Civil Society, Public Action and Accountability in Africa

This paper examines the potential role of civil society action in increasing state accountability for development in Sub-Saharan Africa. It further develops the analytical framework of the World Development Report 2004 on accountability relationshi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Devarajan, Shantayanan, Khemani, Stuti, Walton, Michael
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
NGO
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110725162228
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3497
id okr-10986-3497
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ACCOUNTABILITY
ACCOUNTABILITY FAILURES
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS
ACCOUNTABILITY RELATIONSHIP
ACCOUNTABILITY RELATIONSHIPS
ACCOUNTING
ACTIVISM
ADVOCACY
ANTI-CORRUPTION
ASSETS
AUDITING
BASIC SERVICES
BEST PRACTICE
BUDGET TRANSPARENCY
BUREAUCRACIES
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
CANDIDATES
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
CHILD POPULATION
CITIZEN DEMANDS
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
CITIZEN REPORT CARD
CITIZENS
CIVIL SOCIETY
CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS
CIVIL SOCIETY CAPACITY
CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
COLLABORATION
COLLECTIVE ACTION
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
COMMUNITY RADIO
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT
COMPLAINT
COMPLAINTS
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
CONSTITUENCY
CONSTITUENTS
CORRUPT
CORRUPTION
CREDIBILITY
CRIMINAL
DECISION MAKING
DECISION-MAKING
DEMOCRACIES
DEMOCRACY
DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES
DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES
DEMOCRATIC REGIMES
DEMOCRATIC VALUES
DEMOCRATIZATION
DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS
DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS
DISTRICT AUTHORITIES
ECONOMIC POLICIES
EDUCATION SECTOR
EDUCATION SERVICE DELIVERY
EDUCATION SYSTEM
ELECTION
ELECTIONS
ELITES
EMPOWERMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
ETHNIC IDENTITY
EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES
FAIR ELECTIONS
FISCAL POLICIES
FRAUD
GAMES
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
GOVERNMENT SERVICES
GOVERNOR
GROUP BASIS
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS
INDEPENDENT MEDIA
INFANT MORTALITY
INFORMATION LAWS
INITIATIVE
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTEREST GROUPS
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTERNATIONAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
INVESTIGATION
JUDICIARIES
JUDICIARY
KNOWLEDGE GAP
LAWS
LEADERSHIP
LEARNING
LEGISLATION
LEGISLATOR
LEGISLATORS
LINE MINISTRIES
LOCAL COMMITTEES
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
LOCAL ELECTIONS
LOCAL GOVERNANCE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
LOCAL GROUPS
LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
LOCAL POLITICIANS
MARGINALIZED GROUPS
MASS MEDIA
MECHANISMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
MEDIA
MEDIA COVERAGE
MOBILIZATION
MONOPOLIES
MONOPOLY
MULTILATERAL DONORS
MULTIPARTY ELECTIONS
NGO
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY
PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
PATRONAGE
PENALTIES
PETTY CORRUPTION
PHONES
POLICE
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY
POLITICAL LEADERS
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
POLITICAL PARTY
POLITICAL POWER
POLITICAL PRESSURES
POLITICAL PROCESS
POLITICAL PROCESSES
POLITICAL STABILITY
POLITICAL SYSTEM
POLITICIAN
POLITICIANS
POVERTY REDUCTION
PREPARATION
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
PRIVATE BUSINESS
PROCUREMENT
PROGRAMMING
PROGRAMS
PROJECT DESIGN
PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY
PUBLIC AWARENESS
PUBLIC FUNDS
PUBLIC GOOD
PUBLIC INTEREST
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC POLICIES
PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM
PUBLIC SERVICES
RECONSTRUCTION
REPRESENTATIVES
REPRESSION
RIGHT TO INFORMATION
RULE OF LAW
SANCTION
SANCTIONS
SCIENTISTS
SELF-HELP
SERVICE DELIVERY
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SOCIAL CAPITAL
SOCIAL COHESION
SOCIAL EXCLUSION
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
STATE GOVERNMENT
TARGET GROUPS
TRADE UNIONS
TRANSPARENCY
TRIALS
VILLAGE
VILLAGES
VIOLENCE
VOTER TURNOUT
spellingShingle ACCOUNTABILITY
ACCOUNTABILITY FAILURES
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS
ACCOUNTABILITY RELATIONSHIP
ACCOUNTABILITY RELATIONSHIPS
ACCOUNTING
ACTIVISM
ADVOCACY
ANTI-CORRUPTION
ASSETS
AUDITING
BASIC SERVICES
BEST PRACTICE
BUDGET TRANSPARENCY
BUREAUCRACIES
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
CANDIDATES
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
CHILD POPULATION
CITIZEN DEMANDS
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
CITIZEN REPORT CARD
CITIZENS
CIVIL SOCIETY
CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS
CIVIL SOCIETY CAPACITY
CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
COLLABORATION
COLLECTIVE ACTION
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
COMMUNITY RADIO
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT
COMPLAINT
COMPLAINTS
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
