Publication: Mapping Context for Social Accountability : A Resource Paper
Date
2013-01
ISSN
Published
2013-01
Author(s)
O'Meally, Simon C.
Abstract
Demand-side governance and social
accountability approaches (SAcc) have steadily gained
prominence as a perceived means for achieving and improving
a range of development outcomes. This resource paper focuses
on the issue of SAcc and context, arising out of a growing
recognition that context is critical in shaping, making, and
breaking SAcc interventions. As such, the four main
objectives of this paper are: to outline the main contextual
factors that appear to be critical to SAcc; to examine how
SAcc interventions interact with the context to bring about
change in order to provide a preliminary, context-sensitive
Theory of Change (ToC); to explore the operational
implications that arise from first two objectives; and to
offer a flexible analytical framework to guide practitioners
wanting to undertake context analysis prior to engaging in
demand-side activities. The paper attempted to achieve these
objectives by: summarizing and building on a
recently-conducted global review of the evidence-base,
drawing on relevant conceptual literature to deepen
understanding of SAcc and context, reviewing case-study
material to extract indications of what types of SAcc
approaches might work best when faced with different
contextual realities, and holding consultations with experts
and practitioners to test and modify the ideas being
developed. The report is separated into five chapters and an
annex. Chapter one introduces the topic and the rationale
for undertaking work in this area. Chapter two outlines some
of the key contextual variables that emerge as critical in
shaping the form and effectiveness of SAcc. This provides a
broad framework for understanding the important contextual
constraints and opportunities. Chapter three outlines some
of the key ways in which SAcc has influenced the context to
produce positive change. Chapter four then explores and
unpacks the practical implications of the approach. It
offers two tools for SAcc practitioners to begin exploring
ways to tailor to their contexts in a more structured
manner. Finally, the annex, based on the paper's
overall framework, provides a set of guiding questions for
undertaking a context analysis prior to supporting SAcc operations.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“O'Meally, Simon C.. 2013. Mapping Context for Social Accountability : A Resource Paper. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16490 License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO.”