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Session ObjectivesAt the end of the session the participants will be able
to:• Explain the concept of accountability • Explain reasons why accountability is important• Analyse approaches of accountability• Create linkages between accountability and public
service delivery
Session Outline
• Meaning of Accountability and social accountability
• Accountability and obligation• Importance of accountability• Approaches of accountability• Linkages accountability and public service
delivery• Case on accountability/responsiveness
Accountability• Is a key component of governance• Is being answerable for what is done• Can be defined as the obligation of power-
holders to account for or take responsibility for their actions.
• Government organisations, administrators are accountable to citizens, users of public services and the law
Accountability and Obligation
• Every accountability relationship begins with an obligation.
• If there is no obligation, there is no accountability to enforce.
• When political candidates are elected to public office and government officials accept executive positions, – they are not supposed to have free reign to do as they
wish. – Instead, they take on certain obligations when they step
into their positions of power.
Kinds of obligation• Political (people, constituents)• Financial• Managerial• Administrative • Ethical/ moral• Performance( making progress towards goals)
Government Officials/power holders responsible • Their conduct—they must obey the law and not
abuse their powers. • Their performance—they must serve the public
interest in an efficient, effective and fair manner.• All states have some form of mechanisms to
promote or ensure accountability of public actors
Social Accountability• Civic engagement in the process of making state
accountable• Ordinary citizens participate directly or indirectly in
holding service providers to account• Public officials are called on to inform stakeholders
and to justify to them their behavior, actions and results.
Importance of Social Accountability
• Better governance • Efficient public service delivery • Engaging citizens • Ensuring rights of WPE• Empowering WPEs
Approaches
• Individual: ethical, personal obligation • Institutional: political, administrative,
legal• Collective: civil society, informal group,
community
How accountability improves public service delivery ?
Individual (Service
Provider)
Individual (Service
Provider)
Institutional (Structure
and system)
Institutional (Structure
and system)
Collective(Society,
WPEs, CSOs)
Collective(Society,
WPEs, CSOs)
Social AccountabilitySocial Accountability
Capacity building Capacity building
Empowerment, awareness, experience sharing
Empowerment, awareness, experience sharing
Revisit, restructureRevisit, restructure
Improved public service delivery
Improved public service delivery
Accountability relationship - usersPolicy MakersPolicy Makers
UsersUsers ProvidersProviders
VoiceVoice
Client powerClient power
Service compactService compact
Indirect channelIndirect channel
Direct channelDirect channel
IntermediaryIntermediary
Bridging mechanism of accountability
Demand Side
Citizen
Demand Side
Citizen
Supply side
State
(Central and Local)
Supply side
State
(Central and Local)
IntermediaryCSOsMediaPrivate sectorI/NGOs Political partiesCivil society
IntermediaryCSOsMediaPrivate sectorI/NGOs Political partiesCivil society
Features of Democratic Accountability• Human Rights – existing covenants to which the GoN has
agreed• Relationships – politicians, civil servants , citizens – who is
accountable to whom?• Responsibility – are people ready to be held to account for
something that the government has done?• Power – the need for checks and balances in places where
people exert power• Participation – does this open up spaces for new actors and
new roles?• Transparency – the need for access to information to support
accountability• Rule of law – need for clear consequences of misconduct
and/or negligence
The philosophy : SA
• The philosophy behind social accountability centers on the role of empowerment and information in enhancing government commitment and service delivery.
How
• Building social accountability through community mobilization, training, dialogue and collective actions.
• Social accountability engages social movements that demands accountability through mechanisms
The SA8000® standard• The SA8000® standard • It is one of the world’s first auditable social
certification standards for decent workplaces, across all sectors(industry).
• It is based on conventions of the ILO, UN and national laws.
• The SA8000® standard spans industry and corporate codes to create a common language for measuring social compliance
SA8000® Elements• Child Labor• Forced and Compulsory Labor• Health and Safety• Freedom of Association and Right to Collective
Bargaining• Discrimination• Disciplinary Practices: Treat all personnel with dignity and
respect
• Working Hours ( 48 hrs/week) • Remuneration (wages sufficient to meet basic needs )
• Management Systems