It states: There are many competing views on what the term “good governance” should mean, but most donors agree that it should include some (if not all) of these: Increased public accountability and transparency; respect for and strengthening of the rule of law and anticorruption measures; democratisation, decentralisation and local government reform; increased civil society participation in development; and respect for human rights and the environment. Further, we are reminded that apart from the lack of precision in the meaning of governance, it is also an evolving concept, embracing new elements with the passage of time. This arises from its normative conception and the observation that “the values that provide the underpinning for governance are the values postulated by international donor institutions”. When it was initially embraced by the donor community in the early 1990s, it was seen as limited to the exercise of authority with respect to the management of resources for sound economic development. In the mid-1990s the requirements of transparency, accountability and participation were added to its characteristics. By 2000, the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD adopted a perception of good governance as requiring “a broad approach to partnership extending beyond government and parliaments to include civil society and the private sector”, and adding to the notions of transparency and accountability that of predictability. Given their centrality in the governance agenda, it would be advisable to expand a little on transparency and accountability. Transparency refers to the need for openness in government policies and decisions.

This pact reasserts the commitment of the government to good governance and it sets out a number of activities to be pursued through July 2007 in ten key areas. These include efforts related to: free and fair elections, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, procurement, the Office of the AuditorGeneral, civil service reform, decentralisation and the role of non-state actors (notably the private sector and civil society), the creation of a more conducive investment environment, implementation of the extractive industries transparency initiative and better public service delivery in health and education. The Pact also commits the four budget support donors to further harmonisation around the government’s programme”. Enforcement of the governance agenda is consequently exercised by the donor community through inclusion of governance requirements in the programmes of assistance agreed with the country; establishing them as conditionalities and trigger requirements for release of funds; providing technical assistance to ensure the performance of these elements of the programme, including provision of personnel in some cases. We may note in passing that action on all these requirements is in progress and the related programmes are in varying stages of implementation. Civil society is also becoming increasingly important in trying to put pressure on government to deliver on governance issues. In the Sierra Leone context, special mention may be made of the Campaign for Good Governance, the Civil Societies Organisation, the 50/50 Group, the Lawyers Centre for Legal Assistance (LAWCLA) and other bodies. A recently established chapter of the Institute of Directors pays particular attention to the improvement of corporate governance.