Communication in Governance PREM Core Course Public Sector Governance April 2007 Paul Mitchell...

Communication in Governance PREM Core Course Public Sector Governance

April 2007

Paul Mitchell

Development Communication DivisionThe World Bank

External Affairs Vice Presidency

Communication in Governance

Several Approaches: Political risks around the governance

issue in country Communication component in

governance projects Public Sphere Communication as a sector in

governance


Defining Political Risk

“…effective political risk analysis is not just a question of evaluating a country risk. Instead, risk assessment must identify the implications of social, political and economic conditions of each particular development intervention.

The key to analyzing the political risks facing a project is to identify the winners and losers and assess their relative ability to help or hinder a project, whether directly or by influencing others.”


Political risk is highly contextual

Issue Time Place Who is involved External environment


Dimensions of political risk

Who is involved? What influence can they exert? Will they use it and to what

degree? What impact will it have?


Political risk is DYNAMIC

Unlike other analysis – financial, social, environmental

Political risk analysis can change very quickly


Project Cycle

PRSP

&

CAS

Identification Preparation Appraisal Approval Evaluation

Implementation

Country Portfolio Review

Analysis

Communication Program Performance and Impact Evaluation

Strategy and Communication

Component Design

Client Survey

Project Cycle Phase

DevComm Program Phase

• Communication Based Assessment

• Socio Political Risk Assessment

• Consultation schemes

• Public Opinion Research

• Project Document Inputs

• Communication Program Implementation Plan

• Capacity building

• Technical Assistance

• Advice

• Supervision

Interventions and Products

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS

Communication Program

Implementation

Monitoring and

Evaluation

Research


Communications Based Assessment

Usually shows one or all of three issues needs to be changed:

Design of project Process Communication


Public Sphere

Entry point for discussion about governance in a country:

Mediates between society and the state. Ability of state to address and listen to

citizens; citizens to form interest groups; free media;

Embedded in an environment that gives actors rights, duties and opportunities.


Power of Media in Development Local media, particularly radio, carry information &

encourage commerce in geographically isolated markets Growing global media can move currency markets and

international trade Can provide info on political markets, exposing corrupt and

unethical politicians and giving people platform to voice diverse opinions on governance and reform

Can inform poor and marginalized people, giving them a voice

With higher literacy rates, lower printing costs, and new broadcast technologies, media can reach even further


Role of Media: Improving Governance The media acts as the disseminator of information

about government - expenditures, laws, right and obligations of citizens etc.and can also make transparent the information that government sends or puts out. It also acts as watchdog on government

It plays the important role of providing information to enable informed audiences who can then participate in development policy discussions (National Plans, CAS) - it carries that information both about process and content

The media is useful in building trust in institutions (like the WB) and faith in the product (development)


Fighting Corruption: Another LookAnti-corruption: Rely on legal and financial institutions –judiciary, police, financial

auditors–to enforce and enhance accountability in the public sector. However, in many poor countries, these institutions are weak and among the most corrupt

A complementary approach takes the users of public services as a starting point. Rather than attempting to increase service providers’ accountability to policymakers alone, the idea is to also engage citizens at the bottom of the public service delivery chain by providing them with easy access to information on the workings of public programs intended for their benefit

In this way, citizens will be empowered to demand certain standards and monitor and challenge abuses by officials they interact with in their daily lives

Improving public access to information is a crucial part in this bottom-up strategy


Empowered Communication Environment

Communication as sector: Reform government communication Parliamentary communication Decentralized communication Improve functioning of private media The legal environment for

communication How do people receive information


Empowered Communication Environment cont’d

How do people receive information Civil society Academia Social media and the citizen

journalist New technology

Communication in Governance PREM Core Course Public Sector Governance April 2007 Paul Mitchell...

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