Voice and accountability

Page contents

• Introduction
• Latest additions to this topic guide

Introduction

Poor people are often excluded from participating in policy design and programmes that have direct impact on their lives, and central and local government institutions are often neither responsive nor accountable to the poor. Following the limited success of many accountability methods focusing on the state, attention has shifted towards strengthening the ‘voice’, or capacity, of ordinary citizens to directly participate in policy-making processes. This guide introduces some of the core debates and considerations around designing and implementing effective voice and accountability (V&A) interventions. It looks at the changing context of V&A work, tools for citizen engagement and how to measure the impact of V&A work. It explores relevant debates around deepening democracy, citizenship, rights, power and representation. It also highlights ways to develop pre-conditions for and create spaces for participation, including poverty reduction strategies (PRS), poverty and social impact analysis (PSIA), decentralisation and other participatory approaches to development.

This topic guide was prepared by Anna Orrnert and updated by Erika Fraser in June 2009. The GSDRC appreciates the contributions of John Gaventa (Institute of Development Studies) and Katja Jobes (DFID). Comments, questions or documents for consideration should be sent to Seema Khan

Latest additions

• Chambers, R., 2008, ‘Revolutions in Development Inquiry’, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton  (document summary available shortly)
• Erich, A., 2008, ‘Get Youth on Board!: A Toolkit for Stakeholder Collaboration and Youth Promotion’, Deutsche Gessellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit  (document summary available shortly)
• O'Neil, T., Foresti, M. and Hudson, A., 2007, ‘Evaluation of Citizens’ Voice and Accountability: Review of the literature and Donor Approaches’, Overseas Development Institute, London
• Menocal, A. R. and Sharma, B., 2009, ‘Joint Evaluation Citizens’ Voice and Accountability: Understanding What Works and Doesn’t Work in Donor Approaches’, Overseas Development Institute, London  (document summary available shortly)
• Rowlands, J., 2008, ‘Chapter 1: The Right to Be Heard – An Overview’, in ‘Speaking Out: How the Voices of Poor People are Shaping the Future’, Oxfam GB (document summary available shortly)
• Cornwall, A., Romano, J. and Shankland, A., 2008, ‘Brazilian Experiences of Participation and Citizenship: A Critical Look’, IDS Discussion Paper 389 (document summary available shortly)
• UNIFEM, 2008, 'Chapter 1: Who Answers to Women?', in Progress of the World’s Women 2008/9: Who Answers to Women? Gender and Accountability’, UNIFEM, New York (Document summary available shortly)
• UNIFEM, 2008, ‘Chapter 2: Politics', in Progress of the World’s Women 2008/9: Who Answers to Women? Gender and Accountability’, UNIFEM, New York (Document summary available shortly)
• Pearce, J., 2007, ‘Violence, Power and Participation: Building Citizenship in Contexts of Chronic Violence’, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex (document summary available shortly)
• Blunt, P., 2009, ‘The Political Economy of Accountability in Timor-Leste: Implications for Public Policy’, Public Administration and Development, Volume 29, pp. 89–100 (document summary available shortly)
• Hayes, L. And Pereira, J., 2008, ‘Turning the Tables: Aid and Accountability under the Paris Framework’, European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad)
• Molenaers, N., and Renard, R., 2006, ‘Participation in PRSP Processes: Conditions for Pro-Poor Effectiveness’, Institute of Development Policy and Management, University of Antwerp
• International Development Research Centre (IDRC), 2008, ‘Policy Recommendations of the International Conference on Decentralization, Local Power and Women’s Rights: Global Trends in Participation, Representation and Access to Public Services’, policy recommendations from the international conference, Mexico City (document summary available shortly)
• Joshi, A., 2008, ‘Producing Social Accountability: The Impact of Service Delivery Reforms’, IDS Bulletin, Volume 38, Number 6, pp. 10-17(8)
• Hossain, N., 2009, ‘Rude Accountability in the Unreformed State: Informal Pressures on Frontline Bureaucrats in Bangladesh’, IDS Working Paper 319 (document summary available shortly)
• Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2008, ‘Governance, Taxation and Accountability: Issues and Practices’ OECD DAC Guidelines and reference series (document summary available shortly)

New additions