Social Accountability in South Asia: Progress so Far

By Parmesh Shah

Lead Rural Development SpecialistSouth Asia Sustainable Development Department

June 4, 2008

Context• Governance and Anti-Corruption Plan• Learning from SAc initiatives in South Asia

– Social Audits (NREGA, India – Andhra Pradesh, Orissa) – Right to Information (India – MKSS, Parivartan)– Citizens’ Report Cards (Public Affairs Foundation) – Other activities being taken up on local governance and social

accountability within the South Asia Region• Activities under Trust Fund for Environmentally and

Socially Sustainable Development (TFESSD)– Action Research Projects– Community of Practice of Demand Side Approaches in

Governance – Knowledge Creation and Management

The Progress so Far• Current and Prospective Centers of Excellence – CSOs, Universities and

Government Training Institutions– Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai– Center for Good Governance (CGG), Hyderabad– Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), New Delhi– Yashwantrao Chavan Center for Development Administration (YASHADA), Pune– CUTS International, Jaipur– BRAC University Centre for Governance Studies, Bangladesh– Institute for Participatory Interaction in Development, Sri Lanka

• South Asia Social Accountability Network (www.sasanet.org)• Technical Advice to Bank Staff, Governments and CSOs

– Social Accountability Sourcebook – Guidance Notes

• Action Research Projects through Government Agencies, CSOs and NGOs• Knowledge Creation and Dissemination

– Stocktaking of Social Accountability Initiatives– Case Studies

• Governance and Anti-Corruption Strategy and Implementation Plan for South Asia

South Asia Social Accountability Network (SASANET)

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