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TAP Network Storytelling: TAP Conversation with Partnership for Transparency Fund

July 26, 2021

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TAP Network Conversations: Responding and Adapting to COVID-19 Response on the Ground with Partnership for Transparency Fund

In this edition of TAP Network Conversations, as a part of TAP’s Storytelling Initiative, we welcome the Partnership for Transparency Fund and representatives from their partner organizations in Uganda and India that are working on the ground to ensure transparency and accountability during COVID-19 response. Continue to hear more about how partnerships are formed and strengthened between the international and local level to respond to the needs of governments and peoples while also working to leave no one behind.

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Speakers:

Vinay Bhargava is Chief Technical Adviser at the Partnership for Transparency. He served as the senior adviser for Public Sector Governance at the World Bank in 2006-7. From 2002-06 he was World Bank Director of International Affairs and Operations and was responsible for outreach to civil society organizations. Prior to that he was for six years the World Bank’s Resident Representative and Country Director for the Philippines. Vinay has over 25 years experience in economic development and donor assistance covering Asia, Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe. He was the lead author of a report on Combating Corruption in the Philippines (2000) and on Challenging Corruption in Asia. He also contributed a chapter to the book The Many Faces of Corruption (2007). He has a PhD in agricultural economics.

Cissy Kagaba is a lawyer and the Executive Director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU). Cissy has considerable wealth of experience in human rights and governance related issues having worked with the Uganda Human Rights Commission and litigated various rights violations against state and nonstate actors. She has also traversed various parts of the country in a bid to empower the grassroots to demand for accountable and transparent leadership. Her input to Uganda’s anti-corruption legislation has seen some of her suggestions get incorporated in the final legislation. Cissy has served as consultant, trainer and facilitator on wide ranging issues with a variety of organizations such as MS-Denmark’s Thematic Program Policy on Anti-Corruption in TCDC Arusha, the USAID Linkages Program, and the International Law Institute. She is a regular analyst on governance issues with the print and broadcast media.

Bibhu Prasad is the Secretary of Youth for Social Development in India. He has been a development professional and a social activist for 14 years. Throughout his vast experience, he has worked with multiple International governmental organizations such as the World Bank, GPSA, and other government agencies and community organizations. A non-profit independent social research and development organisation aiming to improve the lives of urban and rural vulnerable populations. He graduated with a Masters degree in economics from Berhampur University in India.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

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TAP Storytelling: Guest Blog by Transparency International

5 July, 2021

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TAP Storytelling: Guest Blog by Transparency International – Tackling Corruption as a Cornerstone of Sustainable Development

Transparency International is a global movement working to end corruption. In more than 60 countries, Transparency International’s Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres (ALACs) are trusted partners for people wanting to speak up, empowering individuals, families and communities to safely report corruption when they see it happen. Over 280,000 people have contacted ALACs since 2003.

ALACs provide free and confidential advice and support to victims and witnesses of corruption, enabling them to assert their rights, seek redress and stand up for justice. While ALACs serve the people, their impact goes beyond simply providing individual support. Transparency International gains invaluable insight from working with ALAC clients and analysing ALAC cases, which in turn, helps it to challenge systemic corruption and its causes. 

Transparency International’s work, however, is not limited to achieving SDG target 16.5, to “substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.” Many of its ALAC cases involve corruption increasing poverty, hunger, gender inequality and other deprivations. By tackling corruption, it helps remove barriers to development. This underlines that corruption, like the other issues of SDG16, is deeply and intrinsically related to all the SDGs.

Read below an excerpt from Transparency International’s newest publication, being launched today, 5 July 2021, titled “Speaking up Locally, Driving Change Globally: True Stories of Tackling Corruption to Build a Sustainable Future”.  The section featured below specifically addresses how fighting corruption can work hand in hand with progressing the 2030 Agenda. In reading this section, one thing is clear: “When people challenge corruption in their daily lives, they play a vital role in helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Ending corruption to enable development

Like many policy frameworks, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can sound remote from ordinary people’s lives. An urgent call to action for all countries, the 17 goals are designed to deliver peace and prosperity for people and the planet. Yet daily life is exactly what they’re all about – from having enough to eat, to getting quality education and medical care, to earning a decent living.

But every day around the world, corruption is a clear barrier to this progress. This makes fighting the corruption that people encounter as they try to live, work and learn crucial to realising the SDGs.

From ending poverty to tackling climate change, corruption is a cross-cutting issue. Left unchecked, it seriously undermines efforts to achieve the goals that world leaders have committed to and that are crucial for a sustainable future. Where corruption exists in hospitals, progress towards targets on health care will be limited. Where corruption affects schools, targets on education are unlikely to realised. Where corruption undermines service delivery, goals on poverty eradication, clean water and affordable energy will be almost impossible to achieve.  

But when people are able to tackle the corruption they encounter, they can create immediate, positive progress towards delivering the SDGs – as the stories in this report show.

Small steps towards big goals

In Sri Lanka, for example, villagers contacted the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) after local officials failed to deliver relief funding during the COVID-19 pandemic, depriving them of much-needed income. Supported to contact the higher authorities, they soon received the benefits they were entitled to, helping prevent hunger and poverty during lockdown.

In Palestine, a whistleblower who exposed potential fraud in his work at a government ministry was arrested and forced to resign, but the local ALAC helped him publicly challenge his treatment. The case put pressure on the government to adopt the country’s first whistleblower protection system in 2019 – encouraging more people to report wrongdoing in future.

From daily life to global change

Stories like these, and many others from ALACs around the world, show the positive impact tackling corruption has on progress towards the SDGs. And every time someone speaks out against a case of corruption, this creates a snowball effect. People’s voices add up to take change from a local level to a global one – so that the young Zimbabwean woman who overcame bribery aimed at blocking her court case for domestic abuse was promoting gender equality and access to justice as global norms. A woman in Papua New Guinea who reported land court officials for demanding illegal payments in a family dispute was standing up for decent work and economic growth. And villagers who reported a candidate from Serbia’s ruling party for seemingly trying to buy their votes with the promise of a newly paved road were promoting justice and strong institutions.

Fighting corruption is not an end in itself. It is an essential means of delivering sustainable development for all and building fairer societies in which no one is left behind. By speaking up against corruption when they encounter it, people are helping achieve the SDGs – global goals that are firmly rooted in everyone’s daily lives.

Author: Allison Matthews, ALAC Programme Lead

Photo by Transparency International

Links to more:

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

 

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TAP Storytelling – TAP Network Conversation with Asia Development Alliance & NGO Federation of Nepal

June 21, 2021

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TAP Network Conversations: Coordinating Civil Society in the Asia-Pacific Region with Asia Development Alliance and NGO Federation of Nepal

In this edition of TAP Network Conversations, as a part of TAP’s Storytelling Initiative, we welcome representatives from both Asia Development Alliance and the NGO Federation of Nepal to dive deeper into what coordination looks like as two networks of civil society organizations operating at different levels (regional and national). Continue to listen to hear more about the expertise and experiences of Jyotsna Mohan, Hum Bhandari and Arjun Bhattarai, and learn more about their approach to engaging stakeholders and capacity building in Asia.

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Speakers:

  • Jyotsna Mohan
  • Arjun Bhattarai
  • Hum Bhandari: Hum Bhandari has over a decade long experience of working with CSOs and NGOs in Nepal. He is a Master of Arts in English and Sociology from Tribhuvan University (TU) in Kathmandu and Master in Development Management (MDM) from Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Manila. Currently, he works as the Executive Director of NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN).

 

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

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TAP Network Conversations: CIVICUS

June 14, 2021

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TAP Network Conversations: Expanding and Evaluating Civic Space with CIVICUS

In this edition of TAP Network Conversations, as a part of TAP’s Storytelling Initiative, we welcome Tor Hodenfield and Marianna Belalba Barreto from CIVICUS. Watch the interview to hear in-depth how CIVICUS is working to protect civic space and civic freedoms on the national level, while also working to expand access and influence for civil society on the international level.

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Speakers:

  • Tor Hodenfield: Tor Hodenfield is an American and British citizen. He holds degrees in human rights from American University, Washington DC, and University College London (UCL). Tor helps coordinate CIVICUS’ multilateral advocacy, including at the UN Human Rights Council, UN General Assembly and Universal Period Review. Tor also coordinates the Secretariat for the Vuka! Coalition for civic action, a global civil society coalition aimed at protecting and promoting civic space. In addition, he conducts strategic research on a range of issues, including freedom of assembly and the right to protest. He tweets @Tor_Hodenfield
  • Marianna Belalba Barreto: Marianna Belalba Barreto is the Civic Space Cluster Lead at Civicus. She has a Master in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame and a Law Degree from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello.

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

Photo by Candid Concepts Development Agencies

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TAP Storytelling: Twitter Spotlight SEEED

May 27, 2021

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Twitter Spotlight: Society for Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Development (SEEED

By Ellery Wong, TAP Network Secretariat 

Follow @TAPNetwork2030 on Twitter as we shed weekly spotlights on the Members and Partners of our Network through our Twitter, as a part of our TAP Storytelling Initiative.  Browse the content below, created during our spotlight from 11-14 May, 2021, featuring the Member organization Society for Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Development (SEEED) in Nigeria.

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

Interested in publishing an article? 

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TAP Storytelling: Guest Blog by World Justice Project

June 7, 2021

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Defending the Rule of Law Through a Pandemic: A Guest Blog by the World Justice Project

By The World Justice Project, Washington, D.C., USA

The World Justice Project, founded in 2006, is an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to create knowledge, build awareness and stimulate action to advance the rule of law worldwide.  The World Justice Project is committed to collecting, analyzing and publishing data on access to justice and justice needs, along with supporting the adoption of 16.3.3 indicator on access to justice and identifying and promoting best practices and successful solutions to address the justice gap. Through its events, partnerships and research, WJP organizes campaigns and drives actions on SDG16+ through its global network.  WJP has been a TAP Network Partner since 2019.

