Democratic Governance and MDGs: Holding Governments Accountable

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Democratic Governance and MDGs Holding
Governments Accountable

• Joachim Nahem
• Governance Specialist

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1. Familiarization with key concepts and terms
e.g. democratic governance (DG), MDGs,
accountability, human rights based approach to
development (HRBA), 2. Understanding linkages
between DG and poverty reduction/development and
the role of civil society3. How to use tools
and resources e.g. empowerment checklist, human
rights lens of analysis, disaggregated data, etc.

• Objectives of Thematic Session F

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Millennium Declaration and MDGs

• We will spare no effort to promote democracy and
  strengthen the rule of law, as well as respect
  for all internationally recognized human rights
  and fundamental freedoms, including the right to
  development..
• Freedom Men and women have the right to live
  their lives and raise their children in dignity,
  free from hunger and from the fear of violence,
  oppression
• or injustice. Democratic and participatory
  governance based on the will of the people best
  assures these rights.
• -Millennium Declaration 2000

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UNDP Administrator

For me, one of the key points is that
development is not primarily about charity its
about empowerment, human rights, participation,
democracy.Statement by Kemal Dervis, March 2006
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What do we mean by Democratic Governance?

• Peoples human rights and fundamental freedoms
  are respected,
• allowing them to live with dignity
• People have a say in decisions that affect
  their lives
• People can hold decision-makers accountable
• Inclusive and fair rules, institutions and
  practices govern social
• interactions
• Women are equal partners with men in private
  and public spheres of life
• and decision-making
• People are free from discrimination based on
  race, ethnicity, class,
• gender or any other attribute
• The needs of future generations are reflected
  in current policies
• Economic and social policies are responsive to
  peoples needs and
• aspirations. Policies aim at eradicating
  poverty and expanding the
• choices that all people have in their lives

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Inclusive Participation

• Fostering inclusive participation
• Empowering the poor, women, youth, indigenous
  peoples, and other marginalized groups, through
  expanding the core channels of civic engagement,
  at the national, regional and local levels.
• Civic engagement is strengthened, thereby
  empowering all people to influence public
  policies, through voluntary groups, social
  movements, trade unions, civic associations,
  political parties, private sector organizations,
  and citizens audits.
• Effective electoral channels are improved,
  including electoral laws, processes and
  institutions, strengthening inclusive
  participation.
• Inclusive communication channels are expanded,
  including e-governance, independent journalism,
  and access to information policies, promoting
  government accountability and transparency.

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Responsive Institutions

• Strengthen responsive institutions
• Ensuring that the state reflects and serves the
  needs, priorities, and interests of all people,
  including women, the poor, youth, and minorities,
  by promoting the core governing institutions of
  representation and accountability at the
  national, regional and local levels.
• Government develops greater capacity to deliver
  public goods and services, to regulate markets,
  and to achieve the MDGs, effective economic
  governance, and crisis prevention and recovery.
• Representative and inclusive legislatures and
  assemblies are strengthened, representing the
  interests of all people.
• The justice system is more effective, responsive
  and accessible, promoting the rule of law as well
  as both formal and informal processes of justice.

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Principles

• Policies and Principles
• Promoting knowledge and practices about
  democratic governance grounded in UN values,
  including at national, regional, and global
  levels.
• The UN values of human rights, gender equality,
  and anti-corruption are fully integrated into
  democratic governance..
• Understanding of the principles and processes of
  democratic governance is promoted through
  knowledge management, sharing with partners in
  the public, NGO and private sectors..

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Democratic Governance Means and Ends

• Democratic governance is valuable in its own
  right. It can also advance human development and
  the achievement of the MDGs for the following
  reasons
• When more than economic growth is considered,
  democracy can work to put in a political dynamic
  to respond to the social and economic priorities
  of people and contribute to reducing poverty and
  promoting human development.
• Democracies contribute to political stability and
  thus to human security because open space for
  political contests allows for more peaceful
  resolution and management of conflict.
• Democratic institutions and processes that give
  voice to people, and hold rulers accountable, as
  well as open competition for power, make
  politicians more likely to respond to the needs
  of ordinary people.

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Defining Accountability

• Accountability describes the rights and
  responsibilities that exist between people and
  the institutions that affect their lives
  including governments, civil society and the
  market place.
• Two central features of accountability
• Answerability the right to get a response and
  the obligation to provide one
• Enforceability the capacity to ensure an action
  is taken, and access to mechanisms for redress
  when accountability fail
• Accountability matters to poor people. Poverty
  persists in large part because poor people are
  disempowered and unable to hold other to
  account.DO YOU AGREE?
• Problems of capture and bias means that both
  formal and informal systems of accountability
  unfairly exclude vulnerable groups, including
  women, and reinforce inequality.

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What does governance mean to the poor
Economic governance

• Improving the capability of the poor by improving
  basic services
• Providing opportunities for economic
  participation
• Providing economic inclusion and human security
• Providing access to justice and security from
  discrimination, crime and violence

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Human Rights and the MDGsMaking the Link

• SEE HANDOUT
• Guiding Questions
• How do you define a human rights based approach
  (HRBA)?
• How can HRBA help operationalize MDGs?
• What should be the role of CS (are they rights
  holders or duty bearers?)
• Some practical tools (p. 17-22)

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Resources and Tools

• http//www.un.org/millenniumgoals/index.html
• UNDP Human Development Reports http//hdr.undp.org
  /en/
• UNDP HDR Deepening Democracy in a Fragmented
  World http//hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr20
  02/
• http//www.undp.org/governance/mdgs.htm
• Campaign toolkit for civil society and MDGs
  http//www.civicus.org/mdg/title.htm
• Civil Society Index http//www.civilsocietyindex.
  org/
• Making Sense of the MDGs (Jan Vandemoortele)
• UNDESA Governance for MDGs core issues and good
  practices http//unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/pub
  lic/documents/UN/UNPAN025110.pdf