SDC – World Bank SDV (Social Development Vicepresidency) Partnership on Social Accountability for Poverty Reduction Strategies

• Forschungsstelle: DEZA
• Projektnummer: 7F-03373.01
• Projekttitel Englisch: Partnership SDC-WB Social Development

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Social Accountability

Civil Society Participation in Planning, Implementation and Monitoring

PRSP

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

As more and more countries are implementing their Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) both the World Bank and SDC stress the importance of accountability mechanisms, that enhance the efforts of citizens to hold their governments (and other power holders) accountable and to respond to their citizens demands and needs. The Social Accountability (SAc) agenda reflects the attention to issues of governance, empowerment and rights-based approaches to development. PRS processes should encourage the active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, including local governments, parliamentarians, the media, as well as civil society organisations and concerned citizen and community groups. They should contribute to the institutionalisation of participatory approaches and democratic dialogues in the countries.

 

The intended focus of the knowledge partnership is on the issue of strengthening accountability relationships between Government (administration and elected bodies), citizens, civil society and private sector actors in the implementation and the monitoring of PRS at the national, regional or local level.

Projektziele (Englisch)

Both partners agree to the following objectives of the knowledge partnership:

 To foster within their own organisations and in selected client countries a better understanding, the critical skills and the commitment to help building  SA mechanisms for the implementation of PRS.

 

A review and analysis of experiences will be carried regularly for the pilot country cases and for similar experiences in other PRSP countries. The intended products are country/initiative related case studies and a comprehensive synthesis review paper of the experiences made. In addition to individual publications and the use thereof in learning events by each partner, WB and SDC intend to use these products for joint publication.

Umsetzung und Anwendungen (Englisch)

The discussion at the national, regional and international level is enriched by our papers.

 

Both institutions will integrate the documents, publications and learning tools in their general knowledge management related to Participation in PRSP. SDV will ensure to make it available for staff and client learning through related WBI programs or other programs. Furthermore, skills enhancement and capacity development activities for staff from client countries and field staff from the partners’ organisation will most likely occur in partnership with other organisations (such as WBI). The results of the knowledge partnership program will be presented in both organizations, at other international fora and to other organisations, as interest is stated.

The range of learning events to be carried out could comprise:

• Country related clinics to familiarise Bank/SDC and client staff with SA
• Cross-country or regional workshops to share and analyse the experiences and evolving practices among practitioners from a range of countries and initiatives,
• An international learning event to be jointly held bringing together practitioners and interested colleagues from both partners and from other development organisations,
• Internal workshops/learning events in Bern or Washington, where partner organisations could be associated (for example learning and exchange event for the NGOs).