1. accountability approaches and tools Gyan Laxmi Shrestha NASC
Tara Prasad Kharel
NASC

2. Session Objectives
At the end of the session the participants will be able to:
Explain the concept of accountability
Explain reasons why accountability is important
Analyse approaches of accountability
Create linkages between accountability and public service delivery
Identify range of social accountability tools in practice

3. Session Outline Importance and implication of being accountable
Approaches of accountability
How accountability improves public service delivery?
Accountability tools in practice

5. Group Activity: Case Studies
Groups 1& 2 - “Fatima”
Groups 3 & 4 - “District Education Officer Panchthar”
In flip chart, make a poster to show characteristics of “absent accountability” - using examples from the case study.
Discuss - What are the obligations of the service providers?
20 minutes for group work
In flip chart, make a poster to show characteristics of “present accountability” - using examples from the case study.
Discuss - What are the obligations of the service providers?
20 minutes for group work

6. Key Learning Points
Citizens are entitled to receive public services and have rights to hold civil servants accountable.
Civil servants need to be proactive even if people are unable to hold them accountable.
The human cost of unaccountable governance is manifolds higher (especially to WPEs) than the economic cost.

7. Key Learning Points (Contd…)
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.
Power dynamics, linked to socio-economic and cultural factors affect relationships between service providers, users and other actors – which in turn determines who can influence the quality of a service,

8. Key Learning Points (Contd…)
The poor and disadvantaged tend to have less ability to influence the quality of services,
The quality of services depends on the relationships between the “providers”, e.g. government, and the “user” e.g. citizens,
The quality of services depends not only on supply (by providers) but also on the ability of citizens to demand services,
Proactive role of state is essential for ensuring the access of WPEs on public services

9. What is Accountability?
Is answerability, a key component of governance
Is the acknowledgement and assumption of responsibility for actions
Can be defined as the obligation of power- holders to account for or take responsibility for their actions.
Government organisations, administrators are accountable to citizens, users of public services and the law

10. Accountability and Obligation
Every accountability relationship begins with an obligation.
If there is no obligation, there is no accountability to enforce.
When political candidates are elected to public office and government officials accept executive positions,
they are not supposed to have free supremacy to do as they wish.

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

12. 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”

15. An absence of accounting means an absence of accountability

16. Social Accountability
Civic engagement in the process of making state accountable
Ordinary citizens participate directly or indirectly in holding service providers to be accountable
Public officials are called on to inform stakeholders and to justify to them their behavior, actions and results.

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

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. Accountability in Action
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

22. How can Government be more accountable to WPEs
Proper utilization of the government machinery in implementation of law and order
Strong reward for carrying out exemplary work and punishment for not fulfilling duties
Proper allocation of resources
Internalization of system and process
Support
Revision and reformulation of existing laws
Attitudinal change towards the issues of WPE
Capacity building of government
Government employees should be honest
Govt. should be sensitive and responsible towards WPE 

23. The philosophy : SA
The philosophy behind social accountability centers on the role of empowerment and information in enhancing government commitment and service delivery.
Using Social Accountability tools

24. Tools of Social Accountability
Video

25. Tools of Social Accountability
1. Information Tools 2. Accountability and Integrity Tools 3. Participatory Development Tools

26. 1.Information Tools Citizen Charter
Check List of Entitlements (Citizens are alerted to the various rights and entitlements that they have through different government bodies )
Budgets of Local Bodies (VDC, DDC & Municipality)
Right to Information (Citizens have the right to demand and receive information )
Check list of Relevant Laws, Policies, Regulations that affect a Citizen's Life

27. 2. Accountability and Integrity Tools
Civic Education (The value of education about civic matters, how the state works)
Public Expenditure Tracking (learning of the size of the budget , how the budget is spent )
Check list of Standards & Indicators( formulated quality standards for public services)
Community Score Card (can be used by both service providers and service receivers for effectiveness of public services)
Citizen Report Card (How those who receive services are satisfied or dissatisfied with those services and can report this to the responsible authorities)
Public Hearing
Public Audit (seek transparency and accountability in regard to investment in local development projects )
Public Revenue Monitoring (monitor the income that is being received by government bodies
Citizen Complaint Structures( complaints against wrong-doers )

28. 3. Participatory Development Tools
Multi-stakeholder Groups( together to achieve the common agreed objectives)
Participatory Planning
Participatory Budgeting
Community Led Procurement (citizens role in procuring goods and services)
Declaration of Assets
Understanding Conflict of Interest (possible conflict between the public and personal interest)
Integrity Pact (agree combined to avoid corruption)

29. 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

30. Discussion
Accountable government
Unaccountable government

31. 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

32. Thank you