public sector accountability: being accountable and holding accountable
TRANSCRIPT
PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTABILITY: Being Accountable and Holding Accountable
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Learning Objectives
By the end of the topic participants will be able to:
Define accountability, Explain the characteristics of the
supply and demand sides of accountability,
Explain the tools of holding and being accountable
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Linking Integrity and Accountability
I = a C(A E) C-
Accountability:Enabling stakeholders to check that we do what we say we do.
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What is Accountability?
Accountability refers to the process of holding actors responsible for their actions which focuses on ‘answerability’
Two different forms of accountability- Soft: usually formal processes in which
actions are held up to specific standards Hard: more rigorous minimum standard,
including sanctions and/or remedies for wrongdoing (Fox 2007).
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Video Case
Willing DEO can make difference (Gyan Mani Nepal) What factors made him think and
act differently to others? What he did to make others
accountable?
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Accountability Tools (Few)
Public HearingParticipatory PlanningSocial AuditCivic EducationPublic expenditure tracking system, etc.
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Accountability: Demand & Supply, and Horizontal & Vertical
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Demand and Supply of Public Services
Demand Side
Citizen
Demand Side
Citizen
Supply side
State
(Central and Local)
Supply side
State
(Central and Local)
IntermediaryCBOsMediaPrivate sectorI/NGOs Political partiesCivil society
IntermediaryCBOsMediaPrivate sectorI/NGOs Political partiesCivil society
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Demand and Supply of Public Services
Demand Side
Citizen
Demand Side
Citizen
Supply side
State
(Central and Local)
Supply side
State
(Central and Local)
IntermediaryCBOsMediaPrivate sectorI/NGOs Political partiesCivil society
IntermediaryCBOsMediaPrivate sectorI/NGOs Political partiesCivil society
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Horizontal and Vertical Accountability
Vertical
Horizontal
Executive Civil service/public sector
Legislature
Oversight Institutions
Citizens
DiagonalVertical
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Social Contract
There is always agreement (may not be written) between the state and society (people) for mutual protection and welfare Eg. People agree to pay tax in return of public services from the state
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Social Contract and Accountability Framework
Individual (Service
Provider)
Individual (Service
Provider)
Institution (Structure
and system)
Institution (Structure
and system)
Collective
(Society, Excluded,
Community of Practice)
Collective
(Society, Excluded,
Community of Practice)
AccountabilityMechanism
AccountabilityMechanism
Improved public service delivery
Improved public service delivery
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Bridging the Gaps
How do we bridge the gap between demand and supply? Accountability mechanisms and tools -
constructive engagement between actors Build civil service capacity Revisit and restructure institutional
arranges that hinder effective and efficient service delivery
Empower and promote awareness among people for creating demands
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What Makes Public Institutions Accountable?
Be Accountable Rules & regulations of
the state Standardization of
services Self realization to the
‘social contract’ Capacity building of
public institutions Transparent work
culture Capacity building of
oversight agencies Regular feedback
Hold Accountable Making citizens
aware to service standard
Access to information
Empowering citizens Civic engagement
and citizen oversight
Regular feedback Citizen’s voice and
accountability mechanism
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Thank You