Partnership for Transparency - PTF

In a small rural village in India, Saraswati Morya is changing lives. For the past five years, she has been going door-to-door, ensuring women and girls know their rights when it comes to protecting themselves against violence. As a Gram Sakhi, a Hindi term for “rural female friend,” Saraswati built a strong safety network by forging partnerships with the local police, women’s safety and counseling centres, and other organizations. Her relentless advocacy ensured that the voices of women and girls were no longer ignored.

Saraswati’s work is part of the project “Preventing and Reducing Gender Based Violence in Kishangarh Block Ajmer District, Rajasthan, India.” It was co-funded by PTF and India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) and implemented by Centre for Advocacy & Research - CFAR. The project worked to improve the effectiveness of the government’s GBV initiatives.

“I want women and girls to live freely in an open society, not like bonded laborers,” Saraswati said. “They may be poor, but they have every right to a safe and dignified life. My mission is to empower them with legal knowledge for a free and fearless future — not to confine them.”

Read more about Saraswat’s work here: https://bit.ly/4ffKywR

Preliminary project results highlight the key role of citizen monitoring

Citizen monitoring of flood control projects is proving to be successful in the Philippines. Just a few months into the Strengthening Citizen Monitoring of Flood-Control Projects, results highlight the ability of citizens to observe projects and determine whether things are going well or need improvement.

Soon after the project began, a radio broadcast featured eight inspected projects, and the Department of Public Works and Highways provided resolutions for reported issues. And in Bataan, Davao del Sur and Cebu city projects were repaired following inspection reports, showing how citizen monitoring can have a direct impact supporting improved project outcomes.

Looking ahead, the project will focus on expanding inspections with local events and continued partner mobilization, strengthening mechanisms for resolving reported issues.