Mid-Term Review of the AGIR Programme - Sida

2 F I N D I N G S
objectives. Only one activity is implemented under objective four (enabling environment
for freedom of information, expression and the press).
The following provides some examples on progress towards achieving outcomes in
the Access to Information sub-programme:
Engagement and capacity development of district platforms in governance
monitoring in health and education sectors by CESC resulting in the district
platforms, having positioned themselves publicly about district budgets in
health and education, which feeds into outcome on CSOs and empowered citizensfor
rights-based interventions.
Members of parliament are engaged in debate and the revision of the proposed
law on access to information, and have conducted external consultative meetings
in all provinces. This also feeds into the outcome on the media legislative
sphere improved through CDH (Centre For Human Rights).
A community radio station was closed by local authorities and a journalist
was detained for having denounced bad governance practices. With pressure
from civil society, the radio station was reopened and the journalist was freed.
The example illustrates that, through FORCOM’s interventions, the capacity
of community radio stations to produce quality content has improved.
It is assessed that outcomes will be achieved in relation to all objectives and impact
areas. However the degree of attainment of certain outcomes may be limited in
breadth and depth. This concerns outcomes related to the improved media legislative
sphere, enabling environment for the freedom of information, expression and the
press, where government resistance has been high and progress therefore can be expected
to be very gradual, even e.g. when concerning officially public documents
such as municipal or district plans. While the number of requests for information by
journalists and citizens may significantly increase, the release of information in response
to requests by public officials may not increase proportionally, thereby challenging
the expected outcome.
On progress towards outcomes in sub-programme managed by SCC
Under SCC, activities in 2012 have contributed to seven of the nine outcome areas.
Examples of progress towards the outcomes under the sub-programme of SCC are:
In 2012 UNAC and ORAM participated along with other CSOs in the third
meeting of the Consultative Forum on Land issues in Nampula, where specific
land issues were debated. In relation to the natural resources and land policy,
the CSOs presented positions on specific critical land issues (land lease transfers,
integrated land cadastre, taxation of land) and managed to influence the
agenda of the 4th meeting of this forum to be held later in 2012.
AAAJC undertakes the capacity development of local communities in mining
areas in human rights, legal rights and community organisation, including the
training of community paralegals feeding into an outcome on improved access
of citizens and CSOs to legislation on natural resources.
On progress towards outcomes in sub-programme managed by Oxfam:
Oxfam, which has the largest number of partners and impact areas, is progressing
towards reaching outcomes that relate to immediate objectives/thematic areas one and
four regarding:
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