Active citizens, accountable governments

Throughout Latin America a diverse range of interest groups form a vibrant and innovative civil society. These groups are the driving force behind progress towards greater transparency, decentralization of decision-making and consolidation of democracy. However, in a region scarred by decades of authoritarianism and violations of citizens’ rights, the voluntary sector is a motor for renewing the social fabric, building community cohesion and increasing poor people’s capacity to influence their local and national governments. This portfolio of case studies therefore demonstrates the role of civil society in holding public authorities to account and expanding opportunities for public engagement.

The paper details projects such as:

• Save the Children and their partners have trained young people with the skills they need to monitor the public budget in their municipality, using the Cost per Pupil for Quality Education Instrument(CAQI) instrument, to lobby for changes in how the budget is allocated so it reflects local concerns, and to ensure money is spent as promised
  
• ActionAid Brazil and three different partners together developed and implemented a monitoring project for the Maria da Penha Law on curbing domestic violence
  
• World Vision’s Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) pilot project aimed to facilitate the political participation of children (aged 8-12) and youth (aged12-18) in Brazil, within the particular ambit of monitoring government policies on investment in childhood through adapting the CVA methodology specifically for a younger audience
  
• In Peru, HelpAge International and partners worked at the local level to strengthen older people’s associations to know and claim their rights, and to build their technical know-how on pensions.

The paper provides the following recommendations:

• There is need to raise awareness in the community of what the public budget is and why it is so important
  
• Public policy is only valid – and is improved – if citizens can take ownership of policy content, ensure its implementation and improve its mechanisms.