AUDITING SOCIAL CHANGE NEW DIRECTIONS? PRESENTATIONBY DR. SAMUEL PAUL AT 6 th GLOBAL FORUM ON REINVENTING GOVERNMENT SEOUL MAY 26, 2005

PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY : WHY THE DEBATE?  Dissatisfaction with state’s performance  Non-responsiveness of monopoly providers  Concern about growing corruption  Failure of existing accountability mechanisms Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

IDEAL Vs. REALITY  We know how the system should work  World Development Report 2004 provides a useful framework  Why does it not work?  Let us see the weak spots Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT FRAMEWORK Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore Barriers to Information Collective action Barriers to Information Collective action Collusion Corruption

CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES  Community Participation in the design and management of local services  Partnerships with influence – eg., BATF  Budget analysis : public participation  Public hearings / Public Interest Litigation (PIL)  Citizen Report Cards: Public agencies and service providers under the scanner Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

CITIZEN REPORT CARDS (CRCs)  An accountability tool based on user feedback on public services  Random sample surveys generate the needed evidence  Findings used for interagency comparisons on key dimensions  CRCs can be a catalyst for reform  Evidence from Bangalore Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

 BMP - The City Municipal Corporation  BESCOM-The Electricity Authority  BWSSB-The Water & Sanitation Board  BDA-Land Development Authority  BMTC-City Transport Company  POLICE-City Police  BSNL-Telecom Department  RTO-Motor Vehicle Office  GOV.Hospital - Government Hospital KEY CITY AGENCIES Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

DECLINE IN PROBLEM INCIDENCE Problem Incidence across Report Cards BMP BESCOM BWSSB POLICE BMTC GOV. HOSPITALS RTO BSNL BDA agency % incidence Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

DECLINE IN CORRUPTION LEVELS Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

RISE IN SATISFACTION LEVEL Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

ENHANCING ACCOUNTABILITY: WHAT THE STATE SHOULD DO?  Strengthen community partnerships in local services/programs  Empower citizens: Role of information  Increase role for independent regulation  Widen the scope of performance audit  Reform the political process Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IN LOCAL SERVICES  Stakeholder participation aids accountability  It speeds up monitoring and corrective action at local level  It reduces the overload on government Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

EMPOWER WITH INFORMATION  Remove information asymmetry  Publicise standards of service, remedies, rights of citizens/users  Increase transparency, access to information  Strengthen supervision for compliance Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

INDEPENDENT REGULATION  Autonomy of Regulator aids accountability  It limits political pressure and collusion  It facilitates transparency  It aids participation and trust  Network of ombudsman needed Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

PERFORMANCE AUDIT  Moving up from compliance to effectiveness  Focus on services for the poor  User feedback on key services a new tool  Audit of information for empowerment  Audit of grievance redressal systems Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

COMPLIANCE Vs. EFFECTIVENESS Weak Internal Systems/controls Poor Service Delivery Weak Internal Systems/controls Effective Service Delivery Strong Internal Systems/controls Poor Service Delivery Strong Internal Systems/controls Effective Service Delivery Low High Compliance PositiveNegative Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore User Feedback

REFORM THE POLITICAL PROCESS  Transparency and integrity in the electoral process are essential  Independent authority for election is an important safeguard  Democracy and transparency in political parties will enhance accountability Samuel Paul, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore

THANK YOU