The World Justice Challenge 2021: Advancing the Rule of Law in a Time of Crisis is a global competition organized by the World Justice Project to identify, recognize, and promote good practices and high-impact projects and policies that protect and advance the rule of law amidst an unprecedented global health crisis.

When the COVID-19 virus began crossing borders in early 2020, it did so amidst a continuing, global downturn in the rule of law—as reported in the latest WJP Rule of Law Index. Given the exceptional nature of these twin crises of public health and rule of law, the 2021 World Justice Challenge competition focused on how changemakers on the ground have responded to these crises and highlighted their essential role in defending and promoting the rule of law.

WJP received a remarkable global response, with 425 applications from 114 countries. Africa and the Middle East led regional applications, which were otherwise spread fairly evenly across the globe. Of all applications, 72% were submitted by civil society and/or non-profit organizations, a clear example of the role CSOs continue to play in upholding and strengthening the rule of law around the world. Applications were also submitted by local and national governments and judiciaries; social business entrepreneurs; law firms; multilateral organizations, and academic institutions.

Four Themes and Two Special Awards:

The World Justice Challenge 2021 was organized around four central themes, with one project being awarded $20,000 USD in recognition of their results and impact under each thematic category. The themes of the competition were:

1)      Access to Justice for All

2)      Accountable Governance

3)      Anti-Corruption and Open Government

4)      Fundamental Rights and Non-Discrimination

To set the context, WJP convened leading experts and practitioners in four webinar events focused on COVID-19 and its effects. In collaboration with its eight thematic partners, WJP’s webinars covered the problems and promising solutions for each of the four themes described above. Featured speakers also discussed recommendations for actions needed to address the crisis’ underlying challenges, support an effective recovery process, and build back better rule-of-law-based societies. You can find a summary of each event here.

A fifth, cross cutting prize was also added, focusing on the fight against inequality and gender-based discrimination. The Ruth Bader Ginsburg Legacy Prize was created to recognize former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg’s lifelong work in service to the causes of justice, equality, and the rule of law, and in recognition of her tremendous inspiration to WJP’s mission and work.

In March, WJP, along with the help of its thematic partners, selected 30 finalist projects and 10 honorable mentions based on their impact, sustainability, and potential for scaling and replication. Each project was prominently featured on WJP’s website, and on the World Justice Challenge Community Forum, a platform created for people to engage with finalists, share resources, and network with members of the rule of law community.

The World Justice Challenge finalists were also featured on four World Justice Challenge 2021 Regional Showcases, organized in partnership with WJP’s seven regional partners. During each showcase, WJP’s partners highlighted the efforts underway in each region to “build back better” from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The finalists were given an opportunity to present their projects and share key insights into their objectives and impact, along with participating in informal breakout rooms to answer questions about their project.

On April 15, WJP opened up a Network Popular Vote, inviting members of its rule of law network to vote for their favorite project, through the Community Forum. The selected project went on to win the sixth prize, the Network Popular Vote prize, in recognition of its inspiration and impact on the wider rule of law community.

A high-level panel of judges led selection from around the globe, each with  decades of experience in leadership roles in the judiciary and at the United Nations, and as heads of state, lawyers and civil society campaigners.

Winning Organizations:

On May 26th, WJP held a Live Awards Presentation to announce the six winning projects. The winners, by category, are:

