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21. Open Government in Education: Learning from Social Audits in India

Author:
Kiran Bhatty
Publication Date:
06-2021
Content Type:
Case Study
Institution:
Centre for Policy Research, India
Abstract:
This study looks at the first social audit of education undertaken in India, under the aegis of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). It was conducted as a pilot project across ten states of India. Social auditing is a powerful method for increasing open government, which relies on citizens as the primary agents. It is built on the principle that information increases engagement of citizens and helps to establish their priorities. Based on this, citizens can act as effective monitors of their entitlements.The study reviews two of the ten sites where social auditing has been implemented to learn from the different stakeholders what the achievements and challenges were. It argues that for such citizen-led monitoring to take place, tools and processes of engagement, as well as platforms for citizen-government interaction, are required. These are the elements that the social audit methodology strives to provide. In addition, as many communities may not be equipped to initiate and sustain such processes, a facilitating organization or agency is necessary, at least in the initial period, before social auditing can be institutionalized. In order to close the feedback loop, follow-up with the government is also essential. The analysis underscores the importance of citizens having direct access to information and to platforms that allow them to dialogue with the State. It demonstrates that accountability can be established through such processes and that they can lead to empowerment of marginalised social groups, such as women. However, they require investment in time and resources to get started and then to keep on going. A commitment from government agencies to pursue strategies that facilitate access to information and citizen engagement, as well as provide follow-up are, therefore, the core requisites for a successful social audit. At the same time, a non-confrontational approach that favours building bridges and working collaboratively with government actors also plays an important role in making social audits work.
Topic:
Education, Government, Accountability, Audit, Civic Engagement, and Monitoring
Political Geography:
South Asia and India

22. Beyond the Numbers: How qualitative approaches can improve monitoring of humanitarian action

Author:
Amelie Sundberg
Publication Date:
06-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
This paper looks at potential ways to improve the capture and uptake of qualitative data in monitoring of humanitarian programmes. The first section of the paper dispels three pervasive myths about the use of qualitative approaches in the humanitarian sector. The second section of the paper identifies promising practice used by humanitarian agencies when monitoring their programmes. This section should provide readers with ideas on how they can improve their qualitative approaches to monitoring within their own organisation. They should be considered as a menu of options to try depending on the varying context, capacities and monitoring needs of organisations, projects and teams. This is one of a three-part series of ALNAP papers about monitoring in humanitarian action. These three papers address specific challenges to monitoring humanitarian action as identified by ALNAP Members in the previous Scoping Paper. The series of papers look to inform humanitarian practitioners interested in using qualitative approaches for programme results monitoring, including M&E advisors and managers, technical sectoral leads and programme decision-makers.
Topic:
International Organization, Qualitative Research, Monitoring, and Humanitarian Response
Political Geography:
Global Focus

23. Back to the Drawing Board: How to improve monitoring of outcomes

Author:
Neil Dillon and Amelie Sundberg
Publication Date:
06-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
How can organisations provide holistic, meaningful analysis of the outcomes achieved by their activities? How can they situate their programming among the changes taking place around them? How can they understand the full set of changes experienced by an individual affected by crisis? This paper aims to encourage humanitarian agencies to step back and reflect on what is currently being done to measure outcomes and how it can be improved in the future. It starts by identifying core assumptions and foundational thinking behind current monitoring systems. It then outlines issues arising from current practice, and concludes by raising questions about to think about this differently.
Topic:
International Organization, Monitoring, and Humanitarian Response
Political Geography:
Global Focus

24. Shifting Mindsets | Section 3: Systems for greater flexibility

Author:
Alice Obrecht
Publication Date:
09-2019
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
This standalone section of the ALNAP study 'Shifting mindsets: creating a more flexible humanitarian response' focuses on organisational systems to support flexibility. This is one of the three pillars that flexibility relies upon according to this research and also one of the starting points to make humanitarian responses more flexible. It covers flexible approaches in: logistics, supply chain and procurement systems; programme design and programme cycle management; and monitoring of these systems.
Topic:
Procurement, Logistics, Supply Chains, Monitoring, Humanitarian Response, and Flexibility
Political Geography:
Global Focus

