Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
or supply side measures to foster political accountability include improvements in
the electoral system that stimulate independent candidates to run for of
ce,
reserving seats in local councils for minority/vulnerable groups of the population,
and increasing transparency of election and campaign
financing. From a social or
demand side point of view, political accountability can be enhanced by introducing
mechanisms that increase citizens voice (e.g. public hearings, public petitions,
administrative complaints) and the creation of formal bodies for citizens oversight.
Regarding administrative accountability, public or supply-side measures to
enhance it include, among others, the creation or reinforcement of independent
judicial/quasi-judicial agencies to investigate misbehaviour and corruption by
public of
cials, external audits by independent agencies, reinforcement of admin-
istrative courts, procurement rules, standards for service delivery, and
flexible and
performance-oriented career management. From the demand-side approach, mea-
sures that
ability to monitor subnational government and to
participate in the public decision-making process usually foster administrative
accountability.
Finally,
increase citizens
'
financial accountability requires transparency and prudency in local
financial management. Supply-side measures to increase it include, among others,
clear and publicly announced rules on the allocation of intergovernmental
scal
transfers, transparent public audit systems and clear rules on subnational govern-
ments
'
budget constraints and borrowing. These measures can be supplemented
with demand-oriented measures such as improvements on public visibility of
governments
financial accounts, introduction or reinforcement of participatory
budgeting practices and public expenditure tracking systems.
'
8 Factors Influencing Decentralization Outcomes
and Impact on Governance
The decentralization trajectory chosen, its shape and outcome in a particular
country are determined by contextual factors involving demographic, social, eco-
nomic and political features of the country (LDI
2013
; Faguet
2014
). The existence
of a democratic framework and of a participatory political culture fosters citizens
'
participation in decision-making, thereby increasing accountability. Regarding the
water supply and sanitation services, WELL (
1998
) stresses that user participation
and involvement in decision-making is particularly important. Kurian and Ardak-
anian (
2014
) also recognize the importance of consumer participation for the
development of the nexus approach to water, soil and waste. J
tting et al. (
2004
)
suggest that in countries where the central government performs poorly, decen-
tralization may worsen service delivery to the poor.
The institutional design adopted for decentralization is also a crucial factor. It is
important to de
ΓΌ
ne correctly, which functions should be decentralized, and to which
extent, while avoiding overlapping mandates, excessive fragmentation, unclear
Search WWH ::
Custom Search