The Role of Information in Improving Development & Governance Sahr Kpundeh World Bank Institute

Overview of Presentation  Information and Governance -- economic perspective -- governance perspective  Information and Development -- transparency and corruption -- information and accountability -- information and efficiency  WBI’s Media, Information and Governance Program Components -- Media and Information Environment -- Public information capacity -- Media institutions and Capacity -- Development Journalism -- investigative Journalism  Conclusion:

A Steep AscentA Difficult Climb A Steep Ascent & A Difficult Climb Creating Freedom of Information

The ‘Dividend’ of Good Governance Infant Mortality and Corruption WeakAverageGood Control of Corruption x Development Dividend 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 WeakAverageGood Regulatory Burden x Development Dividend Per Capita Income and Regulatory Burden Literacy and Rule of Law WeakAverageGood Rule of Law x Development Dividend Per Capita Income and Voice and Accountability WeakAverageStrong Voice and Accountability x Development Dividend Note: The bars depict the simple correlation between good governance and development outcomes. The line depicts the predicted value when taking into account the causality effects (“Development Dividend”) from improved governance to better development outcomes. For data and methodological details visit

Civil Society Oversight Open Hearings Monitoring Access to Information Freedom of the Press Good Governance Accountability of Political Leadership Disclosure Inspector General/Anti- Corruption Agency Campaign Finance Civil Service Pay Meritocracy Client Information Customs Reform Tariff Simplification Professionalization Reduce Discretion Financial Management Comprehensive Budget Transparency Procurement Reform Independent Audit Economic Policy Deregulation Privatization Competition Policy Reforms for Improving Governance & Combating Corruption Rule of Law Independence from Executive Upgrade Staff Training and Laws ADR Mechanisms

Perspectives on Information  Economic perspective Information about prices More efficient markets  Governance Perspective Information about functioning of public officials Transparency, accountability Better allocation of public resources Information as tool for empowerment

Information from Economic Perspective  Information as a public good  Responsibility of the government to make information available to citizens about economy/markets – publication of data and statistics  Decreases uncertainty in the market. Hence decreases volatility and improves macroeconomic environment

Information & Development  Government’s design sound economic and social policies and implement policies more effectively  Private business/individuals make better choices in private markets  Business/individuals evaluate choices and make better choices in public/political markets  Hold private and public actors accountable by: --affecting reputation -- allowing to monitor with a view to devise penalties and rewards

Media’s role in development  Media as Gatekeeper News filter, determining what public knows Agenda-setting, shaping public discourse Mediator between leaders and public, influencing national debate  Media as Public Watchdog Informs public about issues affecting their wellbeing  Media as Public Conscience Platform for citizen voices Provides feedback on public perceptions of public and private sector leaders’ performance

Information & Governance  Transparency & Corruption – Watchdog role Transparency in Government decisions, public expenditures, and transactions is key to averting corruption Transparency in the award of contracts and licenses is key to making them fair and open Information on public officials in the media provides a useful check on the discretionary exercise of authority

Information & Governance  Transparency & Policy makers –  The provision of information begins to inform by revealing the actions of policymakers.  Making the consequences of those actions known on a timely basis, including through the efforts of academics, analysts and social activist, makes evaluation and monitoring possible, with an associated rise in the contestability of ideas.  As new information on both actions and consequences becomes widely known, the quality of the public debate can improve, with new ideas proposed, and the prospect of holding the government accountable coming into focus.  In so far as citizens can be motivated to raise their level of participation, the scope for public advocacy increases, and communication with the government becomes a two-way flow, generating further demands for more reliable information on economic, financial and institutional processes and outcomes.

Annual GDP Growth (%) Transparency and GDP Growth Source: Annual GDP growth over is taken from WDI 2002; GDP is computed in PPP terms. The various transparency / governance variables drawn from Executive Opinion Survey, 2002.

Information & Governance  Information and Accountability: Gatekeeping role Increases political accountability if politicians have to make information public Increases internal accountability of public officials if they are required to regularly report to policymakers Increases social accountability since citizens can monitor actions of bureaucrats and delivery of services, and participate Especially important to participation and accountability by local governments

US$ per student Intended grant Actual grant received by primary school (means) 1999 Source: Uganda Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys Tracking Education Dollars in Uganda Transparency and Citizen Oversight Public info campaign

Information & Governance  Information & Efficiency: Information transmitter Increases efficiency if information is effectively managed and shared between government departments Important for businesses to function effectively, and for a more stable macroeconomic environment Improves accessibility to public services if information about them is easily available

Information Institutions & Flows Media Citizens Civil Society Private sector Voice & Participation Information Government Central Ministries Local/Municipal Bodies Legislatures (Central & Local) Information Checks & Balance

Information & Governance Politicians/ Policymakers Citizens Bureaucrats Delegation and Voice Political Accountability Delegation of Implementation Internal Accountability Public Goods and Services Client Power/Social Accountability Information Information Information

Challenges  Two broad sets of functions need to work well for this information triangle to work well:  The first comprises the processes for ensuring the production and dissemination of good quality information to underpin civic discourse.  The second comprises the capacities for analysis, interpretation, debate and advocacy within civil society.

Development Effectiveness of Media  Impact of media on development determined by: Autonomy: the industry’s ability to report information without undue fear of being penalized Access to information: the ability of the citizen to obtain information in the possession of the state freely and non- selectively Reach: consumer access to a media source’s information services Quality: the access to and capacity to objectively analyze basic economic, social and political information for news value and truth

WBI’s Media, Information & Governance Program  Needs Assessments, Learning workshops and programs to build capacity in client countries  Target groups: legislators, government information officials, media professionals, civil society  Partners: Local research institutions, media training institutes, international donor partners

WBI’s Media, Information & Governance Program Five Modules Public Information Capacity Media Institutions and Capacity Investigative Journalism Development Journalism Media & Information Environment

Media and Information Environment Many countries have Secrecy laws – Official Secrets Act Conflicts between FOI law and Secrecy laws Freedom of Information Law is a relatively new phenomenon in many countries FOI law provides exemptions, procedures for requests and outlines obligations of public officials for disclosure Provides guarantees against denial of information Also includes freedom of expression Enforcements Mechanisms: Information Commissioners; Ombudsman

Public Information Capacity Even in the presence of FOI law, government agencies need the capacity to make information public Information as a public good. Obligation of public agencies to provide information about citizen rights and entitlements Press Information Departments fulfill this function Limited capacity for information management, processes for information flows Need for both structural solutions – technology for better information management, capacity for dissemination, publications etc. Public Information Campaigns

Public Information Capacity  Importance of the architecture of information - to ensure that the information that is collected is comparable and accessible.  Integrated financial management information systems - to track the use of money within the government. - used in Tanzania, and being implemented in many other African countries.  Computerized audits - to ensure comparability of information on the use of public money across years and to enhance accessibility - used in South Africa. Implemented in Ghana.  Mobilization of non-governmental groups in information gathering - use of service delivery surveys in Uganda and India.

Media Institutions & Capacity Mass media are important intermediaries of public information Political Economy of Media Ownership Political Influence & Independence of the Media Financial Autonomy Media Management Independent media – Print, Community radio, Internet

Development Journalism The Role of the Media in Development Reporting on Poverty Public Service Obligations of Commercial Media State media and Development Balancing Commercial and Public Service Interests Quality and impact of good reporting

Investigative Journalism  Reporting and Writing Skills  Research Skills  Media Ethics  Dealing with political pressures  Uncovering Corruption

Thank You

Q&A and Discussion