CONSTITUENCY
CONSTITUENTS
CORRUPT
CORRUPTION
CREDIBILITY
CRIMINAL
DECISION MAKING
DECISION-MAKING
DEMOCRACIES
DEMOCRACY
DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES
DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES
DEMOCRATIC REGIMES
DEMOCRATIC VALUES
DEMOCRATIZATION
DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS
DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS
DISTRICT AUTHORITIES
ECONOMIC POLICIES
EDUCATION SECTOR
EDUCATION SERVICE DELIVERY
EDUCATION SYSTEM
ELECTION
ELECTIONS
ELITES
EMPOWERMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
ETHNIC IDENTITY
EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES
FAIR ELECTIONS
FISCAL POLICIES
FRAUD
GAMES
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
GOVERNMENT SERVICES
GOVERNOR
GROUP BASIS
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS
INDEPENDENT MEDIA
INFANT MORTALITY
INFORMATION LAWS
INITIATIVE
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTEREST GROUPS
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTERNATIONAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
INVESTIGATION
JUDICIARIES
JUDICIARY
KNOWLEDGE GAP
LAWS
LEADERSHIP
LEARNING
LEGISLATION
LEGISLATOR
LEGISLATORS
LINE MINISTRIES
LOCAL COMMITTEES
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
LOCAL ELECTIONS
LOCAL GOVERNANCE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
LOCAL GROUPS
LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
LOCAL POLITICIANS
MARGINALIZED GROUPS
MASS MEDIA
MECHANISMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
MEDIA
MEDIA COVERAGE
MOBILIZATION
MONOPOLIES
MONOPOLY
MULTILATERAL DONORS
MULTIPARTY ELECTIONS
NGO
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY
PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
PATRONAGE
PENALTIES
PETTY CORRUPTION
PHONES
POLICE
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY
POLITICAL LEADERS
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
POLITICAL PARTY
POLITICAL POWER
POLITICAL PRESSURES
POLITICAL PROCESS
POLITICAL PROCESSES
POLITICAL STABILITY
POLITICAL SYSTEM
POLITICIAN
POLITICIANS
POVERTY REDUCTION
PREPARATION
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
PRIVATE BUSINESS
PROCUREMENT
PROGRAMMING
PROGRAMS
PROJECT DESIGN
PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY
PUBLIC AWARENESS
PUBLIC FUNDS
PUBLIC GOOD
PUBLIC INTEREST
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC POLICIES
PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM
PUBLIC SERVICES
RECONSTRUCTION
REPRESENTATIVES
REPRESSION
RIGHT TO INFORMATION
RULE OF LAW
SANCTION
SANCTIONS
SCIENTISTS
SELF-HELP
SERVICE DELIVERY
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SOCIAL CAPITAL
SOCIAL COHESION
SOCIAL EXCLUSION
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
STATE GOVERNMENT
TARGET GROUPS
TRADE UNIONS
TRANSPARENCY
TRIALS
VILLAGE
VILLAGES
VIOLENCE
VOTER TURNOUT
Devarajan, Shantayanan
Khemani, Stuti
Walton, Michael
Civil Society, Public Action and Accountability in Africa
geographic_facet Africa
Africa
Africa
relation Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5733
description This paper examines the potential role of civil society action in increasing state accountability for development in Sub-Saharan Africa. It further develops the analytical framework of the World Development Report 2004 on accountability relationships, to emphasize the underlying political economy drivers of accountability and implications for how civil society is constituted and functions. It argues on this basis that the most important domain for improving accountability is through the political relations between citizens, civil society, and state leadership. The evidence broadly suggests that when higher-level political leadership provides sufficient or appropriate powers for citizen participation in holding within-state agencies or frontline providers accountable, there is frequently positive impact on outcomes. However, the big question remaining for such types of interventions is how to improve the incentives of higher-level leadership to pursue appropriate policy design and implementation. The paper argues that there is substantial scope for greater efforts in this domain, including through the support of external aid agencies. Such efforts and support should, however, build on existing political and civil society structures (rather than transplanting "best practice" initiatives from elsewhere), and be structured for careful monitoring and assessment of impact.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Devarajan, Shantayanan
Khemani, Stuti
Walton, Michael
author_facet Devarajan, Shantayanan
Khemani, Stuti
Walton, Michael
author_sort Devarajan, Shantayanan
title Civil Society, Public Action and Accountability in Africa
title_short Civil Society, Public Action and Accountability in Africa
title_full Civil Society, Public Action and Accountability in Africa
title_fullStr Civil Society, Public Action and Accountability in Africa
title_full_unstemmed Civil Society, Public Action and Accountability in Africa
title_sort civil society, public action and accountability in africa
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110725162228
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3497
_version_ 1764387096660803584
