GSDRC newsfeed on General governance

Measuring Change and Results in Voice and Accountability Work

Jeremy Holland and Allyson Thirkell — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can the often intangible results of Voice and Accountability (V&A) interventions be measured? This paper adapts DFID�s 'Capability, Accountability and Responsiveness' (CAR) governance framework for use with V&A work. It maps existing indicators onto this adapted framework, developing a menu of V&A indicators and data collection instruments. Measures need to take account of the costs as well as benefits of poor people's voices being heard, and should reveal the obstacles to poor people's engagement. V&A indicator data can effectively combine observable and measurable changes in behaviour with perception scoring of the quality of those changes.

Political Economy Reforms: Learning from the Delhi Water Experience

Avjeet Singh — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How do you introduce and sustain change in a society, like India, where there is a strong indigenous tradition and deep-rooted corruption? This research from the World Bank looks at efforts to reform the water sector in Delhi. It suggests that moving from policy rhetoric to its acceptance is always difficult. But instead of simply blaming the system for problems of implementation, it is important to analyse and work with the underlying reality.

Political Economy Analysis to Action: Political Communication Approaches and Techniques

World Bank — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Why are political communication approaches pivotal to efforts to reform governance systems? This study from the World Bank suggests that reform managers must be able to persuade society. Furthermore, although reform includes technical challenges, the challenges of adaptation require political communication.

Generating Genuine Demand with Social Accountability Mechanisms

Communication for Governance and Accountability Program — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What factors contribute to the success or failure of Social Accountability (SA) initiatives? This paper reports on a 2007 workshop organised by the World Bank�s Communication for Governance and Accountability Program. It examines what works in: (1) analysing the public sphere and political context; (2) gaining official support for the use of SA tools; (3) informing citizens; (4) mobilising citizen activism; and (5) achieving behaviour change in public officials through public opinion.

Governance Reform Under Real World Conditions

S Odugbemi and T Jacobson — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What are the key challenges for governance reform in complex, diverse sociopolitical and economic conditions? How can these challenges best be addressed? This volume from the World Bank argues that successful, sustained reform requires the alignment of citizens, stakeholders, and voice. Reformers must overcome adaptive challenges such as public opinion, self-interested forces and inertia, and this requires skilled communication. Communication links the constitutive elements of the public sphere � engaged citizenries, vibrant civil societies, plural and independent media systems, and open government institutions � to facilitate the national dialogue which shapes informed public opinion.

The Role of Communication in Governance: Detailed Analysis

Coffey International Development — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What does available evidence tell us about the role of communication initiatives in government capability, accountability, transparency and responsiveness? This paper from Coffey International Development analyses the positive and negative contributions of communication to governance. In theory, effective communication can help to promote good governance; however, a solid evidence base is lacking and a positive correlation should not be assumed. Existing studies suggest that it is not enough to create the means of communication; enabling factors must be in place so that voices can be heard and citizens can hold government to account.

Enforcement Models: Content and Context

Laura Neuman — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Access to information (ATI) rights are only meaningful if they are both enforceable and enforced. What are the different enforcement models for ATI laws, and what determines success? This World Bank paper draws on case studies to consider the three main ATI enforcement models: (1) judicial proceedings; (2) an information commission(er) or appeals tribunal with the power to issue binding orders; and (3) an information commissioner or ombudsman with the power to make recommendations. While there is no 'one size fits all' system, principles of independence, accessibility, affordability, timeliness and specialisation are paramount.

Assessing the Extent to Which the News Media Act as Watchdogs, Agenda Setters and Gatekeepers

Sina Odugbemi and Pippa Norris — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This review from the World Bank's Communication for Governance and Accountability Program finds that news media are important in furthering democratic governance, provided they are set up in a way that allows them to act as effective watchdogs, agenda setters and gatekeepers. Barriers to the fulfilment of these roles include restrictions on press freedom, market failures, lack of professional standards, weak civil society, and limitations in media literacy and public access to the media. Further research is required to fully determine the relationship between a free media and democratic governance.

Dialogues as Communication Strategy in Governance Reform

J. P. Singh — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What advantages can dialogue between society and its government offer over one-way communication? This book chapter from the World Bank examines 'dialogic communication', or democratic deliberation, arguing that it offers citizens and public officials an opportunity to come together to find solutions to problems. Dialogic communication may be especially helpful for resource-constrained governments in designing public policy measures that find broad acceptance. Political analysis must guide development actors' use of communication strategies.

Putting the Power of Transparency in Context: Information�s Role in Reducing Corruption in Uganda�s Education Sector

Paul Hubbard — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

An often-told story in development circles is how corruption was slashed in Uganda simply by publishing the amounts of monthly grants to schools. This paper from the Center for Global Development examines the case in the context of Uganda's changing education policy from 1991-2002. While information did play a critical role in achieving a percentage drop (not necessarily an actual drop) in diverted funds, its impact has been overstated. Many contextual factors were also important, and similar results cannot necessarily be expected elsewhere.

