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World Bank-Annenberg Summer Institute
Reform Communication: Leadership, Strategy and Stakeholder Alignment
Posting Instructions:
Please answer the “captcha” and then copy and paste your scenario into the “comment” box at the bottom of this page.
Scenario – UK
Today, the tenth anniversary of the launch of the government’s IT apprenticeships program, we celebrate the beginning of the end of the UK’s digital divide. It’s appropriate that we are gathered here in rural Cornwall, which ten years ago had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Today, we see in Cornwall a steadily growing digital powerhouse, and in its vibrant companies we see new young recruits that managers are excited to hire – recruits who can sustain this dynamic trend. Where did they come from? Many have arrived via the ground-breaking IT apprenticeship program that has given young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access to sustained high quality, hands-on training. And they arrived in the program because of the media campaign that overcame people’s disillusionment with vocational training schemes and conveyed its high standards and the high, sustained investment behind it. They arrived because of the cross-party commitment to the program, which convinced people it wasn’t just another flash-in-the-pan initiative, but a long-term priority.
And thanks to this program and financial incentives from the government, we can look beyond Cornwall to see digital hubs emerging in other previously low-income rural areas, particularly in northern England. We can see cracks in the rural-urban divide.
Sustaining these exciting trends will be challenging in the face of tough global competition in the digital sector. And that’s why we need to sustain the cross-party vision and collaboration to continue to invest in our digital future. It is a future that will establish broad economic and social benefits, driving down inequalities as it boosts growth and rural regeneration. It is to this future that we are committed.
Future Scenario
We are at a critical juncture of history. The last ten years have seen a clash of powers and institutions as we as a country grappled both collectively and against one another, to forge this new governance in government. We have succeeded in turning around the Philippines from an economically moribund dictatorship, plagued by vested interests, and abandoned by middle class intellectuals, to the most dynamic, economically vibrant country in Southeast Asia, if not in the whole of Asia. We have done this not without a lot of internal turmoil, as we swept clean the Augean stables of Philippine politics and bureaucracy. Nobody would have believed in 2014, that Congress would have survived the pork barrel scandal, specially not without taking down the innocent together with the guilty. The public space for debate was fraught with discordant voices, condemning with equal measure everybody implicated in the misuse of public funds, ahead of evidence gathering which many deemed as tedious and tiresome. Today we have emerged as a stronger nation, still with democratic voices frequently raised to question, but more politically mature, more well-versed in rule-making and the law, a citizenry less enamored of bright stars and inveigled by smoke and mirrors during elections, now more critical and discerning about political promises, demanding more public services for hard-earned taxpayer money. The major overhaul of public financial management in the country concretized the promises for transparency and good governance that used to be just ideal concepts.
But there were many in civil society, and in our civil service, as well as in government, both elected and appointed, who persevered in teasing the truth out of the minutiae of documents and the complicated paper trail. The justice system held firm, binding its eyes so that truth shall emerge, and allowingbthe chips to fall where they may.
It is the year 2025 and the United States is in the midst of a social crisis. Our communication divide barely exists, with the majority of Americans having access to key information communication technologies. However, even though we are more connected than ever before, we are extremely disconnected as a society. Americans are lonely. Suicide rates have gone up. Kids barely go outside to run in the streets because they are too fixated with gaming and living in their virtual realities. Young adults don’t know how to date anymore. It’s gotten so bad, that adults have started to have relationships with operating systems rather than real-life human beings. We don’t know how to interact with each other anymore. The art of making conversation and sharing face-to-face moments has been lost. Social contact has become less and less needed that we have forgotten what it means to be truly human and connected. The world has gotten smaller, but the space between each and every American couldn’t be wider. If we don’t do something now, we risk loosing the very essence of what it means to be American – to be truly connected with our country and to one another.
Hi – I hope I have correctly understood the assignment. If not, please do let me know and I will rework it. Regards, Karen
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you about how the Philippines has managed to harness the power of technology, partnerships and communications to make itself more resilient in the face of worsening climate change and at the same time improving lives AND strengthening the economy.
Just over 10 years ago, Typhoon Yolanda slammed squarely into the Ilocano Islands in Western Philippines. I’m sure you remember the devastating headlines – over 6000 men, women and children tragically lost their lives, 11 million people lost their homes or were displaced and damages came to nearly half a billion dollars.
Since then, typhoons, tropical storms, rainier rainy seasons and drier dry seasons have increased but we have managed to sharply reduce the numbers of lives at risk – and property lost.
Better communications have been at the heart of this.
Mobile phone ownership in the Philippines has always been high particularly in our many growing cities but has been growing even in remote rural areas. That is in part thanks to a series of loans from the Asian Development Bank to fund solar-powered reception towers in remote areas that might otherwise not be serviced. Mobile phone usage has helped farmers, small businessmen, and families but also gave the country the opportunity to warn most of its citizens at times of emergency.
Moreover, under a partnership between the government and the private sector phone providers, emergency evacuation and other update text messages on coming typhoons are automatically pushed out to all subscribers with a distinctive clarion audio sound that can only be used in these situations.
