1. Voice and local governance in the developing world: What is done, to what effect, and why?   Matthew Andrews and Anwar Shah

2. Background Reform trends: Combine them: Decentralization
Participation and empowerment
Institutionalization
Combine them:
Laws requiring decentralized entities to adopt and implement participatory mechanisms into their governance processes

3. Participation and voice
Voice…an idea from the private to the public sector
We think it is a ‘force’ to help enhance government accountability, performance
How release it?
VOICE MECHANISMS
Elections, public meetings, participatory budget processes, complaint procedures, etc.

4. Research questions
What is done? What mechanisms are available to facilitate the expression of citizen ‘voice’?
To what effect? What kinds of ‘voice expression’ are evident in different cases where mechanisms have been adopted?
Why? What factors seem to influence voice expression?

5. Methodology
Literature-based study of over 50 cases where voice mechanisms adopted
Some analyzed in depth
South African study
Quantitative (273 municipalities)
Qualitative (GTZ cases, site visits, s)
Triangulation

6. What is done? To what effect? Why?
Many voice mechanisms in place around the world
Conventional categorization
But even within categories many differences
New way of categorization etc. needed

7. What is done? To what effect? Why?
Categorize voice mechanisms in terms of effect, or type of voice expression…
Two dimensions:
1. Focus: Whose voice is given expression?
narrow—broad
empowerment— utilitarian continuum
2. Influence: How much influence does the expressed voice(s) carry?

8. What is done? To what effect? Why?
Voice
High
Influence
Narrow focus,
Broad focus,
High influence
High influence
Narrow focus,
Broad focus,
Low influence
Low influence
Low
Narrow
Broad
Voice focus

9. What is done? To what effect? Why?
Link to accountability effect
Where low influence: No accountability gains
Where high influence but narrow focus: narrow accountability effect and chance of government capture
Where high influence and broad focus: broad accountability effect, greatest potential for all-around empowerment
Note: Different voice expression effects through voice mechanisms
Question: What factors influence effects?

10. What is done? To what effect? Why?
The voice mechanism adopted
Mechanisms design details:
mechanism access, ability to participate, the participation agenda, and the approach to assessing participation through the mechanism
Voice transmission mediums
Politics and administrative influence
Socio-economics and social structures

11. Conclusion
Many voice mechanism types and effects: Few empower broadly (some may have negative effects)
Some factors can be identified as influencing voice expression potential
Note: All governments different (in need for voice expression, in opportunity for voice expression)
Challenge = consider influencing factors and develop voice mechanisms relevant to government needs, opportunities
In default (when led by Bank’s empowerment agenda only): Need to do more to develop voice mechanisms that empower