25. Monitoreo Fiscal Evolución de las Cuentas Públicas 2016

Author:
Fernando Ovando
Publication Date:
03-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Centro de Análisis y Difusión de la Economía Paraguaya (CADEP)
Abstract:
El CADEP presenta el Monitoreo Fiscal Evolución de las Cuentas Públicas que consiste en un instrumento que busca la transparencia y el acceso a la información de las cuentas públicas para dar a conocer a todos los ciudadanos, los orígenes y asignaciones de los recursos públicos. Esto equivale, en términos sencillos, a conocer cuáles son los ingredientes de la torta fiscal y como se distribuye entre todos los invitados. En esta publicación se presenta la evolución de los ingresos tributarios, teniendo en cuenta los principales tipos de impuestos. Posteriormente, se desglosan los gastos de la administración central, entre los gastos operativos y las inversiones, para entender no solamente la evolución si no el peso total de los mismos dentro de la estructura presupuestaria.
Topic:
Budget, Fiscal Policy, Transparency, Public Spending, and Monitoring
Political Geography:
South America and Paraguay

26. Monitoreo fiscal: Evolución de las cuentas públicas del 2003 al 2015

Author:
Julio Ramírez and Gerardo Benítez
Publication Date:
03-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Centro de Análisis y Difusión de la Economía Paraguaya (CADEP)
Abstract:
La evolución de las cuentas públicas en el Paraguay en los últimos 12 años es objeto del último informe de Monitoreo Fiscal, una publicación del Observatorio Fiscal y Presupuestario (OFIP).En el mismo se analiza la estructura de los ingresos del Estado y su comportamiento de acuerdo a los diferentes tipos de tributos e ingresos no tributarios. También se aborda el tema de los gastos públicos, con énfasis en los gastos sociales. Finalmente se describen los resultados fiscales en todo el período considerado.
Topic:
Budget, Fiscal Policy, Public Spending, and Monitoring
Political Geography:
South America and Paraguay

27. Challenges to Developing a Global Satellite Climate Monitoring System

Author:
Mariel Borowitz
Publication Date:
07-2014
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM)
Abstract:
Satellites are critical to the ability to understand and address climate change, due to their unique ability to provide comprehensive global monitoring of the environment. More than 30 nations have been involved in satellite Earth observations, with more than 200 satellite instruments operating in 2014 alone. However, gaps remain in the ability to adequately monitor global climate change, due in part to a lack of international consensus on the definition of an adequate monitoring system. This paper examines ongoing international efforts to identify the requirements of a global satellite climate monitoring system, including high-level efforts by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS), as well as efforts to define more detailed technical requirements being undertaken by GCOS, WMO, and the European Space Agency (ESA). Comparing the distinct processes and interim results of these groups highlights the lack of international consensus on the definition of an adequate global climate monitoring system. Developing such a system is a complex, multifaceted challenge, which requires expert technical knowledge of climate science and satellite capabilities as well as attention to political concerns for sovereignty and long-term international cooperation. The paper examines the adequacy of the current satellite monitoring capabilities by developing a comprehensive dataset including all unclassified Earth observation satellites operating or planned between 1990 and 2020. This analysis shows that within each international effort, gaps in the type of data collected are present. Even when some data is collected on a particular variable, it is not necessarily done in a way that meets technical requirements for climate assessment and forecasting. A lack of free and open data sharing compounds this challenge, further decreasing the amount of data contributing to international climate monitoring efforts. The lack of consensus on the requirements of a global climate monitoring system makes it difficult for nations to use international coordination mechanisms to plan and prioritize future satellite systems. The paper concludes by providing a series of recommended steps to improve harmonization among international efforts. This includes coordinating the bottom-up method used within GCOS with the top-down method used at WMO to identify concrete recommendations that will allow nations to prioritize investments that improve climate monitoring and/or improve the efficiency of the existing system. It recommends consolidating international efforts to define technical requirements to avoid duplication and facilitate prioritization among user groups with regard to which variables should be collected and what technical requirements must be met. A more systematic and integrated approach to system definition will make it possible for nations to shift and/or increase investments in satellite technology to better address agreed-upon needs and priorities.
Topic:
Climate Change, Science and Technology, Governance, Satellite, and Monitoring
Political Geography:
Global Focus