Satellite links between local governments and a central office in Manila allow the emergency services to pinpoint specific evacuation points and safe places to gather and, ultimately, refugee centers. Fortunately, we were able in 2019 to broker a link between Google – using google maps and international satellite providers – to support these very critical services. Facebook, twitter and other newer social media tell me they are keen to find ways to override their traditional systems and allow push emergency messaging while skype and others are looking at emergency satellite connections to allow everyone to stay in touch if and when regular internet and mobile connections have gone down. We are working on that and look forward to some good ideas from domestic and foreign private firms.
This is not the end of the story. While per capital incomes have gone up, and more and more people live in the city, many people still do not have mobile phones or access to systems. We have therefore had to set up a network of information distribution systems and action plans between emergency services, local and national and between central government, local government and neighborhood councils. All undergo emergency communication training and workshops together to ensure smooth transfer of information where necessary under a simple “traffic light system” – green, orange, red to indicate the seriousness of the coming calamity.
Village offices have, for about 5 years now, been conducting training, speeches, workshops and preparing other materials in their communities to make their neighbors more aware of the situations. Mothers, mindful of the many years their children have ahead of them, have been the key target – and leaders – of much of this training that we do in all schools, in ante natal classes as well as in local baranqay offices. And the strong support of local politicians has also been critical.
Of course, there have been difficulties – administrative, financial and personality driven – along the way and there still obstacles to our objective of making average people unafraid of leaving behind their homes and hard earned worldly goods even if they know a high-speed typhoon is heading their way.
A television paid for with a year’s salary often seems worth the risk of braving the torrential rains and hurricane winds. That’s why these efforts MUST be backed by routine emergency financial reserves to help households and business to recover and recover swiftly.
We have also started to roll out some pilot micro-insurance across the northern parts of the country and will work with leaders to promote government-led insurance in the first instance , in time, with private-led insurance in the second instance. And the government’s recent sale of catastrophe bonds has certainly helped distribute risk and provide support to help the Philippines recover from last year’s typhoon Zelda.
And we need to help Philippines spend more to climate proof roads, water and energy systems, schools and other public institutions, and to ensure illegal housing on flood plains doesn’t put lives at risk.
Even one life lost as we face worsening climate change is too many. And hurricanes and typhoons do not respect borders so this is something we should work on as a region, with the Philippines showing the way. We have helped make the Philippines a safer place. Now we need to work to safeguards livelihoods as well as lives.
Thank you.
Bangladesh: Scenario 2025
Ladies and Gentleman, Good Morning!
12 years ago, the World Bank’s then president Jim Yong Kim announced a goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030. The goal was ambitious and bold as it put a deadline. As the world is approaching in attaining the vision in varied pace, a densely populated South Asian country – Bangladesh has already moved out of poverty and lifted 40 million people out of poverty in the last decade.
Born in 1971 through a bloody independence war, Bangladesh has considered as a development paradox. Despite population pressure, climate change vulnerability, and challenged with inadequate infrastructure and rampant corruption a decade ago, the country’s vibrant economy has grown at nearly eight percent a year in the last decade. Bangladesh achieved the Millennium Development Goal of halving extreme poverty on 2015 and this year eliminated extreme poverty. Bangladesh has found its own ways to overcome poverty, it pioneered microfinance and cash transfer programs for the poor, which are now widely replicated worldwide.
The path for Bangladesh’s economic and social progress had been complex, yet innovative. The World Bank remained a proud partner in the journey since its independence. Beginning this decade, both Bangladesh and its external allies realized that the country needs to change business as usual if it wants a higher growth path. It also was able to come out of the personal animosity between the leaders for two major political party that dominated political scene till 2015.
Change of political leadership with younger generation in helm, Bangladesh could alter its vision towards a digital future. The country articulated its vision of building an inclusive and development-oriented Information Society to tackle its development and governance challenges.
10 years ago, internet subscription in Bangladesh was among the lowest in the world with only 3.5% population having access to internet. In sharp contrast, mobile phone usage was high with 70% population having access to mobile phone. The mobile phone penetration was high in both rural and urban areas and among all income group.
The government in support of the World Bank embanked upon a program to leverage Information Communication enabled services for economic and social development. Public debate resulting in policy reforms enabled the robust telecommunication private sector to roll out 4G and 5G services and to provide internet connection through mobile phones. Consequently, access to internet increased by 24 times in last 10 years. The access to internet enabled a remarkable social transformation, for example farmers now check market prices on their phone every. Entrepreneurs quickly came up with Bangla apps for the rural population.
The information industry created thousands of jobs for Bangladeshi youth. Bangladesh was able to grab a market share of software and apps development industry from India and China. Despite the progress, the information environment in not totally free. Though the state does not control access to internet sites and knowledge, it keeps eye on social media, twitter feeds and blogging portals. The bloggers had organized few noteworthy social campaigns through the social media which made the government aware of their power. In more than one instance the government has arrested antigovernment bloggers. However, the blogging community was able to forge an national and international campaign demanding right to expression. The country had a Right to information act earlier, which only came into utilization after the internet became widespread.