  1.       Access to Justice for All: Increasing Access to Justice and Providing Legal Education Through Online Learning Platforms and Virtual CourtsJustice Defenders (Kenya/Uganda/Gambia) – This project aims to make justice and fair trial accessible to prisoners in Africa through legal education, training, and practice. Justice Defenders has trained prisoners and prison staff to become paralegals and lawyers in 46 prisons across Kenya and Uganda. They are currently expanding their programs virtually, and notably have piloted a virtual paralegal training program in prisons in the Gambia.  The judges selected this project as an impressive example of empowering prisoners and prison staff through legal training, education, and facilitating access to the courts during the pandemic.
  2.       Accountable Governance: Tella – Horizontal (US/Global/Myanmar/Belarus) – Tella is a documentation app that ensures easier, safer, and more secure documentation of events such as human rights violations, corruption, and electoral fraud. Due to its configuration as an open-source application, Tella can be easily replicated and adapted by activists and CSO organizations across the world. Tella was launched in early 2019 to support election observation during the Nigerian generaleElections, and has since been used in other electoral contests, including two elections in Belarus. Tella has also been used to collect data on gender-based violence in Cuba, on human rights violations in Myanmar and West Papua, and on attacks on indigenous defenders in Brazil.  The judges selected this project as a versatile, secure and customizable tool to document government abuses, including violence, human rights violations, corruption, and electoral fraud, effectively holding governments accountable.
  3.       Anti-Corruption and Open Government: Constructing Transparency: Promoting Justice in Honduras Through Good Governance and Strong Public Management – Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa (ASJ) (Honduras) – This project combats systemic corruption in Honduras by evaluating government institutions’ human resources, purchases, and results. During COVID-19, the project used its innovative methodology to audit $80 million of national emergency purchases. Its findings helped fuel an outcry for transparency and sparked changes in national decision-making that continue to benefit public health.  The judges selected this project as a strong example of an investigation into a healthcare system that produced specific, concrete results with government agencies, widespread media coverage, and prosecutions of corrupt actors. The project’s ability to work across multiple stakeholders and get investigations covered by the media to raise pressure for accountability was an impressive method of producing a strong, tangible impact.
  4.       Fundamental Rights and Non-Discrimination: COVID-19 Project: Demanding Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination for the Arab Minority Through the Israeli Legal System – Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (Israel) – This project uses legal action before Israeli courts and state authorities, together with media outreach, to obtain remedies for discrimination faced by the Arab minority in Israel. Adalah has undertaken over 40 legal actions, including 15 Supreme Court petitions, and achieved positive legal results, including the provision of COVID-19 testing, more equitable allocation of public funds for Arab towns, and civil liberties protections.  The judges selected this project for its effectiveness in using legal remedies to address the discriminatory effects of the pandemic crisis, leading to significant results in the struggle for fundamental human rights and non-discrimination of Arab minorities in Israel.
  5.       Ruth Bader Ginsburg Legacy Prize: Inua Mama Fua – Dhobi Women Network (Kenya) – This project defends the rights of women domestic workers in the suburbs of Nairobi. During the pandemic, many women working in the informal sector in Kenya lost their jobs and saw a rise in harassment and detainment by law enforcement officials. The Inua Mama Fua project linked many of these workers with social services during the crisis, including psychosocial services, training on skills and stress management, and legal counseling. The Dhobi Women Network also provided food and personal protective equipment for the women, and facilitated workshops to educate and sensitize the local police officers on the hardships many of the female domestic workers are facing.  The judges selected this project as an important example of a multifaceted approach to the fight against inequality and gender-based discrimination through provision of emergency social services and raising awareness of these women’s rights to decent work. The judges also felt that Justice Ginsburg would have appreciated this project in the context of workplace discrimination, as these workers are outside of the formal employment sector, were directly affected by the pandemic, and therefore test the notion of equal protection under the law in intriguing ways.
  6.       WJP Network Popular Vote: Accelerate Release of Children; Protect Children from COVID-19 – Terre des Hommes Foundation (Switzerland/Global) – This project is dedicated to building rapid knowledge and mobilizing interdisciplinary partnerships to foster a global advocacy campaign with a swift, targeted, and effective impact for children deprived of liberty. Terre des Hommes’ project has led to the emergency release and reintegration care of hundreds of children worldwide. It has also boosted concrete child justice sector reform measures to make systems more resilient when facing crises and supported the empowerment of child justice actors, including children.

What Comes Next?:

As described by Elizabeth Andersen, Executive Director of the World Justice Project: “The promising approaches shown by these six winning projects, and indeed by all 30 Challenge finalists, serve as a guiding light to changemakers the world over. We are honored to recognize their work and pleased to welcome them to the WJP network.”

Looking beyond the success of the World Justice Challenge 2021, WJP seeks to engage its rule of law network even further. To that end, WJP is pleased to announce that its next World Justice Forum, the premier international event for the rule of law, will be held in The Hague, Netherlands from May 30-June 2, 2022.

The Forum will be organized around the theme of “Building more just communities: A rule of law agenda for a post-COVID world.” WJP is also pleased to announce that the next edition of the World Justice Challenge will be incorporated into the 2022 World Justice Forum and encourages all members of the TAP Network to mark their calendars for this important event!

Don’t miss the announcement for the World Justice Forum and World Justice Challenge 2022—sign up for the World Justice Project’s newsletter here! 

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

Photo by World Justice Project

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TAP Storytelling: Guest Blog by Centre for Law and Democracy

May 27, 2021

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Assessing Canada’s Right to Information Practice:
A Guest Blog by The Centre for Law and Democracy

By the Centre for Law and Democracy, Halifax, Canada

The Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD), founded in 2010, is a non-profit corporation based in Halifax, Canada working to promote, protect and develop international human rights that strengthen participatory democracy. These rights include, among others, freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of assembly and association and the right to vote and participate in governance. To uphold these rights, the CLD undertakes research, educational outreach, technical assistance and collaborative work with other organizations and governments across the globe. CLD has been a proud Partner of TAP Network since 2019 and collaborates closely with TAP’s work on a regular basis, for example being an active member of the TAP Advocacy Working Group.

Background

One of CLD’s key areas of work is engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals or 2030 Agenda. Specifically, CLD works to promote progress on target 16.10 to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, including through supporting countries to adopt and implement strong legal guarantees of the right to access public information (the right to information or RTI).

CLD has contributed to several useful tools that civil society organizations and other actors around the world can use to measure progress on Indicator 16.10.2 in their countries, in terms of both adoption and implementation of RTI laws. For example, CLD developed and manages the RTI Rating, which measures the strength of the legal framework for RTI in each country. In terms of implementation, CLD helped to develop and applies, annually, the Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIAnet) Methodology, which is a methodology that any organization or individual can apply to measure how well their government has implemented the RTI law. The full methodology is available here in a Word document that contains instructions and a useful scoring rubric that should make it easy for anyone to apply the methodology. This blogpost provides an example of how the methodology can be applied using CLD’s application of the methodology to Canada in early 2021 as an example.

