Surfing on line on the theme of transparency in relation with the ongoing selection process at the Gates Foundation I found this conference given in June 2012 in Belfast by Jeff Raikes (the soon to be leaving CEO of the Gates Foundation). As often he talks eloquently about the need for transparency and also says:“We need to go beyond grantees and partners, to the critics and dissenters of our approaches.” As a dissenter I cannot agree more but is such an attitude implemented now? What about testing it for real in the decision making of the Foundation of how the promotion of tobacco control in Africa should be organized? See below for a more recent comment by Jeff Raikes from an interview published on Humanosphere.
Q How’s the relationship with your grantees? Last time we talked, you expressed concern that the foundation’s relationship with many grantees was still not good enough – lack of clear communication and transparency. What’s the latest verdict?
JR: I think we’re getting better but it’s still a work in progress. We need to provide greater clarity to our grantees and partners in terms of sharing our strategy and decision-making process. We’re doing that more but I still think we can do that even better.
Q As a journalist, I think the Gates Foundation is still not very transparent and not really that willing to include outsiders or the public in its internal dialogue. You guys just mostly make announcements once the ‘message’ has been crafted. But that’s my perspective. How would you say the foundation is doing on transparency and openness?
JR: I think transparency is very important. I think we’ve improved a lot on how we share information. For example, we set up our website so people can have access to our strategies, priorities and grants. But yes, the key is to improve the two-way dialogue. That’s something we continue to prioritize.
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