Governance Assessments and Social Accountability Angelita Gregorio-Medel ANSA-EAP October 2011, Oslo

Governance Assessment tools applied in participatory approaches Needs Assessment Mobilization Negotiation Monitoring

Examining governance assessment tools All of the tools build social accountability by the practice of active participation. Governance assessment tools make for more informed citizen action More effective when stakeholders engage each other constructively (sustained dialogues and creative problem solving)

Creating meaningful citizen participation through SAc Social accountability (SAc) is constructive engagement x citizen monitoring SAc = (CE x CM) a Organized and capable citizen groups Responsive government Access to information Context and cultural appropriateness

Tools for governance assessment and SAc Citizen report cards Citizen charters Integrity pacts Community-based monitoring Procurement monitoring Information-Communication- Technology

Checkmyschool.org Communities + ICT Online platform to enhance transparency and access Community mobilization to validate info

Lessons in SAc Practice constructive engagement helps citizens to access information and vice-versa. community monitoring and evaluation is more effective if it is done by organized & capable citizen groups

community monitoring and assessment initiatives o Make for a more compelling and credible advocacy based on evidence o Provide grounded and sharper analysis o Link claimed accomplishments to outcomes and results o Clarify messages to targeted publics o Help set up clear and simple engagement protocols: linking with the media and formal process to hold government to account o Mobilizes more participants