The methodology evaluates the effectiveness of implementation of a country’s RTI law by analyzing 5-10 national public agencies across three assessment areas. CLD applied this methodology to 14 federal authorities in Canada which are subject to the federal Access to Information Act (ATI Act); Canada’s provinces, territories and some municipalities have their own RTI laws. The authorities receive a grade from 0-100% in each assessment area, and all the assessed authorities’ grades are averaged to produce a national score in the assessment area.

Institutional Measures

The first area is Institutional Measures, which requires assessors to consider authorities’ institutional framework for implementing the RTI law. The Institutional Measures assessment is two-pronged and involves 1) an evaluation of the central (national) framework for RTI implementation and 2) an assessment of measures taken by each authority.

The central analysis assesses whether the country has 1) an established RTI agency and 2) an independent RTI oversight body. Scores of full (100%), partial (50%) or none (0%) are allocated for each issue. In Canada, the Department of Justice and the Treasury Board Secretariat coordinate access to information responsibilities while the Office of the Information Commissioner independently investigates complaints related to information requests. As a result, Canada received a full grade for both parts of the analysis and 100% overall on the central analysis.  

The analysis of the measures taken by each authority to implement RTI is broken down into five categories:

  • Appointment of an access to information coordinator or officer responsible for implementation of the RTI law;
  • Adopting an overall implementation plan or strategy;
  • Adopting guidelines for receiving and responding to requests;
  • Publishing information and guidance to assist those making requests;
  • Providing training to its information officer(s).

Similar to the central analysis, each authority is given a grade of full, partial or none in each category. The authority’s overall grade is the average of these five values; for example, the Canadian Space Agency had fully satisfied each category, resulting in an overall score of 100%. The scores for all authorities are averaged for each category, which are then averaged with the central scores, to obtain an overall national score in this area.

Proactive Disclosure

In this area, evaluators determine the extent of information each authority has made publicly available across 12 categories, such as the authority’s organizational structure, operational details and public procurement. Authorities are given a grade of full (100%), full to partial (75%), partial (50%), partial to none (25%) and none (0%) for each of the 12 categories, depending on the amount of available information. The authority’s overall score is the average of these category values; for example, Canada’s foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada, scored 75% for the organizational structure category and 100% in all others, resulting in an overall score of 97.92%. The scores of all authorities are then averaged again to get the national score.

Reactive Disclosure

Finally, for the Reactive Disclosure assessment, two to three access to information requests should be submitted to each authority, and the assessors measure authorities’ performance in terms of processing and responding to these requests. CLD submitted two information requests to each of the 14 assessed authorities.

The methodology evaluates the procedural processing of the request using four metrics (whether a receipt was issued, the timeliness of the response, the form in which the information was received (email or mail) and the reasonableness of any fees) and the substantive completeness of the response. The procedural and completeness analyses are graded using a three-point scale: yes (100%), partially (50%) and none (0%). The procedural final score is the average of the scores for the four metrics. A result score is then allocated depending on how the authority actually responds to the request (for example by providing the information, not responding at all and so on). The overall authority score is the average of the procedural and result scores. For example, the Department of National Defence received 75% and 0% in the procedural category for the first and second requests respectively. The overall procedural grade for the Department was 37.5%. The Department received 100% for the substantive response to the first request and 0% for the second, resulting in an overall result score of 50%. The final score for the Department was 43.75% (the average of 37.5% and 50%).

Conclusion

Overall, Canada received a 94.35% for the Institutional Measures assessment, 94.94% for Proactive Disclosure, and 73.08% for Reactive Disclosure. Canada’s overall final grade was 87.53%, the average of the above three assessment scores. All scores are colour coded using red (0-33%), yellow (34-66%), and green (67-100%). All Canada’s scores were in the green zone, which is a positive result.

Although Canada did well at implementing the ATI Act, CLD offered several recommendations to improve the country’s performance. First, efforts should be made to increase the consistency in response time to information requests and increase transparency in proactive disclosure, specifically in the areas of contracts and public procurement. Second, more precise guidelines should be published in relation to the processing and handling of requests. Finally, those authorities which are covered by the ATI Act but rely on a parent organization to handle RTI requests should explicitly redirect people to the parent organization.

Find CLD’s application of the FOIANet methodology featured as a case study in TAP’s 2021 update to the SDG16+ Civil Society Toolkit that will be published in early July 2021.

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

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TAP Storytelling: TAP Conversation with the International Legal Foundation

May 11, 2021

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TAP Network Conversations: Working on the Ground and at the Global Level in Afghanistan with the International Legal Foundation

In this edition of TAP Network Conversations, as a part of TAP’s Storytelling Initiative, we welcome the Executive Director and Afghanistan Country Director of the International Legal Foundation, Jennifer Smith and Mohammad Nabi Waqar.  Watch the interview here to learn more on how the ILF is working on both the national and global level to progress the implementation of SDG16 and the 2030 Agenda at large though their work in Afghanistan.

