1. Recent thinking and experiences around domestic accountability Introduction session EC Governance seminar (4-8 th July 2011) By Jean Bossuyt (ECDPM)

2. DOMESTIC ACCOUNTABILITY IS MOVING TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA … And offers a great window of opportunities for donor agencies willing to support change…

3. DA is not primarily an aid effectiveness issue BUT all about societal change the social contract between state and society and citizens claiming their rights

4. PUSH FACTORS DA and aid effectiveness (Busan 2011) Ongoing work on DA in sectors Role DA in budget support operations DA as a key governance challenge (GOVNET) DA as a tool to ensure democratic deepening Other entry points into DA such as citizen action or taxation/domestic resource mobilisation Growing research and community of practice

5. Three underpinning principles: Transparency: access to information about commitments the state has made and the extent to which these commitments have been honoured Answerability: obligation of the government, its agencies and public officials to provide information about their decisions and actions and to justify them to the public and institutions tasked with providing oversight Enforcement: willingness and power of citizens or the institutions that are responsible for accountability to sanction the offending party or remedy the contravening behaviour

6. Voice and accountability are essential ingredients of the domestic democracy agenda VOICEACCOUNTABILITY Refers to capacity to EXPRESS VIEWS and to EXERCISE this CAPACITY in policy and governance processes (INFLUENCE)Refers to capacity to EXPRESS VIEWS and to EXERCISE this CAPACITY in policy and governance processes (INFLUENCE) Linked to active CITIZENSHIPLinked to active CITIZENSHIP Essential building block of accountabilityEssential building block of accountability Voice is expressed through variety of formal and informal channels/mechanismsVoice is expressed through variety of formal and informal channels/mechanisms Concerns the relationship between rulers and ruledConcerns the relationship between rulers and ruled (domestic politics and power) Justification of decisions and actionsJustification of decisions and actions Ability of citizens to hold state ANSWERABLE for its actions and impose sanctions (ENFORCEABILITY)Ability of citizens to hold state ANSWERABLE for its actions and impose sanctions (ENFORCEABILITY) Accountability is sought through variety of channels and mechanismsAccountability is sought through variety of channels and mechanisms

7. The various dimensions of Accountability WHO is being held to account? (i.e. state, politicians, public officials) WHO is holding to account? (i.e. accountability institutions such as parliament, opposition parties, the media, civil society, etc.) WHAT are they holding them to account for ? (i.e. policies implemented or not by the State) WHERE are they holding them into account? (i.e. within the country concerned) HOW are they holding them to account? (i.e. through various formal/informal mechanisms beyond elections)

8. 8 Accountability is Complex Source: Adapted from: Morazán and Koch 2010: Monitoring Budget support in Developing countries, A comparative analysis of national control mechanisms over budget support in developing countries. Sűdwind, p.57

9. WE NEED TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT TRANSFORMATIONAL CAPACITY OF POLITICAL SOCIETY CIVIL SOCIETY

10. Decentralisation changes accountability chain Central Government Local Elected Council Own StaffLocal Sector Department Staff Citizens, voters, taxpayers & users of services Upward accountability & control Upward political accountability & control Quality of policy & legal compliance & fiscal effort Horizontal managerial accountability & control Quality of policy & planning decisions, management & overall governance Quality of general administration Quality of service delivery Local Government Accountability Mechanisms

11. Lessons of experience (1) DA as a highly political endogenous process (limits external intervention, risk of doing harm) Critical importance political economy analysis (baseline, incentives, reform capacity) Consider DA as a system with a chain of actors and potential agents of accountability (=choosing smart entry points yet addressing the system)

12. LETs LOOK THROUGH the WALL

13. Beware of external drivers moving too quickly…

14. Lessons of experience (2) Combine supply and demand driven approaches Ensure information/transparency Facilitate linkages between DA at local level and at macro level Engage with actors beyond the comfort zone Move beyond DA and aid and rather invest in societal processes of DA Adequately consider role and limitations as donor Focus on intermediate results

15. … supporting domestic accountability is not a quick fix…

16. Promoting domestic accountability from the outside Integrating PE-analysis into the actual design of support programmes Ensuring institutional change on the donor side to deliver effective support in domestic accountability Investing in concrete processes and mechanisms for accessing, reconciling and enforcing rights and obligations Focusing on incremental change through realistic, cumulative and combined support strategies Main challenges for greater effectiveness in promoting domestic accountability Building coalitions of reform-minded actors (social mobilisation)

17. Four major limitations faced by donor agencies LEGITIMACY CAPACITY INNOVATIVE POWER INSTITUTIONAL INCENTIVES + ++