GSDRC newsfeed on Voice and accountability

Applying a Rights-based Approach: An Inspirational Guide for Civil Society

Jakob Kirkemann Boesen and Tomas Martin — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

With its focus on law and the root causes of poverty, the rights-based approach (RBA) releases a new transformative potential for development. This guide provides practical methods for the integration of the RBA into programmes implemented by smaller civil society organisations (CSOs) in poor countries. While it is not a panacea, the RBA has the potential to bring people whose rights are denied by poverty to the centre of development analyses and implementation.

Introduction: Negotiating Empowerment

Andrea Cornwall and Jenny Edwards — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Why are conventional interventions that seek to promote women�s empowerment insufficient? This article highlights the choices, negotiations, narratives, and context of women�s lived experience. It finds that empowerment is a complex process of negotiation rather than a linear sequence of inputs and outcomes. Governments and development agencies need to give more consideration to the structures perpetuating gender inequality. They should invest in creating an enabling environment for women�s empowerment, and should support those who are tackling deeply rooted issues of power impeding transformative change.

'The Grass of the Rich?' Integrity and Post-war Reconstruction in the Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone

E. Broadbent and A. Kamara — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can corruption and lack of transparency and accountability be addressed in reconstruction projects? These problems have severely constrained the rebuilding of Sierra Leone�s infrastructure, but neither the channels nor the incentives exist for community members to challenge such practices. This report reviews a Community Oversight Monitoring project (2008-2009), which identified delays in project completion, sub-standard work; and widespread theft of materials. Underlying contributing factors are patronage politics, institutional weakness and a lack of political will to investigate, redress and prevent such problems. Lack of civil society participation, oversight, awareness and consultation entrenches and is perpetuated by these political and institutional factors.

Better Information, Better Aid

aidinfo — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What are the potential benefits of aid transparency? What information is needed and how could donors make this more accessible? Survey results indicate that improved transparency of aid information would contribute to faster poverty reduction by making aid more effective and accountable. Users of aid information need more accessible, detailed, timely, and consistent information to enable them to make aid work better. Donors should therefore publish information (electronically) in more detail, using common definitions and a common format. This could both reduce costs for donors, who repeatedly provide the same information in different forms, and increase the information's value to users.

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.

New Media and Democracy in Africa - A Critical Interjection

Fackson Banda, Okoth Fred Mudhai, Wisdom J. Tettey — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Has the use of new media improved African political structures, systems and processes? This book chapter introduces studies examining the impact of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the societies and politics of African countries. It argues that, a decade after the introduction of ICTs, questions about access, inequality, power and the quality of available information are still valid. The value of new media lies in the extent to which they mesh with old media to provide multimedia platforms that allow for greater democratic participation, inclusion and expression.

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.

Strategic Communication for Sustainable Development: A Conceptual Overview

GTZ — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

What is meant by strategic communication for sustainable development? This GTZ publication outlines how strategic communication can be integrated into development policies and projects. Strategic communication ensures the active solicitation of stakeholders� perspectives. Despite its impact, communication is rarely integrated in development cooperation programmes as a strategic tool. However, cooperation and collaboration among stakeholders depend on it.

Participatory Communication: A Practical Guide

Thomas Tufte and Paolo Mefalopulos — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can participatory communication be applied in development projects? This World Bank publication outlines the four key phases of the participatory communication programme cycle. Genuine participatory communication is rare, but it can facilitate the empowerment of marginalised groups and have wider social and political effects. It requires continual dialogue with stakeholders. However, proper application of participatory communication methods are not enough to ensure a project's success. Broader contextual requirements are important, including a flexible project framework (especially in terms of timelines), a politically conducive environment, and an enabling attitude among key stakeholders.

Transparenting Transparency: Initial Empirics and Policy Applications

Ana Bellver and Daniel Kaufmann — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Can access to information and transparency reforms improve governance and development outcomes? How can transparency reforms be empirically measured and effectively implemented? This World Bank paper reviews existing literature and develops and applies a new transparency index for 194 countries. While causality remains difficult to determine, transparency is associated with better socio-economic and human development indicators, and with higher competitiveness and lower corruption. Where there is political will for transparency reform, much progress can be made without excessive resource requirements.

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.

Building Political Will for Enhanced Access to Information: Lessons from Latin America

Anabel Cruz — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can citizens� groups and other stakeholders build political will for the approval and enactment of right to information laws? By analysing experience in Honduras, Nicaragua, Chile and Uruguay, this book chapter from Civicus explores how political will was built to pass access to information laws. It also looks at the challenges of implementation, arguing that the adoption of legislation is merely an important first step. It will mean little if government, encouraged by informed citizens, does not implement the laws.

USAID�s Media Assistance: Policy and Programmatic Lessons

Krishna Kumar — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT

What can be learned from USAID�s media assistance programmes? This USAID paper outlines the results of the agency�s 2002-2003 assessment such programmes. The assessment included workshops and a literature review plus fieldwork in Bosnia, Serbia, Central America and Russia. Key success factors were: (1) a long-term perspective; (2) major resource commitments that facilitated comprehensive, multifaceted, mutually reinforcing interventions; and (3) a context of political transformation that encouraged acceptance of media assistance among political leaders and civil society. Different media development strategies are needed in different types of political system.

Community Participation in Public Schools: Impact of Information Campaigns in three Indian states

Priyanka Pandey, Sangeeta Goyal, Venkatesh Sundararaman — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What impact can community-based information campaigns have on school performance? This article from Education Economics finds that providing information through a structured campaign has a positive impact on school outcomes. A cluster randomised control trial of 610 villages across three Indian states provided public meetings about community roles and responsibilities in school management. A survey between two and four months later identified positive impacts on process variables such as community participation, provision of student entitlements and teacher effort. Impacts on learning were modest, however, and there were differences between states. Impacts need to be measured over a longer time period.

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.

On Measuring Governance: Framing Issues for Debate

Daniel Kaufmann and Aart Kraay — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

How can the measurement of governance be enhanced? This World Bank paper highlights key issues for users and providers of governance indicators. It contends that: (1) all governance indicators have weaknesses; (2) there are no easy solutions in measuring governance; and that (3) the links from governance to development outcomes are complex. Policymakers should view the different types of indicators as complementary rather than competing.

Coalition Building

Communication for Governance and Accountability Program — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How can communications strategies contribute to pro-reform coalition building? This briefing from the World Bank's Communication for Governance and Accountability Program draws on experience from around the world, particularly from Kenya, the Philippines, Georgia and India. It argues that effective coalitions require careful use of communications to foster trust among members while also leveraging diversity � a delicate balancing act. Communications strategies should be sequenced according to each coalition�s particular needs and stage of formation.

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.