Full-length Version: 

Audio only version (no video streaming necessary):

Speakers:

Mohammad Nabi Waqar: The ILF’s Country Director in Afghanistan, Mohammad Nabi Waqar is an Afghan justice reform expert and a key drafter of the country’s Legal Aid Policy. He joined the ILF in 2013 and has led its expansion as the largest legal aid provider in the country, defending thousands of poor and marginalized accused each year. Mr. Waqar has over a decade of professional experience, working with organizations including Mercy Corps International and Pajhwok News Agency. He has a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Kateb University, Kabul, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Himachal Pradesh University, in Shimla, India. He speaks fluent English, Pashto, Dari, and Urdu.

Jennifer Smith: Jennifer Smith is the executive director of the International Legal Foundation. An international expert in the field of legal aid and an experienced criminal defense lawyer, Ms. Smith has worked on legal aid reform across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. She is regularly called upon as an expert by the United Nations, governments, and organizations around the world. At the ILF, Ms. Smith has spearheaded efforts to strengthen international support for the right to quality legal representation for poor and vulnerable persons accused of crimes. She was one of the key drafters of the United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems, the first international instrument on legal aid (adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012), and has contributed to a number of UN guidance tools that assist governments and other stakeholders in the implementation of the right to legal aid for the criminally accused. She was also the driving force behind the first-ever international legal aid conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa in June 2014, now a biennial event. She holds a law degree from Boston College and received the institution’s Hon. David S. Nelson Public Interest Law Award in 2019.

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

Interested in publishing an article? 

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TAP Storytelling: Interview with Candid Concepts Development Agencies

May 10, 2021

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Defining Social Capital in the Bahamas:
An Interview with Candid Concepts Development Agencies

By Ellery Wong, TAP Network Secretariat, and Rochelle Dean, Candid Concepts Development Agencies

Introduction

Candid Concepts Development Agencies (CCDA), a TAP Network Partner since 2018, is an organization based in the Caribbean committed to working on the ground to progress new ways of thinking about human fulfillment and social progress, with aim for leading the way for the progressive empowerment of the region’s citizens.  Since its founding in 2012, Candid Concepts has worked with partners from diverse sectors to operate as a source of insight in communities both on a local and global level, translating their knowledge and progressive thinking into practical change and inspiring others to also lead in civic innovation.  This work has pushed the realization and implementation of sustainable development in the region by highlighting the advantages of adopting sustainable practices and the SDGs so that they can serve as metrics and standards for further independent development of the Civil Society sector.

Candid Concepts has navigated the growing Civil Society sector in the Caribbean while the region has been largely left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  The Civil Society sector of the region has only recently begun to take shape, with for example the Non-Profit Organization Act in the Bahamas being recently passed in 2019 to establish basic policy regulations for the accountability and transparency of organizations.  While not only advocating for policies such as this one, Candid Concepts has been devoted to providing support to the growing sector by underlining the value of investing in the concept of “social capital” to the public and the benefits that civic space can provide to Caribbean society and local communities. 

Typically, in Caribbean society, social capital is an ideal that is unconsidered and undervalued, as people more commonly consider themselves to be disenfranchised and neglected by their national leadership and the regional policies.  The concept of engagement and investment in civic space is largely unheard of.  Candid Concept’s Director and Founder, Rochelle Dean, now aims to approach the challenge of how to bring about the prioritization of social capital and citizen’s identification in and ownership of protecting their own civic space in a culture that has yet to even consider the benefits of such.  Additionally, with slow and steady growth of the Civil Society sector, Dean is also now reexamining how Candid Concepts can support such growth as it comes about and ensure that the field can work collaboratively under the umbrella of a common goal or purpose.

Read the following interview between TAP Network and Candid Concept’s Director and Founder, Rochelle Dean, about their work supporting growth and development of the SDGs and the conceptualization of social capital in the Caribbean. 

 

Interview with Rochelle Dean, Founder and Director of Candid Concepts Development Agencies 

 

Q: Can you describe the current landscape of the Civil Society Sector in the Caribbean?

A: Civil Society of course has always been very relevant to the poor and developing countries especially the Caribbean. So, it would be unfair to say there hasn’t been strong attempts to develop a robust civil society in the Caribbean, specifically the Bahamas. However, the sector is in need of resuscitation namely due to its reliance on the government. This has created an authoritative approach and with no push back has further caused disenfranchisement and socially atomizing and unsettling effects of market forces. These realities have caused an increase in the shrinking of the sector and of course civil society encompasses so much in terms of politics and economics to sociological views as well as international cooperation for development.  Due to these realities the Caribbean has been left behind in the global agenda and of finally the hemisphere is experiencing high levels of poverty in all facets multidimensionally.

Q: Given the landscape, what has been Candid Concept’s role and function in the sector?