The Role of Media Literacy in the Governance Reform Agenda

Johanna Martinsson — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How does media literacy contribute to governance reform? This discussion paper from the World Bank's Communication for Governance and Accountability Program argues that media literacy helps citizens to become informed, to engage in the public sphere to effect change, and to demand good governance and accountability. In an increasingly complex media landscape, citizens need to be able to access, analyse, evaluate and develop media content. Donors should therefore promote media literacy as an integral part of the development process.

Struggles for Freedom of Information in Africa

Colin Darch and Peter Underwood — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

How far have rights to information progressed in Africa? The conditions that make information access rights both important and hard to implement are seen in their most extreme forms in Africa. This chapter from the book Freedom of Information and the Developing World presents case studies from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique and South Africa. The advance of information rights in Africa has been limited. However, low-key activity indicates that some awareness exists. Further, if any resistance to the state is arguably a struggle over information, then it is important to listen for 'stifled voices of protest'.

The Right to Information and Societal Accountability: The Case of the Delhi PDS Campaign

Suchi Pande — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To what extent can tools like the Right to Information (RTI) help ensure transparency and accountability? This article from the IDS Bulletin draws on the example of Parivartan, a Delhi-based citizens� group working on issues of corruption and accountability. This group has used the RTI to mobilise poor people and has used information to generate awareness through the media, holding government to account. The combination of a dedicated grassroots activist organisation and a RTI Act was necessary for achieving successful accountability.

Election Campaigns, Partisan Balance, and the News Media

Holli Semetko — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What is the impact of partisan balance in the news media during elections in democracies and societies in transition? This book chapter from the World Bank examines the impact of balance and bias in the news media on public opinions, political behaviour and, ultimately, on election outcomes. Drawing on case studies of recent elections in Kenya, Russia, Mexico and Turkey, it argues that the media, particularly television, plays a key role in influencing election processes.

Public Opinion, the Public Sphere, and Quality of Governance: An Exploration

Sina Odugbemi — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What is the best framework for achieving capable, responsive and accountable government in developing countries? How can political communities be changed to ensure that public resources go toward securing the general welfare? This study from the World Bank argues that the power of public opinion is a critical factor. Further, a democratic public sphere provides a vital structure through which good governance may be secured.

Media and Good Governance

DFID — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What is the relationship between the media and good governance, and what are the main opportunities and challenges in engaging in this area? This practice paper from the UK Department for International Development explains why and how the media matters for governance. Incentives and disincentives driving the media sector that may have an impact on democratic governance are explored, with a focus on fragile states. Market failures and media capture mean that donors need to support public interest media. Integrated interventions which address four levels - populations, practitioners, organisations and systems - achieve the greatest and most lasting change.

Good, But How Good? Monitoring and Evaluation of Media Assistance Projects

Andy Mosher — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How are media assistance programmes being monitored and evaluated? How can such M&E be improved? This report from the Center for International Media Assistance finds that useful tools include: gathering baseline data; content analysis; balancing quantitative and qualitative data; and employing outside evaluators to conduct impact assessments. Donors should increase funding for the M&E of media assistance projects and should help develop a shared but adaptable approach to M&E. Organisations could save money by exchanging non-competitive information (such as baseline data) and should ensure that time spent on project M&E is costed.

Empowering Independent Media: U.S. Efforts to Foster Free and Independent News Around the World

Center for International Media Assistance — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What can be learned from US media assistance? This report from the Center for International Media Assistance examines eight key areas: funding, professional development, higher education, the legal environment, sustainability, media literacy, new media, and monitoring and evaluation. The report asserts that a free media can impact critical areas in society - including education, government accountability, health, and the empowerment of women and minorities. However, it is important to address obstacles such as insufficient funding, unstable legal environments, lack of donor coordination, and problems in sustainability and evaluation.

Communication and Governance

World Bank, The Communication Initiative Network, FAO — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

How can communication enhance good governance, participation and transparency? Is a free media essential for development? This book chapter reports on some of the findings of the World Congress on Communication for Development. It argues that free flows of information and communication lie at the heart of good governance, transparency and accountability. Communication for development has evolved beyond traditional propaganda and marketing to a greater emphasis on two-way communication flows, dialogue, and participation.

Why the Media Matters: the Relevance of the Media to Tackling Global Poverty

James Deane — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How can the media address global poverty? This paper from the Global Forum for Media Development argues that the media has a critical role in poverty reduction, particularly by fostering country ownership of development strategies and the accountability of governments to their citizens. However, the media operates in a politically and economically hostile environment with only fragmented, inconsistent and short-term support from donors. It therefore remains largely peripheral to development action. The media can and must enable people with the most to win or lose from development debates to access, understand and contribute to them.