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