Accountability is Political: Citizen Monitoring in Tanzania

Rakesh Rajani

U4 Donor Anti-Corruption Meeting

18 September, 2007

1.1 Introduction

Three main challengesNeed to shift focus from policies/plans/

budgets to monitoring implementation/ following the money

Donors not well placed to evaluate, need truly independent evaluations

Governments/donors face inevitable conflict of interest, need third parties to drive accountability

1.2 Introduction

Theory of Change PremisesChange is rarely driven by a

positivistic relation between evidence/ policy and practice/effect

Instead informed and active citizens are essential…

… to act to improve their situations as well as put pressure on governments to account

Outline

Can citizens hold government to account?Seven concrete examples from

HakiElimu’s work What Can Donors do?

4 suggestions

2.1 Media Investigations

PEDP capitation grantKnown not reaching school on timeAll inside the process efforts tried but

no changeMedia covers it from 5 regionsWithin a month Minister visits 4/5

regions and demands action Other media investigation examples

2.2 Media Spots

ApproachKey issues identified from research,

depicted in scenario, questions askedBroadcast nationwide on radio/TV

IssuesProcurement, etc

EffectsUnrivalled reachPublic debate and action

2.3 Media Tips

Problem Valuable information not accessible Within closed door settings not effective (e.g.

audit findings) Approach

Link info holders with disseminators In some cases forward it on (e.g. to media)

Effects 100s stories published Explanations demanded, + in some cases

action as well

2.4 Simplifying Information

Sending information not enough Complex, dense, inaccessible Key points lost In English

HakiElimu simplifies, key points (sees forest from tress), gets it out

Examples PEDP Audit leaflets (2 Years)

2.5 Public competitions

Approach Invite public views and suggestions On a specific hot topic 2004: Corruption in schools

Effects: ‘Sexual corruption’ identified as No 1 Analysis, best entries published Govt tries to dismiss exercise … … which only fuels national debate Now (2007) issues are widely acknowledged

2.6 Monitoring Tools

Approach Citizens monitoring systematically First for use/debate at local levels Then for national compilation

Issues PEDP implementation cf policy Access to information

Effects Local level revelations and debate National level data and understandings (but bans thwarted work)

2.7 Friends of Education

Concept Turning private concern into public action Friends pursue in agenda Esp. historically excluded groups Quarterly mailings, answer questions

Effects 26,000 Friends to date Concept a challenge (development

corrupting?) Some making a difference Their stories inspiring others

In summary

7 examples show public engagement is possible

Focused on implementation and what is happening/not plans

None of the activities explicitly anti-corruption (HakiElimu does not see itself as anti-corruption group)

3.1 What can donors do?

Make Information Public

3.2 What can donors do?

Follow the Money Better

3.3 What can donors do?

Make Evaluations Truly Independent

3.4 What can donors do?

Make Evaluations Truly Independent

3.5 What can donors do?

Innovate/Incentivize accountability