On the other hand, the government faced internal and external pressure to leverage e-Government for public sector modernization and governance. The Bank helped to roll out electronic public procurement, electronic cash transfer for safety net programs, electronic tax payment and online access to banking and social services. These initiatives have helped to curb corruption. However, the country is yet to formulate policies on right to expression and Information Technology governance. The World Bank is providing technical assistance to share global best practices in this regard. The present government shares progressive outlook, still the vision needs to be translated into rules and policies.
Bangladesh always had a vibrant media and civil society landscape. Though Bangladesh had come a long way, still the media scene is party free. The newspapers and electronic media are largely owned by private sector. The state does not exert any direct control, but in my opinion, most of the media exercise some degree of self-censorship.
Bangladesh’s journey was remarkable as it could see the potential of the information society and was able to take timely actions to tap the benefit along with addressing other challenges, notably infrastructure deficit. Within a 10 years span of time, Bangladesh has become a middle- mid income country from a low income status, thanks to its growing IT industry from where global giants as Google, Mircrosoft and Apple buys software.Today, Bangladesh is seen as one of most dynamic country that fully utilized its demographic dividend of young population and a leader in information technology industry.
Fellow South Africans
Ten years ago today we set out on a journey to transform our country. We wanted to move from a country where too few of our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, worked. We wanted to move away from a country where one’s circumstances of birth were the biggest determinant of opportunity. We set our sights on a society where education, ability and one’s sweat determined opportunity.
Are we there yet? Nope. But we have come a long way. We have halved unemployment. Today, three out of every five young people who graduate do find a job. We have achieved a lot. As my helicopter circled this venue, which is named after our icon Nelson Mandela, I glanced at the car park and I was swelled with pride. Fellow South Africans, we have done well. These and many of our achievements these past 10 years were not because of fate, but choice. We chose wisely. But most importantly we all put our shoulders to the wheel.
We cannot rest on our laurels. Nelson Mandela reminded us of this: When you climb a hill, you find that there are many more hills to climb. So, let us gird our loins for the journey continues……
A future overview of Nigeria in 2025
Nigeria the giant of Africa and the continent’s largest economy as well as the most populous black country in the world will have by 2025 moved up to become one of the most stable and well developed economies of the world.
The infrastructure required to bolster and ensure the continued growth of the country would have been put in place. A well developed and fully functional railway system connecting the major cities of the country would have been put in place ably supported by advanced road transportation links within all the cities.
The country would also have experienced a completely modernized health service infrastructure with a medical service system that is fully developed and put in place for every Nigerian. The educational system would have also been revamped and ably fitted to sustain the human capital development required to run and sustain the country. Electricity and the power infrastructure would have been fully developed & stable bearing in mind the current massive restructuring taking place in the industry. Sustainable and efficient security apparatus required to safeguard the lives and properties of the citizens would have evolved rising from the upliftment of the capabilities of the security agencies to confront the inherent challenges confronting or that will confront the country.
John Rao Nyaoro, the man of the people
Vision: To be the Governor of Kisumu County in 2017
John was born 57 years ago in Kisumu City the capital of Kisumu County. John is both an Engineer and a Lawyer with both Technical and Legal mind and a family man with vast experience in both public and private sector.
Today Kisumu County with high potential still have high rate of unemployment, low income and poverty ridden with most of the population spending less than a dollar per day.
As a Governor of Kisumu county, John will provide leadership, hit the ground listening to the people of Kisumu and ready to solve their problems.
As an Engineer, John will build Kisumu County, to be a first class,middle income Industrialized County with clean and healthy environment,super highways, modern schools, hospitals, a western tourist destinationwith clean affordable hotels, efficient water and sanitation services, reliable cheap energy, with blooming commercial agriculture ensuring food security, create opportunity for investment, jobs and kick out poverty,name it.
As lawyer, John will ensure good governance, rule of the law, a well secure County, where you are safe and can go about your business 24, 7.
Dear participants of the conference,
As I am standing in front of you today, I am thrilled to report on the remarkable progress that my country, Boldistan, has made in the last decade – a true breakthrough in opening up and developing its vibrant and powerful society, equipped with information and exceptionally advanced in technology. And when I pronounce the name of the country, Boldistan, I can be sure that these days everybody knows who we are and where the country is on the world map.
Only ten years ago, Boldistan was just one on the obscure “stans” somewhere between China and Europe – a faceless, voiceless, opinionless, and hopeless society, deprived of having a chance to speak freely and participate in the development of its own future. Those of you who had a chance to travel to or read about Boldistan ten years ago would remember that Internet penetration stood low at 6 percent, newspapers and broadcast media were strictly controlled by authorities, and social media was virtually nonexistent. Information that reached people through very few channels was thoroughly filtered and sanitized.
Our government of decade-ago couldn’t even imagine that it would only take a group of young brave visionaries to radically transform the society. The social movement “For Free Information Society in Boldistan” started really small at the national university and grew at breathtaking speed, quickly spreading to all the corners of the country. As a result, today we have universal access to Internet throughout the country, unlimited access to the world’s information and knowledge, and unrestricted ability for all citizens to speak up and participate in decision-making.
Let me tell you briefly about the way we took during the last decade….
