A vigorous and professional mass media that can scrutinise and question government decisions is an essential cornerstone of a free and open society. Strengthening journalists' capacity and independence is vital to ensuring transparency, accountability, respect for the rule of law and good governance.

The media in São Tomé and Príncipe are relatively underdeveloped. The government controls all radio and television except Portuguese channels that broadcast from Lisbon and Voice of America which has its regional transmission centre on the islands. However, the government has passed legislation that allows the establishment of community radio stations. A vigorous and professional mass media that can scrutinise and question government decisions is an essential cornerstone of a free and open society. Strengthening journalists' capacity and independence is vital to ensuring transparency, accountability, respect for the rule of law and good governance.

Alert’s work in STP began in September 2004. A series of training sessions have been facilitated by Alert on mass media and society, the ethics of journalism and media law, and more specific courses on oil-related issues such as transparency and scrutiny as well as oil and investigative reporting.

For more information, contact Chitra Nagarajan or Ceutónia Lima

Non-governmental organisations in STP suffer from many of the same weaknesses as the media – and so there are few NGOs that feel able to influence the direction of government policy.

Civil society in São Tomé and Príncipe is under developed in comparison with many African countries. Organisations do not engage with the government on policies, activities, revenues and expenditure. The formal NGO sector is largely drawn from the elite population and focuses on welfare and social service programmes. Funding is not consistent. Only a small number of community associations for example of fishermen exist at local level, some of which have resulted from UN and/or international NGO projects. Very few organisations carry out advocacy work.

The Association of São Tomé and Príncipe NGOs (FONG) was established with the aim of addressing these weaknesses by supporting the growth of individual organisations and providing a platform for collective lobbying and advocacy. Its members come from local organisations on the islands and are well connected to the needs and concerns of the people as opposed to the elites. However, there is little awareness among FONG members of the potential impacts of oil on the country or the role of civil society in influencing the country’s approach to natural resource management.

Alert is conducting a public awareness campaign across the country to increase knowledge and understanding of and spark debate about oil issues with and between citizens. This is a two way process: NGO activists and government representatives answer questions about oil extraction and listen to and internalise the views of the people.

Alert concentrates on increasing FONG members’ awareness of the impact of oil. Our work enables NGO activists to press for adherence to international policy, facilitate information flows between government and governed and advocate directing oil revenues towards social development. Since we started work in the country, NGOs have started challenging the government on oil related issues, asking for disclosure of agreements, leading to the establishment of a monitoring committee.

For more information, contact Chitra Nagarajan or Ceutónia Lima

The national parliament is one of the most vibrant institutions on STP. As a scrutinising body it has much potential and is well positioned to hold government to account. It has a central role to play in drafting legislation and scrutinising bills put forward by the government, as well as in overseeing the budget. Our work with parliamentarians is therefore aimed at increasing their capacity to do this.

Our work with parliamentarians is therefore aimed at increasing their capacity to monitor and exercise oversight over the activities of the government and oil companies. So far, training has been provided to parliamentary deputies on public finances and budgetary procedures. They are now better able to review government budgets and expenditure.

For more information, contact Chitra Nagarajan or Ceutónia Lima