Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal
Enhancing accountability has become an important objective of the governance reforms over the past two decades. Yet, only a few studies have explored the use of social accountability tools in the water sector in particular. This report aims to fill this gap, based on a case study of a donor-funded w...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Informe técnico |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
International Water Management Institute
2021
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114716 |
| _version_ | 1855540807651557376 |
|---|---|
| author | Dhungana, H. Clement, Floriane Otto, B. Das, B. |
| author_browse | Clement, Floriane Das, B. Dhungana, H. Otto, B. |
| author_facet | Dhungana, H. Clement, Floriane Otto, B. Das, B. |
| author_sort | Dhungana, H. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Enhancing accountability has become an important objective of the governance reforms over the past two decades. Yet, only a few studies have explored the use of social accountability tools in the water sector in particular. This report aims to fill this gap, based on a case study of a donor-funded water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) program in Nepal. We document and analyze the effects of two types of social accountability tools implemented by the program: public hearings and social audits. We examined how these tools have contributed to increased transparency, participation, voice and accountability, and in turn discuss their potential to reduce corruption. We relied on qualitative methods to collect data in two case study water supply schemes in two districts of Nepal. The study found that the social accountability tools provided a platform for water users to participate and deliberate on issues related to the execution of WASH schemes. However, the scope of accountability narrowly focused on the integrity of the water user committees but did not provide the political resources and means for communities to hold funding and implementing agencies accountable. Furthermore, attention to budget management has not provided space to address environmental and social justice issues related to payment of wages, access to water and decision-making processes in the design of the water scheme and water allocation. Findings from the study also indicate that the concept of deliberation and downward accountability, as envisioned in international development discourses, does not necessarily match with local power relationships and local cultural norms. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace114716 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | International Water Management Institute |
| publisherStr | International Water Management Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1147162025-11-07T08:46:49Z Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal Dhungana, H. Clement, Floriane Otto, B. Das, B. social participation accountability water supply budgeting auditing corruption transparency governance participatory approaches citizen participation water resources drinking water water allocation water, sanitation and hygiene development aid stakeholders nongovernmental organizations water user associations political institutions institutional reform public services legislation women inclusion households awareness rural communities case studies Enhancing accountability has become an important objective of the governance reforms over the past two decades. Yet, only a few studies have explored the use of social accountability tools in the water sector in particular. This report aims to fill this gap, based on a case study of a donor-funded water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) program in Nepal. We document and analyze the effects of two types of social accountability tools implemented by the program: public hearings and social audits. We examined how these tools have contributed to increased transparency, participation, voice and accountability, and in turn discuss their potential to reduce corruption. We relied on qualitative methods to collect data in two case study water supply schemes in two districts of Nepal. The study found that the social accountability tools provided a platform for water users to participate and deliberate on issues related to the execution of WASH schemes. However, the scope of accountability narrowly focused on the integrity of the water user committees but did not provide the political resources and means for communities to hold funding and implementing agencies accountable. Furthermore, attention to budget management has not provided space to address environmental and social justice issues related to payment of wages, access to water and decision-making processes in the design of the water scheme and water allocation. Findings from the study also indicate that the concept of deliberation and downward accountability, as envisioned in international development discourses, does not necessarily match with local power relationships and local cultural norms. 2021 2021-08-21T20:00:49Z 2021-08-21T20:00:49Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114716 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute Dhungana, H.; Clement, F.; Otto, B.; Das, B. 2021. Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 29p. (IWMI Research Report 179) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2021.211] |
| spellingShingle | social participation accountability water supply budgeting auditing corruption transparency governance participatory approaches citizen participation water resources drinking water water allocation water, sanitation and hygiene development aid stakeholders nongovernmental organizations water user associations political institutions institutional reform public services legislation women inclusion households awareness rural communities case studies Dhungana, H. Clement, Floriane Otto, B. Das, B. Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal |
| title | Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal |
| title_full | Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal |
| title_fullStr | Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal |
| title_short | Examining social accountability tools in the water sector: a case study from Nepal |
| title_sort | examining social accountability tools in the water sector a case study from nepal |
| topic | social participation accountability water supply budgeting auditing corruption transparency governance participatory approaches citizen participation water resources drinking water water allocation water, sanitation and hygiene development aid stakeholders nongovernmental organizations water user associations political institutions institutional reform public services legislation women inclusion households awareness rural communities case studies |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114716 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dhunganah examiningsocialaccountabilitytoolsinthewatersectoracasestudyfromnepal AT clementfloriane examiningsocialaccountabilitytoolsinthewatersectoracasestudyfromnepal AT ottob examiningsocialaccountabilitytoolsinthewatersectoracasestudyfromnepal AT dasb examiningsocialaccountabilitytoolsinthewatersectoracasestudyfromnepal |