A: First of all, I think it’s very difficult to work in the present condition and while Candid Concepts has worked within the global sphere for many years in terms of international cooperation and development it becomes difficult to see progress for other regions and not want to participate in knowledge sharing and pass on that insight.  Candid Concepts believes in team work and building synergies with the right partners to come up with strategies that are beneficial and we have worked with many organizations within the sector in the Bahamas for best outcomes.

Q: How has recognition by the Bahamian government, through the Non-Profit Organization Act in 2019, influenced the sector in the Bahamas?

A: This was major for the sector as the sector has been governed progressively by the Companies Act prior to the government’s new regulatory approach to the sector. The NPO Act 2019 was an acknowledgement that the sector can be viable and should be considered a means of market share.  Speaking from an economic point of view the sector has the capacity to create jobs and of course is a means of taxation for the government as well so it is a win-win in that sense.  I think it was easy to ignore compliance and there has been a lot of backlash in terms of the rationale behind the legislation from many industry leaders due to the idea that it was simply a means of compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) but I think it was beautifully executed even the monitoring aspect of the process.  I was definitely impressed with the CESRA which was an addendum to the Companies Act which made this process not so overwhelming for the veterans in the business sector who were operating from a business point of view and in many cases not fully familiar with the civil society sector.  I think the NPO Act 2019 will further reverse some of the damaging effects within the sector and with the upcoming World Bank assessment we can expect expansion and growth if knowledgeable partners and professionals are sought.

Q: How would you define the term “social capital” and why is it an important topic to Candid Concepts for addressing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the Caribbean?

A: Social capital is defined by its function. It’s not a single entity but a variety of different ones that consist of some aspect of social structure and facilitate certain actions of individuals who are within the structure.  Social capital exerts its influence on development as a result of interactions between two broad distinct types of social capital-structural and cognitive. Structural capital facilitates information sharing, decision-making, and collective action through social networks, rules, procedures, and precedents. While cognitive social capital refers to shared norms, values, trust, attitudes, and beliefs.  This is important because associations are very important when we look at the role that each citizen plays within society. In order for the SDG’s to be implemented we don’t need to look at what other countries are doing or even agree to one theoretical approach to our society. We simply need to look at ourselves and understand where we all fit into making our society structurally functional for everyone.  It’s hard to ignore the idea that the Caribbean has been left behind but it’s even harder to ignore the social constructs and associations that have caused so many individuals to feel disengaged.  Candid Concepts Development really wants to dispel that philosophy even if it does exist in reality. Civil Society is all inclusive and it’s the beginning of participatory engagement for a thriving and fully functioning sector.  I think that Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals are an all-inclusive passport for access and it is important for the full implementation within the Caribbean.

Q: How else does Civil Society need to be mainstreamed into National programming in the Caribbean?  How is Candid Concepts working to support this change?

A: Civil Society needs to first be all inclusive and find its own source of strength independent of the government. The government has mentioned a National Development Strategy at some point and I believe this would be where civil society can be integrated into programming at the national level.  As a project consultant I would like to see that happen especially if the government would use the global goals as indicators for success in that sense. I think it will be very easy to roll out some amazing programmes and collect data but I also believe that this is where partnership is important and this approach would definitely be best suited for successful outcomes.

Q: How does Candid Concepts aim to have a hand in the formation of the Civil Society sector in the Caribbean?

A: I think we have already done some amazing things at the governmental level. Candid Concepts Development has made amendments to the NPO Act 2019 and participated in the monitoring process with the Attorney General’s Office.  We have also challenged the Bahamas to advocate for SDG16 and its review at the United Nations.  With all of that going on Candid Concepts Development is expected to roll out a social accountability programme with international partners in the Bahamas in the near future. We are always looking to partner with international organizations where we can continue to grow and learn to bring new insights and concepts that we may not be privy to in the Caribbean.   This is always our goal! To learn and further develop and right now the Caribbean is ready and Candid Concepts Development is a part of that change.

Q: What is the status of implementation of SDG16 in the Caribbean?

 A: As it stands after the recent common country analysis, the Bahamas has declined in terms of government and the rule of law. While it was stated that institutions were strong there was no data to support this notion.  The Bahamas government has agreed to support the advocacy as a member state of the United Nations to maintain the language and review of SDG16 and continued monitoring for peace, justice and strong institutions.

Q: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the Civil Society landscape in the Caribbean and Candid Concepts work strategy?

A: COVID-19 has impacted everyone and the uncertainty is still very present in terms of the way forward. Candid Concepts Development is lucky in the sense that remote work has not been a challenge.  The pandemic has revealed major gaps in the sector and many organizations and also helped Candid Concepts Development to determine exactly what is needed in the sector in terms of the citizenry.  I have seen many people have great ideas and have capacity to do great things but so much within structural capital. This is really facilitating the shrinking of civic spaces. The country is developing and cannot afford not to work within structural capital within the sphere of civil society.  The pandemic of course was an eye opener in that sense and so while COVID-19 was in a sense a setback in terms of financing and lost opportunities new ones always arise when you are a problem solver.

Q: What are the ambitions for Candid Concepts in the next three years?

