GOVERNANCE AROUND THE GLOBE. Extracted from: “FROM POLITICAL WON’T TO POLITICAL WILL”
Building support for participatory governance 1. “This, in turn, can lead to improved implementation through more effectively targeted programs and the need for fewer subsequent adjustments. 2. Citizen monitoring can ensure the rational use of resources and provide a safeguard against leakages, while citizen evaluation can provide feedback on problems or shortcomings in service delivery and, ideally, propose collective solutions. 3. In Kenya, Tajikistan, and Tanzania, for example, local level participatory governance initiatives supported by the Aga Khan Foundation have led to concrete improvements in priority sectors, such as education, health, water, and sanitation (Chapter 4). 4. Participatory budgeting initiatives have resulted in improved roads and market infrastructure in Zimbabwe (Chapter 9), and decreased crime rates in Uganda and Canada (Chapters 7 and 10), while, in the Philippines, local government units, using social contracts, have realized millions of pesos in savings (Chapter 8).” 5. Finally, participatory governance approaches can contribute to political stability and peace. The risk of instability is increased when citizens lack trust in government, when government is perceived as corrupt or unresponsive, or when it fails to deliver essential services. Actions, such as public protests, street demonstrations, strikes, and riots, result when channels for more constructive dialogue and negotiation are lacking. As experienced in Zimbabwe (Chapter 9), |
CPI The Lebanese Center for Public Information
PARTICIPATIVE
GOVERNANCE
GOVERNANCE
| PARTICIPATIVE GOVERNANCE |
14. Concept adoption, and Different approaches to Participative governance around the globe and in Lebanon. |
participative governance? a. Because our politicians, those who were in the driving seat, as well as those who want to take their place, are incapable or unwilling to follow that path. Forty four years after President Chehab, they still do not realize the importance of good governance and good planning. Even if they did, it would not be in their interest to introduce them. b. The older generation does not understand and would not accept new concepts because they believe only in age, experience, qualifications, or the power of the establishment that has bribed them into submission. Those who would not take bribes have been simply shunned out. c. The few experts left in Lebanon (economists, scientists, professionals) who have not yet immigrated are too busy, too skeptical or too wary to take the lead. Or they simply cannot afford to be involved in a nation building process that demands sustained and selfless sacrifice. However, I believe that many would eventually go along, if someone else would open the way for them. d. Who are we left with? We are left with university youth who have some education, some knowledge, some awareness, and the necessary enthusiasm to become the inspirers of the new system of participative governance and participative planning, if it is patiently and clearly explained and taught to them. 2) How can we recruit university youth for this task?
purpose of the project b. By communicating with them by email, through on line media like facebook, twitter, and the blogs c. By word of mouth in the universities and through the students ‘committees d. By holding conferences on the subject e. Through the media (TV, magazines, newspapers) 3) Why is it urgent to introduce these reforms now?
prove it. The old order and the old systems are no longer valid. Furthermore we are now being enticed and or coerced into adopting extremist solutions that could lead the country into the unknown. We have to do something to reverse the present trend, even if that something is out of the usually accepted path. 4) Why is it necessary for the citizens to participate in the planning and in the governance and monitoring process?
countries like Egypt, Tunis, and elsewhere in the region as well, that in many instances, many officials in government who try to perform honestly can be either bribed or forced to tow the line. Allowing the citizens to participate in the governance will reduce the chances of such subversion. Also, the members of the private sector can provide some new ideas and suggestions that may serve to improve the performance of the public administration. 5) If a National Development Plan is a prerequisite for introducing these long awaited reforms, what are the main subjects that will be dealt with in that Plan? a. So far, we have identified sixteen main subjects that, we believe, are suitable to form part of the National Development Plan:
2. Health 3. Poverty eradication
2. Water 3. Electricity 4. Environment 5. Roads and transport
2. Industry 3. Trade 4. Services 5. Communications 6. Tourism
2. Debt reduction b) Other subjects may have to be added to that list. Among them I can think of the oil and gas exploration, and a carefully considered and citizens monitored privatization program. |
citizens
a decade ago would have probably prevented the revolutions that recently took place in these two countries. The main grievances of the protesters s were that they were being ignored by their government and kept out of the governance process; with the corruption, and the neglect of the people's interests that resulted from that marginalization." |
36. As noted above, there is no guarantee that participation will always be effective in reaching the goals of public policy or development. It may sometimes even be counterproductive to equity and social justice. It is necessary to take a broad overview of the prerequisites of effective participation, based on both conceptual and empirical foundations. 37. Participation is regarded as “effective” when it yields greater influence for ordinary people, especially the poor and socially excluded. That influence can be over government actors, politicians and bureaucrats, and their own destinies. In order to be “effective”, participation must not only reveal the preferences of ordinary people but also enable those preferences to shape outcomes. There must be processes and forums, formal or informal, through which they can voice their concerns and affect decisions. Ordinary citizens should be sufficiently confident and capable of contacting and obtaining responses from bureaucrats, elected representatives and other public agents. They should be able to have an impact by lobbying or demonstrating collectively. When those conditions are manifest, “effective” participation and empowered participatory governance is a reality. 38. Recent research has identified a number of essential prerequisites to effective participation. One strand has drawn attention to the importance of “empowered participatory governance”. It argues that what determines the success of participation is not so much the technicalities of institution design as much as the creation of “countervailing power” — a variety of mechanisms that reduce, and perhaps even neutralize, any power-advantages of powerful actors in a given society. 39. Another strand of research has emphasized striving for the realization of the whole range of human rights as a precondition of effective participation. The necessary countervailing power cannot be created without the fulfilment of civil political rights such as freedom of speech and information, and equal access to justice, among others. Some research argues that the poor must be ensured a certain minimum degree of economic security before they can be expected to engage in activities geared to the creation of countervailing power. 40. In this context, the issues of transparency and accountability have been much emphasized. Without transparent decision-making processes, “distant participants” cannot be certain that their views and aspirations will receive due consideration. Without adequate procedures and institutions for holding the “direct” decision makers accountable for their actions and inactions, “indirect participants” cannot ensure that decisions agreed upon through participatory processes will be followed. 41. Therefore, the prerequisites to effective participation in which ordinary citizens can influence outcomes of decision-making processes include: 1) mechanisms and systems that create an empowered citizenry, assured of their basic human rights,who are able to counterbalance powerful minority actors. 2) Transparency is imperative in creating the confidence that participants’ preferences are duly considered and ensuring that decision-makers are held accountable. |
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