Good governance
formal and informal: actors and structures
affect the decision being arrived and implemented
org or an institution is accountable to those who will be
affected by its decisions or actions
terms "governance" and "good governance"
being increasingly used in development literature.
formal gov't structures are one means
by which decisions arrive and are implemented
governance: several context
corporate, international, national, local governance
who is accountable to whom varies depending on
decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an org or institution
transparency
decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations
society's well being
depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it and do not feel excluded from the mainstream of society
transparency
enough info is provided and that it is provided in easily understandable forms and media
all actors other than gov't and the military
grouped together as part of the "civil society"
transparency
info is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement
Bad governance
is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within our societies.
effectiveness
leads to its purpose
some rural areas locally powerful families may
make or influence decision-making
urban areas, organized crime syndicates such as the "land mafia"
may influence decision-making
participation needs to be informed and organized
means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand
not only gov't inst but also the private sector and civil society orgs
must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders
Informal Decision Making
often result of corrupt practices or leads to corrupt practices
some other countries, in addition to the "civil society"
organized crime syndicates also inlfuence decision-making, particularly in urban areas and at the national level
gov't is one of the actors
other actors involved in governance vary depending on the level of gov't that is under discussion
gov't is one of the actors: rural areas for example
other actors may include influential land lords, associations of peasant farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, research inst, religious leaders, finance inst, political parties, the military, etc
society's well being - requires all groups
particularly the most vulnerable, have opportunities to improve or maintain their well being
effectivness and efficiency
produce results that meet the need of society (making the best use of resources)
rule of law: impartial enforcement of laws
requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force
equity and inclusiveness
society's well being
at the national level, informal decision-making structures
such as "kitchen cabinets" or informal advisors may exist
participation: representative democracy does not necessarily mean
the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into consideration in decision making
good governance
• 8 major characteristics • assures CORRUPTION IS MINIMIZED • views of minority are taken into account and the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in DECISION-MAKING • responsive to the PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS of the society
consensus oriented
• MEDIATION OF THE DIFF. INTERESTS in society to reach a broad _____ on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved • requires a BROAD AND LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE (needed for sustainable human development and how to achieve it) • understanding of HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL contexts of a society
participation
• both men and women: key cornerstone • could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate inst or repersentatives
responsiveness
• ints and processes try to serve all stakeholders w/in a reasonable timeframe • responsive to the CONCERNS ON SOCIAL ISSUES such as poverty, war on drugs, and water suppy
accountability
• key requirment of good governance • not only gov't inst but also the private sector and civil society orgs • who is accountable to whom varies • cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law
characteristics of good governance (8)
• participation • rule of law • consensus oriented • equity and inclusiveness • effectiveness and efficiency • accountability • transparency • responsiveness
rule of law
• requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially • requires full protection of human rights - particularly those of the minorities
governance
• the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented) • as old as human civilization • several context • formal and informal: actors and structures
efficiency
• things that happen at the right time and place ↳ sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment