ENCISS - Enhancing the Interaction and Interface between Civil Society & the State to Improve Poor People's Lives

Our Mission

ENCISS exists to increase the capacity of representative civil society to participate in, influence, contribute to and monitor the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Local Government policy planning and implementation; and to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Sierra Leone to engage in constructive dialogue with Civil Society within these policy frameworks.

The focus of ENCISS will be improving the interface between state and non-state actors. Our role is not to set the agenda but to facilitate its achievement by others.

ENCISS works towards:

Strengthening the voice and ability of genuinely representative Civil Society Organisations such as vendors, farming and traders associations, with particular attention focused on issues of equity and representation.

Making the application and benefits of the PRS and decentralisation real at household, village and district level.

Addressing the disconnect that prevails in society at and between every level.

Our Values

We maintain our standing in society as a model of good governance that engages civil society, the government and the private sector to manage public resources to the benefit of all citizens, particularly those who are poor.

We value the rights-based approach that recognises both the duties of government and the responsibilities of civil society to engage meaningfully with government to improve society, applying strong principles of equity and non-discrimination, participation, transparency and the fulfillment of responsibilities.

Our approach is based on the concept of capacity building that is anchored in deep and appropriate understanding of the nature of the learning challenge being addressed.

ENCISS will pursue an integrated system of engagement that roots our work in the wider initiatives occurring in Sierra Leone.

© DACO/SLIS August 2008