By the year 2025 Kenya aspires to be an industrialist country and in line with this vision and according to the new constitution which devolved the provision of water and sanitation services to the 47 counties. I as the new Principal Secretary in-charge of water affair in Kenya has a mission to create very sound structures that will ensure water to every bodies door step. I will define an effective efficient and collaborative system which will involve county governments and all the relevant stakeholders, This will be done in a very structured manner I will introduce regular scheduled consultative meetings including dialoguing.I will create the necessary networks and introduce ICT to bring about meaningful change to ensure that i deliver water to all by the year 2025
THE NATIONAL TREASURY LAUNCHES DRIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION IN KENYA
The National Treasury will launch 10years campaign to end corruption in the government of Kenya.
The country loses the potential for the growth when millions of shillings are lost through corrupt
deals and denies service delivery to the citizens.
This time a holistic approach is very very important. The objective of the campaign is to accelerate
end corruption in Kenya by enhancing country awareness and by taking appropriate legal, social and
economic measures.
The Ministries of Water, Transport, Agriculture, Energy and Petroleum will be selected for the
campaign based on the high budgetary allocations and heavy contracts tendered.
We shall identify ethics and Anti-corruption Authority, Judiciary, Parliament, National Registration
Bureau, the World Bank among the partner in the campaign.
The high corruption prevalence rate indicates a weak financial and legal system.
After completing the 10 year campaign cycle the campaign will be rolled over to another set of
Ministries, Departments and Agencies where the vice is rampant.
Way back then we were more concerned about the East Sea and regional security. Then, the old people wanted to go to war. The young, perhaps understanding more, did not. Then we were getting richer year on year and it was a more equal prosperity than in other countries. Information was controlled to an extent, but that never stopped people talking and complaining and the government listened. Even then we had more sim cards per head of population than anywhere on earth.
Look at us now. Has anything changed?
Well grannies now surf the internet as they grew up with it and it is the main technology in every home. Creativity has increased because of it and now we are home to the new Silicon Valley of the east. The Vietnamese always used to win the mathematics Olympics. Now we win the innovation Olympics and it is all about technology. Throughout its modern history, Vietnam has stood between the world’s leading economic powerhouses, often an uncomfortable position, but in the end one of advantage. They need us, they cosset us. But for how long?
Mr President of Parliament, dear Colleagues members of Government, distinguished Members of Parliament, and fellow Malagasy people.
This year, we will celebrate the 65th anniversary of our independence. A very special moment for us, Malagasy people, to remember how far we’ve come and look for into the work it should be done.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
65 years ago, a generation of heroes stood up to get our ancestor’s land back and to claim our freedom to write our own story.
We cannot reject our past, how heavy it is…While our country has shown a considerable potential for growth, recurrent political crises (1972, 1991, 2002, 2009) had each time wiped out years of achievements, hindered economic performance and made a major barrier to development prospects. In lieu of addressing development challenges, this country spends lots of efforts and has to deal with persisting instability.
Imagine how wonderful it will be, if we could devise to our children and future generation a land of harmony. A nation driven by a strong will to share a common future in mutual respect. Think about the last sentence of our national anthem: “We will be happy and prosperous, how blissful we’ll be.” That was the firm conviction of our elder generation when they fought for independence.
Since 2014, eleven years ago, we demonstrate to the entire world that we can resolve our political crises by holding fair and transparent election.
The government I lead will pursue this long way towards democracy by installing the dialogue and accountability at the heart of its approach. Our challenge is to regain the trust of each Malagasy people by institutionalizing rule of law, by holding more debates to promote participatory approach, by guarantying fair and open electoral competition.
However, we are consciously aware that our main mission is to reduce poverty and it can’t wait. So many people were suffering for so long and based their hope on the change we promise:
Our promise to our young population is if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, and educate your kids. No challenge is more urgent!
It will happen because we will lean on democracy to endow stability.
It will happen because the stability will allow us to lay a new foundation for inclusive growth, promote a predictable fair environment which attracts investor, invest in development infrastructure and create jobs.
It will happen because we will bet on our most precious resources: the people by educating them. We will build capacity which will meet the demands of this new era of globalization.
It will happen because we will make the right choice to preserve our environment and to put sustainability at the center of our preoccupation.
In reaffirming those purposes, we agree that reform is never a given, it must be earned. The path we’re taking is rugged and frail. But one thing is sure: when man and woman of this country join necessity to courage, talent to common purpose, as it was done in 1960, they overcome the toughest barriers, they move forward…
Fellow Parlialmentarians
Bangladesh , as you have just heard, is on the threshold of entering middle income status and will now join those club of nations that have taken their economy out of the poverty trap and into the path of economic prosperity. As a nation we can be proud of the collective action that has brought us to this stage in our economic development . We now can envision a society of equal opportunity for all where all citizens can share it our nations achievements
But there is still work to be done. The macro economic figures of GDP per capita hide fundamentail structural challenges that we have to overcome. This cannot be overcome through the efforts of one individual, party or government. It will require sustained efforts from all our sides and a collective vision. Lets work together over the next 5 years to set a clear agenda for reform where our institutions can be empowered through reform of their processes , our children our educated to empowered through education and good health, our civil society is empowered through freedom of speech , our farmers are empowered through land reform and increased productivity and our cities are empowered through effective and efficient transport systems and our industry is empowered through increased competitiveness and access to export markets. Providing this empowerment is our immediate challenge, clearly we have many more challenges to deal with. However if we take a staged approach we will see success and this will open up new paths to further success and an equitable society.
