Public Services and Social

Accountability Accountability

Dr. R Balasubramaniam

Founder, Swami Vivekananda Youth

Movement

Definitions

• “A proactive process by which public officials

inform about and justify their plans of action,

their behavior and results and are sanctioned

accordingly.” accordingly.”

• “An approach towards building accountability

that relies on civic engagement, i.e. in which it Is

ordinary citizens and/or civil society organizations

who participate directly or indirectly in exacting

accountability.(World Bank)

Dr. R Balasubramaniam,

SVYM1/12/2012

• Relies on Civic Engagement, in which ordinary

citizens or CSOs participate directly or

indirectly to exact accountability.

How does it function

indirectly to exact accountability.

• Eg: Participatory budgeting, social audits,

citizen report cards, community score cards.

Dr. R Balasubramaniam, SVYM1/12/2012

Benefits

• Improved Governance, Increased development

effectiveness through better service delivery, effectiveness through better service delivery,

and empowerment

Dr. R Balasubramaniam,

SVYM1/12/2012

How can this be achieved

• By enhancing the capacities – skills, attitudes • By enhancing the capacities – skills, attitudes

and behaviors of Government and civil society

actors.

Dr. R Balasubramaniam,

SVYM1/12/2012

A practical approach

• Need a careful understanding of the political,

administrative, historical and social context

• Take into account appropriate entry points• Take into account appropriate entry points

• Explore possible synergy between state and

society

Contd..

Dr. R Balasubramaniam,

SVYM1/12/2012

• Have the right mix of social accountability

tools

• See how these new practices integrates with • See how these new practices integrates with

formal accountability mechanisms,

institutional arrangements and incentive

structures for public servants

Dr. R Balasubramaniam, SVYM1/12/2012

Parameters to think about when designing a

social accountability initiative:

• Incentive structure – punishment vs reward-

based approaches

• Accountability for what? Rule following versus

performance orientationperformance orientation

• Level of Institutionalization – the extent to

which the participation of citizens is

institutionalized in the law or by other formal

means

Contd…Dr. R Balasubramaniam,

SVYM1/12/2012

• Depth of involvement – the degree to which

citizens are permitted to observe and

participate in areas of government normally

kept secret or out of reach or society

• Inclusiveness of participation – the extent to

which participation is limited to only “well which participation is limited to only “well

behaved” or socially acceptable groups from

civil society or opened up to a wide variety of

actors

Dr. R Balasubramaniam, SVYM1/12/2012

• Branches of Government – whether target of

effort is executive, legislature, or judiciary.

• Accountability is limited to merely a negative

connotation – desisting from corrupt

practices. It needs to be seen in the light of

the affirmative task of effective performance

and proactive decision making.

Dr. R Balasubramaniam,

SVYM1/12/2012

Final words

• To be accountable is to work with society and

accounting agencies to improve government

honesty and performance instead of doing

one’s best to hide from scrutiny. one’s best to hide from scrutiny.

• This proactive behavior that accountability

demands requires dialogue, explanation and

justification.

Dr. R Balasubramaniam,

SVYM1/12/2012

Thank you!

Dr. R Balasubramaniam,

SVYM1/12/2012