djibouti’s government functions and how government employees should serve the public.

The PSAs are written in simple language that can be understood by everyone and involve questions that are frequently asked.  One announcement involves the voice-over of an ‘average teenager:’

Voice of teenager to his father: “Father, who makes sure that the Administration does what we want them to do?”
Voice of father:  “Son, there are many institution in our country that do that--Parliament, Inspector General’s Office…”
Voice of teenager:  “Inspector General’s Office? That sounds like the police.”
Voice of father (laughing softly): “Well, that’s right son.  The Inspector General’s Office ‘polices’ Government for us, to make sure it performs its work properly…and transparently.”

Another message begins with a woman’s voice:
Voice #1, a woman: “I voted in the election but I still don’t know…What does Parliament really do?”
Voice #2, a man: “One of Parliament’s main functions is to approve the national budget and ensure that
public funds are spent in the people’s interests—education, health care, all the important things.”
Voice #1 the same woman: “Ok, now I see.  That’s a big job. I’m sure glad someone is looking out for my interests.”

Other PSAs invoke Presidential quotes about the duty of government employees to serve the public; the importance of a National Code of Ethics particularly to promote private sector investment in Djibouti; the negative implications of absenteeism among civil servants; and the importance of maintaining good governance.

To compliment the PSAs, USAID is sponsoring a training with the Inspector General’s Office that will result in more transparent auditing records within the IG’s Office and better performance of Inspectors as they play the important role of ‘advisors’ for public administration.  As one of the announcements states, “It’s been a long journey and Djibouti has achieved a lot in the last 32 years since Independence, but real independence comes when we are free from corruption and everyone has a role to play in making that
happen.”