Paraguay: Congress better equipped to check on governance performance
With the first baseline results ready for scrutiny, the Congress in Paraguay stands better equipped to check on governance performance. The report entitled ‘Democratic Governance Indicators in Paraguay’ offers a tool for Senators, as well as Government, civil society, academia and other stakeholders to contribute to public debate. With the first baseline results ready for scrutiny, Congress in Paraguay stands better equipped to check on governance performance. The report entitled ‘Democratic Governance Indicators in Paraguay’ offers a tool for Senators, as well as Government, civil society, academia and other stakeholders to contribute to public debate. Emerging out of a multi-stakeholder and consensus building process, the 19 governance indicators...
Indonesia: When governance assessments make government policy
The Indonesian Democracy Index (IDI) is now an official target under Indonesia's National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2010-2014: Indonesia’s index to measure civil and political rights as well as the quality of democratic institutions at the provincial level has now been made an official yardstick for monitoring the implementation of the national plan. The Indonesian Democracy Index (IDI) is now an official target under Indonesia's National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2010-2014: Indonesia’s index to measure civil and political rights as well as the quality of democratic institutions at the provincial level has now been made an official yardstick for monitoring the implementation of the national plan. By 2014, an average score of 73/100 on the...
Malawi: Strengthening democratic governance through a sector-wide approach
As a young democracy, Malawi is challenged by the daunting task of establishing stable democratic institutions. According to the Ministry of Justice’s own Concept Note these challenges range from legal, institutional and human resources that are insufficient, to inadequate or outdated infrastructure, systems and procedures. In addition, the Joint Country Review of Governance in 2007 argues that these challenges are aggravated by ineffective coordination of donor support. As a young democracy, Malawi is challenged by the daunting task of establishing stable democratic institutions. According to the Ministry of Justice’s own Concept Note these challenges range from legal, institutional and human resources that are insufficient, to inadequate or outdated...
South-south research consortium looks at the use of governance indicators
How are governance indicators actually used to strengthen democratic governance at the country level? A research consortium of African think tanks is now set to explore this question. Looking at Ghana, Mozambique and Rwanda, the consortium will explore specific cases of how governance indicators and evidence are used to influence policy. It is expected that answers will provide guidance to national stakeholders and donors alike on how best to strengthen national capacity for assessing governance reforms. How are governance indicators actually used to strengthen democratic governanceat the country level? A research consortium of African think tanks is now set to explore this question. Looking at Ghana, Mozambique and Rwanda, the consortium will explore specific...
Workshop to design a local governance monitoring system in Morocco
Morocco’s National Observatory on Human Development is moving forward in developing a local governance assessment framework to monitor the implementation of human development (HD) programmes at the local level. With the new Communal Charter (2008), important decentralization reforms are underway in Morocco in order to grant a more important role to the communes in designing and executing HD programmes at the local level. Morocco’s National Observatory on Human Development is moving forward in developing a local governance assessment framework to monitor the implementation of human development (HD) programmes at the local level. With the new Communal Charter (2008), important decentralization reforms are underway in Morocco in order to grant a more important role to the...
Djibouti uses ‘APRM pioneers’ experience to draw its own course
Djibouti is resolutely moving ahead with its preparations for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) self-assessment process. At a workshop on 27-28 January, Djiboutians discussed the lessons drawn from the experience of APRM pioneers, and were able to find answers to their questions about how to constitute their national governing council or how to involve citizens in the collection and interpretation of data. Djibouti is resolutely moving ahead with its preparations for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) self-assessment process. On 27-28 January, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the national focal point on the APRM in Djibouti), the recently nominated National APRM Coordinator and about forty representatives of various ministries, research institutions, civil...
Request for Proposals: Second Joint Governance Assessment Review in Rwanda
The Rwanda Governance Advisory Council and UNDP in Rwanda are requesting proposals from international consultancy firms to conduct a second review of governance in Rwanda, based on the indicators in the Joint Governance Assessment (JGA) framework. The Rwanda Governance Advisory Council and UNDP in Rwanda are requesting proposals from international consultancy firms to conduct a second review of governance in Rwanda, based on the indicators in the Joint Governance Assessment (JGA) framework. The key objective of the assignment is to assess progress against the targets and baseline results identified in the first JGA report. Three areas of governance will be looked at: Ruling Justly; Government Effectiveness and Investment Climate; and Corporate Governance. In 2006...
