the role of information in improving development & governance
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The Role of Information in Improving Development & Governance. Sahr Kpundeh World Bank Institute. Overview of Presentation. Information and Governance -- economic perspective -- governance perspective Information and Development -- transparency and corruption - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Role of Information in Improving Development & Governance
Sahr KpundehWorld Bank Institute
Overview of Presentation Information and Governance
-- economic perspective-- governance perspective
Information and Development-- transparency and corruption-- information and accountability-- information and efficiency
Program Components-- Media and Information Environment-- Public information capacity-- Media institutions and Capacity-- Development Journalism-- investigative Journalism
Conclusion: WBI’s Media, Information and Governance Program
A Steep AscentA Steep Ascent & A Difficult ClimbA Difficult Climb
Creating Freedom of Information
The ‘Dividend’ of Good GovernanceInfant Mortality and Corruption
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Weak Average Good
Control of Corruption x Development Dividend
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
Weak Average Good
Regulatory Burdenx Development Dividend
Per Capita Income and Regulatory Burden
Literacy and Rule of Law
0
25
50
75
100
Weak Average Good
Rule of Law xDevelopment
Dividend
Per Capita Income and
Voice and Accountability
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
Weak Average Strong
Voice and Accountabilityx Development
Dividend
Note: The bars depict the simple correlation between good governance and development outcomes. The line depicts thepredicted value when taking into account the causality effects (“Development Dividend”) from improved governance to betterdevelopment outcomes. For data and methodological details visit http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/governance.
Civil Society Oversight•Open Hearings•Monitoring•Access to Information•Freedom of the Press
Good
GovernanceAccountability of Political Leadership•Disclosure•Inspector General/Anti-Corruption Agency•Campaign Finance
Civil Service•Pay•Meritocracy•Client Information
Customs Reform•Tariff Simplification•Professionalization•Reduce Discretion
Financial Management•Comprehensive Budget•Transparency•Procurement Reform•Independent Audit
Economic Policy•Deregulation•Privatization•Competition Policy
Reforms for Improving Governance & Combating Corruption
Rule of Law
•Independence from Executive
•Upgrade Staff Training and Laws•ADR Mechanisms
Perspectives on Information
Economic perspective Information about prices More efficient markets
Governance Perspective Information about functioning of public officials Transparency, accountability Better allocation of public resources Information as tool for empowerment
Information from Economic Perspective Information as a public good
Responsibility of the government to make information available to citizens about economy/markets – publication of data and statistics
Decreases uncertainty in the market. Hence decreases volatility and improves macroeconomic environment
Information & Development Government’s design sound economic and social policies and
implement policies more effectively Private business/individuals make better choices in private
markets Business/individuals evaluate choices and make better choices
in public/political markets Hold private and public actors accountable by:
--affecting reputation
-- allowing to monitor with a view to devise penalties and rewards
Information & Governance
Transparency & Corruption Transparency in Government decisions, public
expenditures, and transactions is key to averting corruption
Transparency in the award of contracts and licenses is key to making them fair and open
Information on public officials in the media provides a useful check on the discretionary exercise of authority
1
3
5
Low Middle High
Extent of Transparency
Transparent Information by Government
Effective Parliamentary Oversight
Corporate Ethics
Annual GDP Growth (%)
Transparency and GDP Growth
Source: Annual GDP growth over 1999-2001 is taken from WDI 2002; GDP is computed in PPP terms. The various transparency / governance variables drawn from Executive Opinion Survey, 2002.
Information & Governance Information and Accountability
Increases political accountability if politicians have to make information public
Increases internal accountability of public officials if they are required to regularly report to policymakers
Increases social accountability since citizens can monitor actions of bureaucrats and delivery of services, and participate
Especially important to participation and accountability by local governments
Information & Governance Information & Efficiency
Increases efficiency if information is effectively managed and shared between government departments
Important for businesses to function effectively, and for a more stable macroeconomic environment
Improves accessibility to public services if information about them are available easily
Information Institutions & Flows
MediaCitizens
Civil SocietyPrivate sector
Voice & Participation
Information
Government
Central Ministries
Local/Municipal Bodies
Legislatures (Central & Local)
InformationInformation
Checks & Balance
Information & Governance
Politicians/Policymakers
CitizensBureaucrats
Del
egat
ion
and
Voic
e
Del
egat
ion
and
Voic
e
Polit
ical
Acc
ount
abili
ty
Polit
ical
Acc
ount
abili
ty
Delegation of
Delegation of
Implem
entation
Implem
entation
Internal Accountability
Internal Accountability
Public Goods and ServicesPublic Goods and Services
Client Power/Social AccountabilityClient Power/Social Accountability
Information
Information
Info
rmat
ion
Info
rmat
ion
InformationInformation
WBI’s Media, Information & Governance Program
Needs Assessments, Learning workshops and programs to build capacity in client countries
Target groups: legislators, government information officials, media professionals, civil society
Partners: Local research institutions, media training institutes, international donor partners
WBI’s Media, Information & Governance Program Five Modules
Public Information Capacity
Media Institutions and Capacity
Investigative Journalism
Development Journalism
Media & Information Environment
Media and Information Environment
Many countries have Secrecy laws – Official Secrets Act Conflicts between FOI law and Secrecy laws Freedom of Information Law is a relatively new
phenomenon in many countries FOI law provides exemptions, procedures for requests and
outlines obligations of public officials for disclosure Provides guarantees against denial of information Also includes freedom of expression Enforcements Mechanisms: Information Commissioners;
Ombudsman
Public Information Capacity
Even in the presence of FOI law, government agencies need the capacity to make information public
Information as a public good. Obligation of public agencies to provide information about citizen rights and entitlements
Press Information Departments fulfill this function Limited capacity for information management, processes
for information flows Need for both structural solutions – technology for better
information management, capacity for dissemination, publications etc.
Public Information Campaigns
Public Information Capacity Importance of the architecture of information - to ensure that
the information that is collected is comparable and accessible. Integrated financial management information systems - to
track the use of money within the government. - used in Tanzania, and being implemented in many other African countries.
Computerized audits - to ensure comparability of information on the use of public money across years and to enhance accessibility - used in South Africa. Implemented in Ghana.
Mobilization of non-governmental groups in information gathering - use of service delivery surveys in Uganda and India.
Media Institutions & Capacity
Mass media are important intermediaries of public information
Political Economy of Media Ownership Political Influence & Independence of the Media Financial Autonomy Media Management Independent media – Print, Community radio,
Internet
Development Journalism
The Role of the Media in Development Reporting on Poverty Public Service Obligations of Commercial Media State media and Development Balancing Commercial and Public Service
Interests Quality and impact of good reporting
Investigative Journalism
Reporting and Writing Skills Research Skills Media Ethics Dealing with political pressures Uncovering Corruption
Program Achievements Long experience with investigative
journalism courses in Africa Freedom of information workshops in Sri
Lanka and Indonesia
Thank You
Q&A and
Discussion