We hope to work with all of you and our fellow citizens to develop a more detailed plan of action in the months to come. We will not always agree , but let us keep up our common vision and we will find a path to the success that our society and our citizens deserve to have
STATE OF THE NATION SPEECH
FELLOW KENYANS, INVITED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLMEN
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU ALL IN CELEBRATING TODAY’S HEROS DAY. THIS IS THE DAY THAT WE HONOR ALL THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MADE GREAT SACRIFICES DURING THE STRUGGLE TO LIBERATE US FROM COLOIALISM.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS OUR COUNTRY HAS FACED SEVERE DIFFICULTIES ARRISING FROM AMONG OTHERS SLUMPING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTS AMONG OUR TRADING PARTNERS, CHANGING CLIMATE, LUCK OF A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL INVESTMENT AND SO ON. OUR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, HEALTH, TOURISM AND THE UNCERTAIN FINANCIAL SECTOR ARE STILL MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING IN GROWING OUR ECONOMY.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE SEVERAL MEASURES BOTH LEGISLATIVE AND OTHERWISE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAVE MENTIONED SO THAT THE COUNTRY CAN BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD AGAIN AND THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF OUR PEOPLE IMPROVED. FINANCE AND TOURISM AMMENDMEND BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN PARLIAMENT TO STRENGTHEN THE LAWS GOVERNING THESE SECTORS. GOVERNMENT WILL SOON BE ORGANIZING STAKE HOLDER WORKSHOPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY IN ORDER TO REVAMP THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR. IN A NUTSHELL THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHORTLY BE INTRODUCING WHOLE RANGE OF KEY REFORMS TO ADDRESS OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FUTURE POSTERITY.
THANK YOU.
>On behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General I would
>like to congratulate you all, the Government and people of Liberia, for
>the
>great strides you have achieved in reconciling with one another, after the
>14 year civil war in your country. Through your own efforts, with the
>support of the international community, including the United Nations, you
>have marched on with incredible determination to achieve the goals you set
>for yourselves in 2012 when you adopted the Agenda for Transformation and
>the strategic Roadmap for National Healing, Peacebuilding and
>Reconciliation. I will mention a few key achievements:
>- you now have adopted new national symbols, a new flag and national
>anthem, with which the majority of Liberians identify;
>-you have agreed on a common national narrative through the National
>History Project, which, to the greatest extent possible, reflects a
>collective memory of your country acceptable to all of its people;
>-women, youth and all other disadvantaged groups now have equal
>opportunities to participate in the political and socio-economic life of
>Liberia;
>-you have put in place measures, including legislation, institutions and
>policies to address discrimination in the public and other work places
>base
>on ethnicity, gender and any other such criteria;
>-through the Palava Hut process, lesser crimes committed during the war
>have been discussed; perpetrators have owned up to what they did to fellow
>Liberians and their communities have forgiven them. More serious crimes
>have been referred to the courts and the question of those who bear the
>greatest responsibility still lies in front of you to decide;
>-the questions of political, inter-ethnic and inter county reconciliation
>are still to be settled but a lot of work has already gone into that with
>Peace Ambassador George Weah’s county tours and other similar initiatives.
>You did say it was going to be an 18 year process, so you still have time.
>
>As the United Nations, we are particularly pleased to note that these
>critical milestones on the road to sustainable peace, stability and
>national reconciliation were achieved through inclusive and participatory
>consultative processes. We would encourage you to continue on this path
>that you have set for yourselves.
>
>I thank you.
>
>Motsi
The XXI Century Agenda
Knowledge society and ICT in Peru
Peru caught up with the XXI Century and the technological revolution and economic globalization pressured by society. In the late 1990s the country had to reassess its sources of wealth and its competitive factors. The political class assumed the challenge with the workers, teachers, unions and a broad range of diverse segments of society. It was evident that natural resources would not guarantee prosperity on the long run. The wheel had to be turned in a new direction with leadership but through consensus building. We could not depend on mining and selected agriculture exports any more, especially to provide with the necessary quantity and quality jobs for coming generations. Water, the most fundamental natural resource was rapidly being depleted, glaciers were melting, and river basins were overexploited and being exhausted, very little adaptation technology was being implemented.
Something had to be urgently done. Business as usual was no longer an option. Once the goal was set and the different phases laid out, all the pieces of the great puzzle of development fell in place.
This new era of physical and virtual connectivity among countries, interest groups, academia, and the development of the information technologies facilitated the creation and export of goods and services with high tech knowhow such as software, multimedia products, consulting and educational services. Also these new technologies were put to the service of agriculture, high tech irrigation systems, improved and sustainable water-saving mining processes, among many other innovations.
This would not have been possible if minds and resources were not put to this end, especially envisioning a world with broad band width throughout the steep Andes. The clarity of the vision was that no one should be left out, and we meant on one at all. We were bold and audacious.