A: That is a tough one! I think I would like to be able to hire full staff and not run my own business if that makes sense-I don’t believe in silo’s and I did most of the ground work and I have further educational goals so I would like to bring on more staff and expand in terms of more development projects.

Q: What can members of the TAP Network, especially ones located in regions that have also been left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, take away from the experiences and lessons learned of Candid Concepts?

A: I think it’s important to be open to brutal honesty. People who are honest help you to succeed. I will also say partnerships are key, you may discover you aren’t all you thought you were and that’s the beginning of a shift that can take your organization to the next level.  I decided to build others and took a back seat and sometimes criticism can be indirect and hurt your feelings but it’s also the best medicine to becoming a successful industry leader.

 

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

Photo by Candid Concepts Development Agencies

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A New Year at the TAP Network

February 1, 2021

A New Year at the TAP Network

By John Romano and Claudia Villalona, TAP Network Secretariat

 

There is no doubt that 2020 was a difficult year. The global pandemic had profound impacts on TAP’s planned programming for the year, effectively eliminating all in-person capacity-building initiatives and opportunities to mobilize at in-person events such as HLPF and the SDG16 Annual Showcase. This dramatic shift in operations for TAP led to an entirely virtual means of engagement, requiring significant time to reconfigure the strategy for mobilizing and engaging its Members and Partners. The TAP Network’s core mission is to support the membership during these especially challenging times to continue the collective work of advancing SDG16 and the 2030 Agenda. To this end, the Secretariat set up a new Membership Engagement Portal, to communicate engagement opportunities, as well as this very blog platform and “TAP Network ” vlog interview series to facilitate ongoing dialogue. 

After a tumultuous year of adapting to the reality of the pandemic, the TAP Network remains committed to providing support, resources, and opportunities to the network. In an effort to further strengthen engagement, collaboration and partnership amongst its Membership, TAP will look to continue to further develop its Members and Partners platforms in 2021. This focus on improving virtual engagement with TAP’s Members and Partners will continue to be a significant focus throughout all of 2021. 

New Steering Committee Co-Chairs

First and foremost, it is with great excitement to announce that the TAP Steering Committee has elected Ms. Jean Scrimgeour from Accountability Lab and Ms. Judith Kaulem from Poverty Reduction Forum Trust as the 2021 Co-Chairs. Peter van Sluijs from CSPPS and Judith provided invaluable leadership serving  as Co-Chairs in 2020 during a critical moment for the community. 

2021 Work Plan 

With the new year in full swing, the TAP Network is pleased to release the 2021 Work Plan, which outlines the key objectives and workstreams TAP hopes to focus on this year. After reflecting on the valuable feedback collected from members and partners during the Membership Refresh process, the TAP Secretariat and Steering Committee plan to continue to focus on strengthening virtual Membership Engagement to facilitate meaningful engagement, effective communication, and collaboration amongst the membership. 

Also on the suggestion from the membership, TAP will also prioritize its efforts around advocacy initiatives, including mobilizing around HLPF 2021, showcasing the efforts of TAP Partners’ important work, and reviewing and revising key TAP resources, including the SDG16 Advocacy toolkit. All of these aforementioned initiatives will be designed with the aim to foster ownership by providing the membership with opportunities to lead and contribute, as well as facilitating cross-member collaboration within the network. 

Membership Platform

Following up on the recent TAP Network Membership Refresh that concluded in December of 2020, the TAP Secretariat has since updated the Membership list accordingly and is in the process of building out a comprehensive Membership platform on the TAP Network website, including a membership directory and interactive map. The current work in progress can be accessed on the TAP website at  www.tapnetwork2030.org/members. The platform is designed to serve as an entry point for both network members and external audiences to get to know the membership and foster an environment of collaboration and partnership. 

SDG 16 Toolkit Update 

In 2021, TAP will also update and revise its marquee resource, the Goal 16 Advocacy Handbook, first published in 2015. The updated resource will contain new practical guidance, as well as reflections on implementation and review over the past five years. The TAP Secretariat has convened its first meeting with the lead author and the SDG16 Toolkit Advisory group, composed of TAP partners, to begin the drafting process. In the near future, the Secretariat will begin to solicit case studies from TAP partners to be featured in the toolkit. The release date is tentatively set for summer of 2021, ahead of HLPF 2021. 

Showcasing Initiatives

The TAP Secretariat will plan to offer greater opportunities for members and partners to showcase their work and amplify their message to leverage consequential, transnational spaces. To this end, the Secretariat is in the process of hiring a Communications and Outreach Associate that will dedicate themselves to advocating for the membership, deepening impact, and expanding the network’s reach. The sharing of civil society stories is key to advancing SDG16 as the framework to tackle issues relating to peace, justice, and inclusion– the foundation of the 2030 Agenda. Therefore, the secretariat is committed to raising awareness in order to center the conversation around SDG16, mobilize under the shared framework, and promote the work of civil society as a critical element to realizing the future we want. 

As the new year brings hope and new challenges, the TAP Network remains committed to supporting its membership and advancing the collective work of SDG16 and the 2030 Agenda.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

Interested in publishing an article?