MSI/CIV-JAM, a component of USAID’s Democracy and Governance programme, is designed to facilitate civil society partnerships and coalitions for more effective participation in governance. Since its launch in January 2004, MSI/CIV-JAM has worked primarily with a select group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaged in the areas of justice, human rights, citizen security, women and children’s rights, especially as they relate to democracy and governance. These partner CSOs are national in scope and have a public advocacy component.

In promoting good governance, MSI/CIV-JAM provides technical assistance to CSOs in capacity-building; networking and coalition building, and advocacy. To this effect MSI/CIV-JAM has held workshops in strategic planning, advocacy, communication, partnership building, and financial sustainability. Workshops and consultations are being planned for 2005 in advanced advocacy, coalition-building, project monitoring and evaluation, and the preparation of business plans. Recognizing the role of media in governance, MSI/CIV-JAM has been fostering more effective CSO-media relations. MSI/CIV-JAM’s Memorandum of Understanding with ROOTS FM community radio station has provided commodity support in exchange for air time and access to production facilities for partner CSOs. MSI/CIV-JAM is also strengthening the relationship between media and civil society by hosting CSO-Media Roundtables on issues of mutual interest such as the role of media in good governance and the legal and economic challenges of investigative journalism.

A third roundtable is planned for early 2005 on reporting crime and violence. Finally, to further strengthen the role of media in good governance, MSI/CIV-JAM is encouraging investigative journalism. To this end, MSI/CIV-JAM recently co-hosted a conference entitled, “Creating a Culture of Investigative Journalism and the Use of Access to Information in Jamaica” with the Carter Center, the Press Association of Jamaica and the Media Association of Jamaica. MSI/CIV-JAM also recently launched the Civil Society Award for Investigative Journalism, which will be made quarterly.

The purpose of Coalition Link is to encourage communication and coalition-building within civil society in the promotion of good governance.