1. Accountability
Gyan Laxmi Shrestha
Tara Prasad Kharel
NASC

2. Session Objectives
At the end of the session the participants will be able to:
Explain the importance of being accountable
Describe the approaches of accountability
Develop linkages between accountability and public service delivery

3. Session Outline Importance of being accountable
Approaches of accountability (Individual, Collective and Institutional)
Accountability in public service delivery

4. “Ethics are as important for the Public Servant as blood for the body” - Unknown

8. What is Accountability?
Accountability means that individuals are responsible for their actions and maybe asked to justify them
Can be defined as the obligation of power- holders to account for or take responsibility for their actions
Responsibility means being answerable for ones own actions
Government organisations, administrators are accountable to citizens, users of public services and the law

9. Pillars of Accountability

10. Group Activity: Case Studies
Work in groups, on different levels.
Draw a picture on flip chart to show characteristics of “absent accountability” - using examples from the case study.
Discuss - What are the responsibilities of the service providers?
Discuss – What could be done to solve the problem?
You have 15 minutes for group work & 2 minutes for presentation for each group.

11. Importance of Being Accountable (Key Learning points from case study)
Citizens are entitled to receive public services and have rights to hold civil servants accountable.
The human cost of unaccountable governance is manifolds higher (especially to WPEs) than the economic cost.
A single person can make the difference if he/she holds him/herself accountable.
An accountable civil servant can create favourable environment to promote accountability.
The poor and disadvantaged tend to have less ability to influence the quality of services,

12. Importance of Accountability
Better governance
Effective and Efficient public service delivery
Engaging citizens
Ensuring rights of WPE
Empowering WPEs

13. Government Officials/power holders are responsible for
Their conduct - they must obey the law and not abuse their powers.
Their performance - they must serve the public interest in an efficient, effective and fair manner.
“All states have some form of mechanisms to promote or ensure accountability of public actors for effective PSD”

14. Horizontal and Vertical accountability

16. Approaches of Accountability
Individual: ethical, personal obligation
Collective: civil society, informal group, community
Institutional: political, administrative, legal

17. Demand and Supply of Public (Service) Accountability
Citizen
State
(Central and Local)
Intermediary
CBOs
Media
Private sector
I/NGOs
Political parties
Civil society
Expected
Citizen
State
(Central and Local)
Intermediary
CBOs
Media
Private sector
I/NGOs
Political parties
Civil society
Reality

18. Media - A part of Accountability?
Increases awareness in public about their rights
Alerts civil servants about their duties
Monitors civil service process
Creates campaigns about anti-corruption
Evaluates action based on prevailing laws
Plays vital role to make government and service provider accountable

19. Accountability to improve PSD
Public Institution (Structure and system)
Revisit, restructure
Capacity building
Service Receivers
(Collective Form:
Society, WPEs, Community of Practice)
Service Provider
(Individuals)
Social Accountability
Empowerment, awareness, experience sharing
Improved public service delivery

20. Accountability Relationship
Policy Makers
Service Receiver
Service Providers
Voice
Client power
Service compact
Indirect channel
Direct channel
Intermediary

21. An absence of accounting means an absence of accountability

22. The philosophy : SA
The philosophy behind social accountability centers on the role of empowerment and information in enhancing government commitment and service delivery.

23. Social accountability tools
Promote citizen's engagement
Build trust towards public service providers
Increase transparency & access to information
Builds Standardization of public service delivery
Enhances accountability and citizen oversight

24. Tools of Social Accountability
1. Information Tools (5) 2. Accountability and Integrity Tools (9) 3. Participatory Development Tools (7)

25. 1.Information Tools 1 Citizen Charter 13 2
S.N.
Tools
Page Number 1
Citizen Charter 13 2
Check List of Entitlements (Pg 13) 18 3
Budgets of Local Bodies (VDC, DDC & Municipality) 23 4
Right to Information 27 5
Check list of Relevant Laws, Policies, Regulations that affect a Citizen's Life 32

26. 2. Accountability and Integrity Tools
S.N
Tools
Page Number 6
Civic Education 38 7
Public Expenditure Tracking 41 8
Check list of Standards & Indicators 45 9
Community Score Card 51 10
Citizen Report Card 55 11
Public Hearing 61 12
Public Audit 66 13
Public Revenue Monitoring 71 14
Citizen Complaint Structures 75

27. 3. Participatory Development Tools
S.N.
Tools
Page Number 15
Multi-stakeholder Groups 82 16
Participatory Planning 87 17
Participatory Budgeting 92 18
Community Led Procurement 97 19
Declaration of Assets
103 20
Understanding Conflict of Interest
107 21
Integrity Pact
111

28. Conclusion
Obligation of state and public servants towards society and people is important
Absence of accountability breaks the social contract
Need to focus more on WPEs
Accountability is meaningful when combined with responsiveness and integrity

30. Thank you