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Demanding good governance: lessons from social accountability initiatives in Africa

Good governance and social accountability in Africa: what can be learned? 

Authors: M. McNeil (ed); C. Malena (ed); World Bank Institute
Publisher: World Bank Institute, World Bank, 2010

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Accountability is the cornerstone of good governance. The combined effects of the global economic crisis, climate change and influence and power relationships between the developed and developing worlds require African countries to re-evaluate their governance structures. This book looks at the demand for good governance on the continent through citizen actions to hold the governments to account. It focuses on the accountability of public power holders to ordinary citizens. Governments have internal mechanisms to promote or ensure accountability of public servants, including political, fiscal, administrative and legal mechanisms. Social accountability strategies and tools help empower ordinary citizens to exercise their inherent rights and to hold governments accountable for its use of public funds and how it exercises authority.

The book defines social accountability in practice and its importance in the African context. It presents case studies from African countries, drawing on initiatives launched and implemented both by civil society groups and by local and national governments in countries with different political contexts and cultures. The
The case studies demonstrate that social accountability approaches are influenced by:

  • Political context, culture, and will - Opportunities for social accountability are greater where the political regime is democratic, the rule of law is respected, power is decentralized, and basic political rights are guaranteed
  • Legal and policy frameworks are essential to enabling and sustaining social accountability
  • Socio-cultural and economic factors have an important collective influence on factors such as citizens’ expectations and relations with the state.
The book presents the following lessons learned from the case studies about social accountability:
  • Invest in awareness raising and capacity building
  • Seek broad-based, multi-stakeholder involvement
  • Inclusiveness is essential, albeit elusive
  • Political analysis and timing are important
  • Impact is greatest when strategies are multidimensional and system-wide
  • Flexibility and innovation are critical
  • Pay attention to incentives and sanctions.