Quality education, exchange of information, special scholarship programs, policy reform on access to information and transparency in an effort to reduce corruption and empower the people to oversee the quality of implementation was of utmost importance. A broad movement in favor of these common ideals, where the people of Peru were at the heart of progress, with the specific contributions of big companies that were strategically located throughout the country made the breakthrough and accelerated the Peru XXI Century agenda.
Yes, we do believe that the turning point was possible thanks to the generation of applied knowledge and the symbiosis between education services and the businesses and industries. productive system.
We are so proud of having been part of this process that captured the imagination of so many people, and will be a great example for many other societies that are still struggling to overcome the natural resources trap.
Even though we have come a long way, there are challenges ahead that we must be aware of and must tackle, with great decision, through consensus. We must continue to expand our tertiary education system to engineering, business, telecommunications, science, aside from traditional subjects. Our specialization programs must continue to grow. We have to focus on equal opportunities for a more equitable education system, such as the reform of our student loan system, create alliances with major international financial organizations to acquire the necessary skills and capacities, create structures that support interconnected universities with the productive public and private sectors, establish incubator emerging businesses and identify and support with financial resources the transformers in our society.
All of these efforts will surely help the dreams of our grandchildren come true and make them proud of the country where they were born.
I am at the head of realization of Kenya’s most ambitious development program, a game changer for half of the county. It is the Vision 2030 project known as Lamu Port and New a Transport Corridor Development to Southern Sudan and Ethiopia (LAPSSET). It has been completed in 2025 and has opened up large semi arid and arid areas of Kenya through multilateral and private sector financing of a new port at Lamu, an expansive road network, railway line, oil refinery, oil pipeline, three airports with one being international, free port at Lamu, several resort cities. This has fastened transport linkage between Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan increasing economic development, competitiveness in global maritime trade, international trade, international markets. It has greatly reduced pressure on capital city Nairobi and other cities and provide massive opportunities in utilizing the huge potential in northern Kenya.
Formerly undeveloped, this region now enjoys the best infrastructure in Africa and both commercial and business activities are meeting the loan repayments and other ongoing major investments across Kenya in tourism, security, IT, schools and health centers translated to economic growth of 15%.
On Being Asked to Paint Our Future at USC
By Mohamed Gibril Sesay
Great nation
Children sparkling with knowledge
Diamonds of peace
On the diadem of the nation
Worn by women
Smiling on the banks of equity
Playing shegureh, men beating bata
Sounds reverberating knowledge,
Rights and dignity
For all
And the songs go:
No more illiteracy
No more gender inequality
No more sucking of the nation’s soul
By chauvinists and ethnicists
We sing our differences in songs
Every voice a stanza of wisdom
Drawn to others by the chorus of our finer aspirations
That’s our vision
That’s our rendering
Of the narratives of our wandering
We are the sparkle
Of the diamond songs
Reverberating from the core souls
Of our African Earth
NATIONAL VISION
A HARMONIOUS SOCIETY IN WHICH THE SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL PERSONS AND CHILDREN ARE GURANTEED THROUGH MAINSTREAMING GENDER CONSIDERATIONS AND THE USE OF SOCIAL PROTECTION INTERVENTIONS
Scenario
Fellow Ghanaians,
Today is a historic day in our country as we gather to celebrate the achievements of brave men and women who united in purpose to strive for a social positive change in the lives of Ghanaians living in abject poverty, striking inequalities and frightening Human Rights abuses in spite of the existence of Laws.
Distinguished countrymen and women, a decade ago, our Legislature of 275 Parliamentarians had a paltry 28 members as women, while women’s illiteracy rate was around 55%. Available frightening statistics from the Domestic Violence Victims Support unit of the Ghana Police Service (D.O.V.V.S.U) included 12906 cases of various forms of violence nationwide with 4701 representing assault on women, 376 rape cases, and defilement of girls accounting for 1175.
Even more worrying was the gloomy picture of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) results which indicated a regional disparity of early and forced marriages of 12.2% to 36.7% coupled with a poverty rate of 55%.
Fellow countrymen and women, our story has have changed the cause of history, now we are indeed the Star of Africa, Beacon of Hope, an embodiment of true independence, democracy and prosperity.
Today’s 150 Female Parliamentarians is a dream come true as a result of the vigorous campaign that saw the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill. The over 40% enrolment and retention rate of girls in school as well as the 15% incremental rate of female graduates from Tertiary Institutions is a further indication of our bright future.
Our economic and political stability, rule of law and per ca pita income of $2850 were achieved through the toil and resilience of reformers who put Ghana First in Policy and Economic Reforms. We owe it to ourselves and posterity to consolidate these gains through law enforcement and the strengthening of our institutions. We should say Never Again will we fall into economic and social quagmire.
We will defend our heritage. God Bless our Homeland Ghana, and Make our Nation Great and Strong!!
The OAS 2025 Scenario: towards a democracy that delivers
Against all odds, by the end of 2025, the OAS remains as the most important political forum of the Americas. Due to the final consolidation of electoral democracy in the Americas – specially the political transition in Venezuela and Cuba recently completed – the OAS can now rebalance its efforts towards a less sensitive agenda that combines politics and policy.