28. Bureaucratic delay, local-level monitoring, and delivery of small infrastructure projects: Evidence from a field experiment in Bolivia

Author:
Carlos Gustavo Machicado and Monica Yanez-Pagans
Publication Date:
06-2012
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Institute for Advanced Development Studies (INESAD)
Abstract:
This paper examines bureaucratic delay within the allocation of small infrastructure projects by sub-municipal governments in Bolivia, and it presents a randomized field experiment designed to improve public service delivery by promoting voice, transparency, and accountability among grassroots organizations. The experiment consists of randomly providing sub-municipal governments with a mailing tracking system, which provides public officials and grassroots organizations realtime information about the processing of small infrastructure projects requests by sub-municipal governments. The objective of this intervention is twofold. First, is to facilitate the involvement of grassroots organizations in the process of reviewing, tracking, and monitoring small infrastructure project allocations. Second, is to explicitly alter the probability of detecting inefficient administrative practices within district councils and, therefore, to implicitly increase the expected cost of engaging in such practices among public officials. The findings of this paper suggest that monitoring tools that promote access to information by citizens might play a critical role in improving public service delivery outcomes. Yet, in settings where mechanisms of local accountability are subject to be captured by local elites or are weak, monitoring tools might have limited capacity to improve outcomes. In such settings, major transparency related reforms might be needed to improve public service delivery outcomes.
Topic:
Accountability, Transparency, Bureaucracy, and Monitoring
Political Geography:
South America and Bolivia

29. Monitoreo Fiscal Nº 3. Enero – Setiembre 2009

Author:
Julio Ramírez
Publication Date:
11-2009
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Centro de Análisis y Difusión de la Economía Paraguaya (CADEP)
Abstract:
Con esta edición llegamos a la tercera entrega del Monitoreo Fiscal, importante material dirigido a los ciudadanos y a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil para facilitar una mejor comprensión sobre el origen de los recursos del Estado, la aplicación y la asignación de los mismos a los diferentes tipos de gastos e inversiones. Este número abarca el periodo comprendido entre Enero – Setiembre de 2002 al 2009, y presenta un análisis de los principales ingresos tanto tributarios como no tributarios de la Administración Central, poniendo especial énfasis en los principales impuestos recaudados en el periodo. De la misma forma, se analiza la ejecución de los gastos de la Administración Central desglosados por sus distintos componentes, ya sean estos corrientes o de capital así como los gastos funcionales que abarcan fundamentalmente los gastos sociales y no sociales. La misma, se publica en el marco del Observatorio Fiscal y Presupuestario (OFIP), iniciativa del Centro de Análisis y Difusión de la Economía Paraguaya (CADEP).
Topic:
Economy, Fiscal Policy, Public Spending, and Monitoring
Political Geography:
South America and Paraguay

30. Monitoreo Fiscal 9: Noviembre 2008

Author:
Julio Ramírez
Publication Date:
11-2008
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Centro de Análisis y Difusión de la Economía Paraguaya (CADEP)
Abstract:
El Monitoreo Fiscal es preparado en el marco del proyecto Observatorio Fiscal y Presupuestario (OFIP), iniciativa del Centro de Análisis y Difusión de la Economía Paraguaya (CADEP), con el apoyo de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID). El proyecto tiene por objetivo facilitar la interpretación de los datos e informaciones de las finanzas públicas para alentar la participación ciudadana en el seguimiento de los gastos e ingresos fiscales, poniendo énfasis en la transparencia, eficiencia y equidad fiscal.
Topic:
Budget, Economy, Fiscal Policy, and Monitoring
Political Geography:
South America and Paraguay