Local governance guide now available in French and Spanish
The User’s Guide on Measuring Local Governance, intended to respond to an increasing demand from UNDP Country Offices and a wide range of national stakeholders for guidance on the multiplicity of tools and methods that are being used to measure, assess and monitor governance at the local level, has been translated to French and Spanish. The User’s Guide on Measuring Local Governance, intended to respond to an increasing demand from UNDP Country Offices and a wide range of national stakeholders for guidance on the multiplicity of tools and methods that are being used to measure, assess and monitor governance at the local level, has been translated to Frenchand Spanish. The User’s Guide on Measuring Local Governance, intended to respond to an increasing demand...
Preventing Corruption: A Toolkit for Parliamentarians
The initial version of a Toolkit for parliamentarians to monitor their own performance in preventing corruption will be tested this month in Accra, Ghana, with a group of African parliamentarians who are members of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC). Using Chapter 2 of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) as a framework, the Toolkit poses specific questions about the role played by MPs in preventing corruption. The initial version of a Toolkit for parliamentarians to monitor their own performance in preventing corruption (see GAP Newsletter issue nb.1) will be tested this month in Accra, Ghana, with a group of African parliamentarians who are members of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC). Using Chapter 2 (‘...
How can governance assessments help reduce climate change?
When reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) became an international concern a decade ago, the focus was mainly on the scientific ways to do it. In most countries, the REDD policies and programmes implemented were led by a technocratic approach of the issue, which did not involve the local – often indigenous – population actually living in the forest areas. When reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) became an international concern a decade ago, the focus was mainly on the scientific ways to do it. In most countries, the REDD policies and programmes implemented were led by a technocratic approach of the issue, which did not involve the local – often indigenous – population actually living in the forest...
Democracy Audits and Governmental Indicators discussed at Berkeley
On October 30-31, 2009, the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre joined other experts from around the world to assess the current state of democracy audits and to develop an agenda for constructing better governance indicators. The meeting was organized by the American Political Science Association (APSA) and was hosted by the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. On October 30-31, 2009, the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre joined other experts from around the world to assess the current state of democracy audits and to develop an agenda for constructing better governance indicators. The meeting was organized by the American Political Science Association (APSA) and was hosted by the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley....
Oslo University debate: How country-based can democracy assessments be?
On 15 and 16 January 2010, Oslo University opened the floor for lively debates between academicians, practitioners and students on various aspects of democracy with the conference called “Democracy as an Idea and Practice”. Over the two days, more than twenty different sessions and workshops were the ground for exchanges of knowledge and ideas on very diverse issues ranging from the theoretical definition of democracy to Human Rights Conventions or the link between democracy and digital media. The panel entitled “Assessing Rooted Powers and Shallow Democracy: Lessons learned and ways ahead”, where the Oslo Governance Centre Assessments’ Unit was invited among other panelists, looked at experiences from Kenya and Indonesia, showing that formal...
Global Programme Donors Meeting: from action to telling the story
When transformative action is being achieved towards countries better governance and development, its stories should be told to practitioners as well as the general public. This is the core message from the meeting between the UNDP global programme on democratic governance assessments and its donor partners which took place at the Oslo Governance Centre on February 2, 2010. When transformative action is being achieved towards countries better governance and development, its stories should be told to practitioners as well as the general public. This is the core message from the meeting between the UNDP global programme on democratic governance assessments and its donor partners which took place at the Oslo Governance Centre on February 2, 2010. The participants discussed the activities...
New members join the Governance Assessment Team
John Samuel: Policy Advisor on Democratic Governance John Samuel has 25 years of experience and expertise in strengthening democratic governance, human rights advocacy and sustainable development in India, Asia and internationally. As a Junior Professional Officer (JPO) from the Government of France, Danae Issa joins OGC from UNDP-Yemen where she worked for over four years John Samuel: Policy Advisor on Democratic Governance John Samuel has 25 years of experience and expertise in strengthening democratic governance, human rights advocacy and sustainable development in India, Asia and internationally. His work combines policy research, advocacy, capacity building, strategic leadership and social mobilization across the world. He has worked with civil society, government...
Net-Buzz: recent discussions and commentary from the blogosphere
A sample of recent or ongoing online discussions on governance assessment-related issues Blogpost: GDP vs. “Happiness”: Economics Are Getting Smarter(Triple Pundit Blog 1 March 2010) This post discusses the OECD’s Wikiprogress, a platform for sharing information in order to evaluate societal progress, and argues for a shift in global attitude towards measurement. “Five years ago, 3p reported that GDP does not correlate with happiness, and that another, more holistic metric—GPI, or Gross Progress Indicator—would be more apt. Now, in 2010, some say this is still true. This finding has been repeated and reported almost constantly in the last five years, which begs two points. First, that happiness is not related to income. Second, that GDP...