The re-election of the incumbent OAS Secretary General Felipe Calderon (former President of Mexico, 2006-2012) for a third-term reinforced the collaborative leadership style that has been characterizing his Secretariat and opened a policy window to a major change on donor’s attitudes priorities towards the Organization and Western Hemisphere countries.
The Organization was able to raise substantial funds from The Pan-American Alliance, a new version of Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress put in place by the new Clinton Administration 5 years ago to counterfeit the emergence of alternative regional forums excluding US and Canada (such as CELAC, UNASUR and ALBA).
Bright young talents discontinued by the 6th World Bank Group restructuring process within a decade have been joining the OAS since early-10’s attracted by its reputation as a trustable international aid partner capable to offer sound technical assistance on policy combined with political expertise, the opportunity to learn Spanish (the most spoken language in US in the next decade) and to size the opportunities offered by the protagonist role of new South American tigers – Mexico, Peru and Colombia – on the international area.
Good governance has become a prominent concern in Africa. One of the heralded tools anticipated to improve Africa’s Governance is the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
Participation in the APRM process is open to all member states of the African Union. Each participating country is expected to formulate a National Programme of Action (NPoA) based on the identified gaps in the area of governance during the peer review.
Ten years ago Zambia braved the atmosphere and acceded to the APRM process. Mr. Vanny Hampondela was appointed as the Desk Officer of APRM at the Ministry of Justice, the Focal Point Ministry in Zambia by then. This means that Mr. Hampondela had to deal with multi-stakeholder groups, ranging from Government Institutions, Civil Society Organisations, Media, Politicians, Cooperating Partners and Private Sector in order to uphold the APRM Agenda forward.
Currently, Mr. Hampondela has been appointed as Minister of the APRM in Zambia and is addressing a press conference to update the general public on the status of Zambia’s governance following a period of 10 years of hard work on the APRM process.
Ladies and Gentlemen; today I am very delighted to address you as distinguished citizens of this country. You may wish to recall many governance challenges that, as a nation, we were facing ten years ago. After hardwork and intense governance reforms that you supported outstandingly, today you are enjoying the fruits of your own hands. Please, may you clap for yourselves.
People clap: “kwa, kwa, kwa, kwa.”
Ladies and Gentlemen; before making my speech, let me take this opportunity to thank my President most sincerely for his unwavering support of the APRM process.
As a result of the marvelous support that the nation received from His Excellence, there has been tremendous improvements in the area of Democracy and Good Political Governance; Economic Governance and Management; Socio-Economic Development; and Corporate Governance.
Ladies and gentlemen; allow me to mention a few successes that we have scored from this long list. Whereas ten years ago the voter turnout was in the range of a paltry 43%, this time around we are recording a turn-out of 78%. We have also recorded a good industrial development as a result of good Corporate Governance policies that we have put in place. The social infrastructure has also mushroomed in all rural provinces. A number of schools and health centres have been built. The road network is also coming up nicely. We have also steadily done well in the area of gender equity. Ten year ago, the nation was ranging between 12 and 16% on women in strategic decision making positions. This time, the percentage has increased to 32%. Although we still have a long way to go in meeting the SADC Protocol, which demand for 50%, this is a good sign of progress.
However, Ladies and gentlemen; it has not been all roses. We are still performing badly in the area of corruption and HIV/AIDS which are showing no signs of receding. It looks like the campaign communications have not been very effective. We need to change the strategy. Our Ministry of Communication and Broadcasting Services should restructure and increase the number of communicators. The video campaigns which were recorded four years ago are outdated. New video adverts with more forecast messages should be recorded. We also wish to call upon all Civil Society Organisations with reputable capacities to join hand with government in the campaigns against corruption and HIV/AIDS.
With these few remarks Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your attention. May God bless you all.
Respected Colleague,
In the year of 2014, Bangladesh had marked as a most corrupted country over the world. On the ground of corruption, the World Bank cancelled the Padma bridge project in Bangladesh which was the remarkable infrastructural investment that time. The World Bank also canceled other three projects and demanded to refund of Taka 68 million on same ground. Other donors including Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development, JICA also made cancelation their agreements. As a result, the domestic and foreign investment was downward and the rate of unemployment and price hiking of essential goods also up-worded.
In that situation the newly elected government of Bangladesh had declared a historical roadmap for reform communication. The main objective of the roadmap was ensuring good governance in each level including both government and private sector. At first, the government developed IT sector and digitalized the government procurement and payments systems. In continuation of digitalization government had digitalized its services including health support and education. As a result, within a short period Bangladesh found number skilled human resources.
Now the year is 2025, at present the total population of Bangladesh around 211 million which is higher 41 million than the year of 2014. But the per capita income has incised 5 times of the year of 2014. All people are involved with jobs and the unemployment rate is almost “0”. A number of donor organization and foreign company has invested here and also ready to invest big more amounts. It is happen, coz now Bangladesh is treated as a non corrupted country over the world. The good governance situation is excellent here.
My Fellow Countrymen,
I salute you and commend your resilience. We have indeed come along way since
attaining independence in1960.
