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Project synthesis
The newly set up Centre for Social Accountability (CSA) intends to respond to the ever increasing loss of public confidence in governments and elected politicians at national and regional levels as a result of pervasive corruption, abuses of power, and the ineffective use of public resources by states. A growing consensus shows that strong civil society and strong government are mutually reinforcing prerequisites for effective democracies and public participation in decision making processes.
Rhodes University in South Africa is in the process of developing the Centre through the Public Sector Accountability Monitor (PSAM), an independent governance monitoring and research initiative of the University that has been successfully implemented in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Strategy/Objectives
The overall objective of the Centre for Social Accountability is to institutionalise the demand for social accountability in the Southern Africa region through the following three programmes:
1. national and regional social accountability training for issue-based CSOs and other stakeholders;
2. the formation of information/experience sharing networks at national and regional levels and the development and integration of social accountability courses into the curriculum of universities in the region; and,
3. strengthening of the PSAM research and monitoring programme. The Centre promotes a rights-based approach to the question of social accountability as the rationale for enhanced citizen engagement in governance processes at national and regional levels.
Stakeholders and Beneficiaries
The Centre for Social Accountability works in collaboration with universities and issue-based civil society organisations in Southern Africa. This provides a platform for the exchange of knowledge and strengthens their capacities in the areas of social accountability and public sector monitoring.
The social accountability tools will be shared and promoted in 10 SADC countries including Mozambique and Tanzania.
Activities and Expected Results
The Centre will provide national and regional level trainings on social accountability to issue-based CSOs in Southern Africa.
It will provide assistance to the formation of Accountability Education Networks (AENs) in universities. The university networks will facilitate information/experience sharing and help institutionalise the demand for social accountability among civil society leaders and policy makers at regional and national levels in the Southern Africa region.
The Centre will continue to develop and implement the PSAM monitoring methodology by evaluating public expenditure management and service delivery in South Africa, particularly within the Eastern Cape Provincial Administration.
Partners
The Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) is an independent monitoring and research institute dedicated to strengthening democracy in South Africa. It is based at Rhodes University in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. It aims is to build African institutions and social relationships of accountability that will ensure government responsiveness to socio-economic rights and the effective use of public resources.
Project duration and Funding
SDC is providing R 1,000,000 (CHF 200,000) as support to its orientation phase (July 2006 – June 2007). The cooperation may be extended depending on a project review at the end of the this phase.
Geographic Area
The Centre plans to become engaged in ten SADC countries over a three year period. These will include Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Contact address
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
Tel (27)46 – 603 8358
Fax (27)46 – 622 7215
E.mail : c.allan@ru.ac.za
Website: www.psam.ru.ac.za
www.myrights.org.za
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