spelling okr-10986-34972021-04-23T14:02:10Z Civil Society, Public Action and Accountability in Africa Devarajan, Shantayanan Khemani, Stuti Walton, Michael ACCOUNTABILITY ACCOUNTABILITY FAILURES ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS ACCOUNTABILITY RELATIONSHIP ACCOUNTABILITY RELATIONSHIPS ACCOUNTING ACTIVISM ADVOCACY ANTI-CORRUPTION ASSETS AUDITING BASIC SERVICES BEST PRACTICE BUDGET TRANSPARENCY BUREAUCRACIES BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS CANDIDATES CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CHILD POPULATION CITIZEN DEMANDS CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT CITIZEN PARTICIPATION CITIZEN REPORT CARD CITIZENS CIVIL SOCIETY CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS CIVIL SOCIETY CAPACITY CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORATION COLLECTIVE ACTION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION COMMUNITY RADIO COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT COMPLAINT COMPLAINTS CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONFLICTS OF INTEREST CONSTITUENCY CONSTITUENTS CORRUPT CORRUPTION CREDIBILITY CRIMINAL DECISION MAKING DECISION-MAKING DEMOCRACIES DEMOCRACY DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES DEMOCRATIC REGIMES DEMOCRATIC VALUES DEMOCRATIZATION DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS DISTRICT AUTHORITIES ECONOMIC POLICIES EDUCATION SECTOR EDUCATION SERVICE DELIVERY EDUCATION SYSTEM ELECTION ELECTIONS ELITES EMPOWERMENT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS ETHNIC IDENTITY EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES FAIR ELECTIONS FISCAL POLICIES FRAUD GAMES GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY GOVERNMENT SERVICES GOVERNOR GROUP BASIS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT HUMAN RIGHTS INDEPENDENT MEDIA INFANT MORTALITY INFORMATION LAWS INITIATIVE INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTEREST GROUPS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS INVESTIGATION JUDICIARIES JUDICIARY KNOWLEDGE GAP LAWS LEADERSHIP LEARNING LEGISLATION LEGISLATOR LEGISLATORS LINE MINISTRIES LOCAL COMMITTEES LOCAL COMMUNITIES LOCAL ELECTIONS LOCAL GOVERNANCE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOCAL GROUPS LOCAL INSTITUTIONS LOCAL POLITICIANS MARGINALIZED GROUPS MASS MEDIA MECHANISMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY MEDIA MEDIA COVERAGE MOBILIZATION MONOPOLIES MONOPOLY MULTILATERAL DONORS MULTIPARTY ELECTIONS NGO ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PATRONAGE PENALTIES PETTY CORRUPTION PHONES POLICE POLICY DISCUSSIONS POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY POLITICAL LEADERS POLITICAL LEADERSHIP POLITICAL PARTICIPATION POLITICAL PARTY POLITICAL POWER POLITICAL PRESSURES POLITICAL PROCESS POLITICAL PROCESSES POLITICAL STABILITY POLITICAL SYSTEM POLITICIAN POLITICIANS POVERTY REDUCTION PREPARATION PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS PRIVATE BUSINESS PROCUREMENT PROGRAMMING PROGRAMS PROJECT DESIGN PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY PUBLIC AWARENESS PUBLIC FUNDS PUBLIC GOOD PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC OPINION PUBLIC POLICIES PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM PUBLIC SERVICES RECONSTRUCTION REPRESENTATIVES REPRESSION RIGHT TO INFORMATION RULE OF LAW SANCTION SANCTIONS SCIENTISTS SELF-HELP SERVICE DELIVERY SERVICE PROVIDERS SOCIAL CAPITAL SOCIAL COHESION SOCIAL EXCLUSION SOCIAL NETWORKS SOCIAL ORGANIZATION SOCIAL STRUCTURES STATE GOVERNMENT TARGET GROUPS TRADE UNIONS TRANSPARENCY TRIALS VILLAGE VILLAGES VIOLENCE VOTER TURNOUT This paper examines the potential role of civil society action in increasing state accountability for development in Sub-Saharan Africa. It further develops the analytical framework of the World Development Report 2004 on accountability relationships, to emphasize the underlying political economy drivers of accountability and implications for how civil society is constituted and functions. It argues on this basis that the most important domain for improving accountability is through the political relations between citizens, civil society, and state leadership. The evidence broadly suggests that when higher-level political leadership provides sufficient or appropriate powers for citizen participation in holding within-state agencies or frontline providers accountable, there is frequently positive impact on outcomes. However, the big question remaining for such types of interventions is how to improve the incentives of higher-level leadership to pursue appropriate policy design and implementation. The paper argues that there is substantial scope for greater efforts in this domain, including through the support of external aid agencies. Such efforts and support should, however, build on existing political and civil society structures (rather than transplanting "best practice" initiatives from elsewhere), and be structured for careful monitoring and assessment of impact. 2012-03-19T18:03:30Z 2012-03-19T18:03:30Z 2011-07-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110725162228 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3497 English Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5733 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Africa Africa Africa