Demanding Good Governance: Lessons from Social Accountability Initiatives in Africa

by Mary McNeil (Editor), Carmen Malena (Editor)

Overview

Accountability is the cornerstone of good governance. Unless public officials can be held to account, then critical benefits associated with good governance, such as social justice, poverty reduction and development remain elusive. The impacts of non-responsive and unaccountable governance are perhaps most harshly felt by the citizens of Africa, where corruption and governance failures are broadly acknowledged as a principal obstacle to the achievement Over the past decade, a range of social accountability practices—such as participatory budgeting, independent budget analysis, participatory monitoring of public expenditure and citizen evaluation of public services have been experimented with in many Africa countries. Their outcomes and lessons have, thus far, received little attend and documentation. This volume aims to make a contribution towards filling this gap by describing and analyzing a selection of social accountability initiatives from seven Sub-Saharan countries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780821383803
Publisher:	World Bank Publications
Publication date:	06/23/2010
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Acknowledgments xiii

About the Editors xv

About the Contributors xvii

Abbreviations xxiii

Map: Social Accountability Initiatives from Seven Selected Countries xxvi

1 Social Accountability in Africa: An Introduction Carmen Malena Mary McNeil 1

2 Participatory Budgeting in Fissel, Senegal Bara Guèye 29

3 Civic Participation in Policy and Budgetary Processes in Ilala Municipal Council, Tanzania Renatus Kihongo John Lubuva 53

4 Tracking the Ghana District Assemblies Common Fund Charles Abbey Vitus A. Azeem Cuthbert Baba Kuupiel 71

5 Enhancing Civil Society Capacity for Advocacy and Monitoring: Malawi's Poverty Reduction Strategy Budget Dalitso Kingsley Kubalasa Limbani Bartholomew Elia Nsapato 89

6 Gender-Sensitive and Child-Friendly Budgeting in Zimbabwe Bob Libert Muchabaiwa 109

7 The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and Publish What You Pay Nigeria Dauda S. Garuba John G. Ikubaje 137

8 Citizen Control of Public Action: The Social Watch Network in Benin Cyrille Chabi Eteka Anne Floquet 163

9 Social Accountability in Africa: An Analysis Mary McNeil Carmen Malena 185

Index 223

Boxes

1.1 Civil Society Organization Conducts Education Expenditure Tracking Surveys in Malawi 10

1.2 Citizen Report Card "Roadshows" in Kenya 11

1.3 Bogotá Cómo Vamos: Citizen Evaluation of Public Services in Colombia 21

6.1 Children's Participation in Budgeting Processes 124

Figures

1.1 Key Benefits of Social Accountability 12

2.1 The Participatory Budgeting Implementation Process in Fissel, Senegal 34

2.2 Criteria for Citizen and Council Participation in Participatory Budgeting 38

Tables

1.1 Social Accountability Practices in the Seven Case Studies 8

1.A.1 Case Study Characteristics 23

2.1 PM&E Criteria Identified by the Learning Group 37

2.2 Fissel Priority Action Matrix (2004 Budget) 40

2.A.1 Criteria for the Decision-Making Process in the Fissel Rural Council 48

3.1 Comparison of Service Levels between Ilala and Tanzania, Fy2000/01 57

4.1 Disbursements to DACF, 1999-2002 83

9.1 Aspects of Enabling and Disabling Environments for Social Accountability in Africa: Case Study Evidence 187

9.2 Challenges for Social Accountability in Africa: Case Study Evidence 196

9.3 Success Factors for Social Accountability in Africa: Case Study Evidence 206

9.4 Lessons Learned about Social Accountability in Africa: Case Study Evidence 212