outreach | Innovations for Successful Societies

Quotes Attributed to: Graham Stockwell, Tymon Katlholo, Rose Seretse, Leonard Sechele, Thapelo Ndlovu, Ellah Moepedi, Bugalo Maripe, Modise Maphanyane, Bothale Makgekgenene, Greg Kelebonye, Donald McKenzie, Amanda Gore, David Sebudubudu,

Abstract

In the early 1990s, a string of high-level corruption scandals in Botswana outraged citizens and undercut the country’s reputation for good governance and fiscal prudence. In 1994, the government created the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), responsible for combating corruption through investigation, prevention, and education. The DCEC won global recognition for its innovative preventive and educational efforts, ranging from preventive units embedded within problem-prone government offices to outreach programs for youth and rural communities. The directorate’s investigative record was more varied, however. Even though investigations of petty graft led to convictions, high-profile cases foundered in court. The DCEC had limited responsibility for those legal setbacks, because its role in prosecution was merely advisory, but the rulings bolstered public concerns that Botswana’s economic and political elites were above the law. Judicial reforms and capacity-building efforts begun in 2012 raised hopes for future investigative gains.

Gabriel Kuris drafted this case study based on interviews conducted in Gaborone, Botswana, in March 2013 and in London in August 2013. Case published October 2013.

Associated Interview(s): Tymon Katlholo, Rose Seretse, Graham Stockwell

Alfred Brownell

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Focus Area(s)

Building a Reform Team and Staff

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Country of Reform

Liberia

Interviewers

Graeme Blair

Name

Alfred Brownell

Interviewee's Position

President

Interviewee's Organization

Association of Environmental Lawyers of Liberia (Green Advocates)

Language

English

Nationality of Interviewee

Liberian

Town/City

Monrovia

Country

Liberia

Date of Interview

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 12:00 pm

Reform Profile

Keywords

Environment Conservation

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

Abstract

In this interview, Alfred Brownell details his extensive involvement with the reform of management of natural resources in Liberia. Specifically, Brownell elaborates on the experiences that led him to work for the creation of the Association of Environmental Lawyers of Liberia (Green Advocates), an organization that has played a pivotal role in Brownell’s campaign for improving the country’s forestry sector. Brownell describes the steps he took in obtaining much-needed cooperation from the government and private institutions to pass legislation that would safeguard the exploitation of forest cover, empower local communities living near such forests and stem resource-related human rights violations. Brownell also provides insight into the efforts that culminated in the incorporation of the Liberian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI). In explaining the successes achieved, Brownell describes how coalitions were built and campaigning was organized to receive support from both the populace and international organizations. These efforts resulted in the imposition of sanctions by the United Nations Security Council. These sanctions were a crucial leveraging tool in obtaining government cooperation. Recounting the many challenges involved in the process of obtaining successful reform, Brownell stresses the importance of oversight and institutional capacity building in ensuring the sustainability of reform.

Transcript

alfred_brownell.pdf

alfred_brownell.txt

Headshot

alfred_brownell.jpg

Profile

At the time of this interview, Alfred Brownell was the president of the Association of Environmental Lawyers of Liberia (Green Advocates.) In 1997, while a law student at the University of Liberia, Brownell launched Green Advocates and put into place Liberia’s first framework environmental law. Brownell was also the lead campaigner for Liberia’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, successfully pressing for the passage of legislative reform in the national forestry sector. Between 2000 and 2003, Brownell’s work helped bring about the imposition of sanctions on Liberia’s timber exports, a travel ban and an asset freeze on corrupt government officials. Through the years, Brownell has devoted himself to campaigning for national policies that stem corruption and abuses related to natural resource extraction.

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Alfred Brownell - FullInterview