1. WORLD BANK – USAID Strategic Partnership for Transparency, Social Accountability and Governance Reform in the Dominican Republic

2. Context & Objectives
Increased focus on transparency and results, has led to a number of Bank supported reforms in DR such as:
Publication of “citizen” budget
Performance based budgeting and programming in certain sectors (HD)
Municipal level participatory budgeting by law
Access to information policies
Citizen evaluation of safety net programs….
USAID has a long-term involvement in supporting Dominican Civil Society and World Bank had several CSO pilots
Joint recognition of (a) fractured and divergent approaches to CSOs among donors leading to dispersed efforts and (b) need to reach out to grass roots community groups
Objective : to empower civil society to take advantage of this increase in information and to form coalitions for reform via partnership with USAID

3. …a new enabling environment
Joining Efforts in…
WORLD BANK GOVERNANCE AND ANTICORRUPTION STRATEGY WITH THE GOVERNMENT
USAID GOVERNANCE PROGRAM WITH CIVIL SOCIETY
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS IN INCREASING TRANSPARENCY IN THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
CIVIL SOCIETY DEMAND TO SCALE UP SOCIAL AUDIT OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND EXPENDITURES
…a new enabling environment

4. Expected outcomes
Better understanding of the internal incentives for civil society to advocate for services/reforms/governance;
More effective, coordinated and targeted capacity support to CSOs among donor partners;
For specific areas of reform, creation of group of trainers in social accountability techniques (social audit) to assure sustainability of the program beyond its lifetime;
300+ CSOs staff to be equipped with the skills to audit municipal development plans and central government delivery of social services;
Via pilots supported with a governance small grant scheme, greater confidence among CSOs that engagement in accountability can lead to tangible improvements in services or budgets;

5. WORLD BANK – USAID Strategic Partnership for Transparency, Social Accountability and Governance Reform in the Dominican Republic