AN accountable and transparent civil service and national leadership will not be possible without an active citizenry, says the Fiji Council of Social Services.
FCOSS executive director Vani Catanasiga said without an active citizenry to hold government, the private sector and civil society accountable, development would not meet the needs of people.
Speaking at a radio interview with the Seventh Day Adventist Church’s Hope FM late yesterday, Ms Catanasiga shared that FCOSS collaboration with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Fiji in Cakaudrove was about fostering CSO development effectiveness.
“ADRA invited FCOSS to partner with them in building the capacities of CSOs in Cakaudrove around the Istanbul Principles for CSO Development Effectiveness, particularly Principle 5: Practice Transparency and Accountability,” the executive director said.
Ms Catanasiga said by December last year, representatives from nine District Councils of Social Services (DCOSS) had agreed to implement the Code of Accountability at a meeting organised by FCOSS in Lautoka.
“The Code of Accountability, which was inspired by the Istanbul Principles, sets out approaches for institutionalising accountability and transparency in the internal processes and operations of FCOSS and its DCOSS networks,” she said.
She said this indicated the level of commitment of DCOSS members and volunteers to ensuring that their efforts for community and sustainable development would be effective.
