I tend to be an “information junkie.” So that means I often get waylaid when doing research. Sometimes my curiosity pays off and I stumble across something exciting such as The Ujima Project which is funded by AGAG members the Open Society Institute and the Ford Foundation.

The Ujima Project describes itself as a “new experiment in journalistic transparency.” It collects and assembles information from sources about spending by governments, NGOs and businesses in African countries. The list of lobbying activities is as fascinating as the list of USAID spending is mundane and list of weapons sobering.

Information overload takes on an entirely new meaning when you realize not everyone has access to it. Despite all of the offerings of the internet, in many African countries access is both uneven and expensive.

The project grew out of the Great Lakes Media Institute that was established to train Rwandan journalists. The site was developed by a software firm based in Uganda. It is still in the beta stage, but worth watching.