While Nigeria started on a firm foundation laid by the founding fathers who struggled
to establish a free, independent and democratic nation that is full of opportunities
for all, sadly we have watched how over the years these opportunities have been
squandered by successive governments.
Today, our dear country is facing massive youth unemployment, corruption and
insurgency together with the collapse of the manufacturing sector, power and energy
as well as the education and health system. A few have concentrated power in their
hands and have continued to extract from the many of us thereby creating a situation
in which there is a near break down of law and order.
My dear countrymen and women nations thrive when they drive inclusive political
and economic institutions and at the same time they fail when they become extractive
and concentrate power and opportunities in the hands of a few selfish individuals.
It has therefore become imperative that we must go back to the dreams of our
founding fathers in order to build a nation that will emerge politically and
economically a regional and world power that takes its rightful place in the Global
comity of nations.
In order to provide unlimited opportunities for our citizens we must therefore embark
on Land Reforms that provide a level playing field. We will modernize land laws
and convert customary land to state title. This new reform will guarantee property
rights and encourage investment in viable sectors of our economy such as commercial
agriculture, the manufacturing industries, new technologies, renewable energy and
skills acquisition.
The reforms that we will embark upon will be sound and sustainable. It will unleash,
empower and protect the full potentials of each citizen of our nation to innovate,
invest and develop in all sectors of our economy.
We know that in order to set our country on the path of economic growth and
sustainable development, we have to innovate by replacing the old with the new and
also destabilize established power relations in politics. This certainly will not be easy
my dear fellow countrymen and women as deep entrenched vested interests which
have for many years acted as cogs in the wheel of progress” have stifled all efforts
to bring about change. We therefore, desire to bring about positive changes through
grassroots movements that are all inclusive. We will hold “heart to heart” intensive
discussion meetings as a form of local consultations with the National Assembly,
all local officials, civil societies, House of Chiefs and notables, as well as women
groups so as to provide inputs into the decision making process. We are prepared to
collaborate through open and transparent process in negotiating positions with all
interest groups. It is my belief that grassroots movements that help to build inclusive
institutions through coalition will have a multiplier effect that help to establish a
stable democratic society in which all will prosper.
Over the years our vital infrastructure, roads, power and water supply, schools and
health facilities have broken down and remained in dilapidated condition for too long
due to negligence and corruption. We must therefore pay greater attention to fixing
these critical infrastructure and re-establish schools and health care systems that form
the basis of a firm foundation for economic development.
I must warn you that there is no magic bullet or quick fix solution to these structural
problems which we face and if we must achieve the transformation effect which
we desire as a nation then we must open up our society for the free flow of ideas,
capital and labour. In this way we will be attracting direct foreign investment that will
maximize our potentials for political and economic gains.
I therefore urge you my Fellow citizens to make the necessary sacrifices by forgoing
the luxuries of today in order to plan for the future so that our children and future
generations will inherit a prosperous and democratic nation that is politically and
economically viable. The lessons of history show that nations that rely on their own
citizens’ taxes, mineral resources and agricultural potentials are more likely to evolve
as stable, prosperous and democratic nations. Together we can achieve our dreams
I thank you for your attention and God Bless Nigeria.
I present to you dear friends, a brand new Public Service in Ondo State, Nigeria. Some fifteen years ago when this present government came into power and put in place a lot of reform programs on ground for the Public Service of our own dear state, little did we know that one day, a day like this, it will be celebrated.
Ever before this present government came into power, the Public Service was in total shambles. Nothing was working. Pronto!!! We had this reform program tagged, Public Sector Governance Reform and Development Project, with funding from the World Bank. Its main objective is to ensure good governance by way of promoting accountability and transparency in the Public Financial Management and the Human Resource Management systems of Ondo State.
Today now, we can now boast of a Public Service that is vibrant, effective, committed and above all transparent in all areas.
In our state today we work with the Comserve as our guiding principle.
Commitment to excellent service.
In our state today, 95% of Public Servants are ICT compliant as the government has made it a point of duty to have them trained and retrained in this area. So many now own and make use of computer laptops and so many other devices
Things got so transformed that this days you get your files done within 24hours and you get results.
Budget preparation that used to be an uphill task is now fun. It is timely, compact and accessible to all.
There are very many changes in the Public Service today. Officers can now successfully compete with their contemporaries in the private and banking sectors unlike what it used to be when they get intimidated when in the midst of colleagues. our Human Resource Management has really improved as we have Officers now going for capacity building even beyond the shores of the country. They are more equiped and vast in modern advances that obtain in the developed world.
It is a thing of joy for us that we can achieve all these feat within 15 years of handwork and selfless service.
The most juicy part of it, I am sure you are aware of this. The best part in all these is the incentives for hardwork and selfless service, all Public Servants in our great state now get paid before the month end and not like what it used to be when some workers would have received their pay like 2 weeks before their contemporaries all workers get paid at the same time now. Is this not marvelous?
Dear friends and colleagues, let us continue in this spirit and see to it that we don’t go back to the old ways and our dear state will continue to be the envy of all states even beyond this great nation, Nigeria.
Long live the Public Service of Ondo State!
Long live Ondo State!!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Ondo State………………..A Place of Pride.