© 2008 theIDLgroup
Developing Capacities for Accountability and
Voice
Sofia, Bulgaria
1-2 October 2008
Day One Agenda9:00-9:30 Welcome and Introductions
9:30-10:40 Accountability & Voice concepts
10:40-11:00 Coffee break
11:00-12:30 Accountability & Voice mechanisms in the context of public participation and Service Delivery
12:30-14:00 Lunch break
14:00-15:45 Capacity Development responses in the context of A&V mechanisms and Case Study analysis
15:45-16:00 Coffee break
16:00-16.30 Reporting back from case study analysis and end of day summary
A&V Word AssociationAt your tables, appoint a facilitator and rapporteur
Without looking at the background paper, write down and discuss the words you associate with A&V. Write down words you associate with
accountability on the yellow paper, and words you associate with voice on the blue paper
Write one word per piece of paper
Think about: What is accountability? What is voice? How do they relate to one another?
You have 10 mins for this exercise
Your experiences with A&V At your tables, choose a facilitator and rapporteur
Discuss the following questions: What A&V mechanisms have you worked with in your
country context? Which have been the most successful and why? What challenges have you faced in implementing A&V
mechanisms? What challenges would you have implementing some of the
models/ mechanisms discussed in the presentation?
Identify and write down 1) key success factors identified & 2) key challenges faced in implementing mechanisms discussed in the presentation.
Be prepared to present your findings in plenary (5 mins)
You have 45 mins
How can you apply what you have learned so far?
In pairs, briefly discuss the following question:
“How can you apply what you have learned about the Capacity Development framework to Accountability and Voice mechanisms?”
You have 5 mins
Case Study AnalysisSelect a facilitator and rapporteur
Re-read your assigned case study (10 mins)
Address the following questions, recording your answers on the flip chart:
Did the initiative contribute to enhanced performance of the service provider and improved quality of public services? If yes, what worked well? If not, why not?
Was the initiative owned and led by the relevant stakeholders? What contributed to the sense of ownership? How did they ‘build ownership’?
What were the capacity development responses and how were they defined/selected?
What would you have done differently? How sustainable are the mechanisms in your opinion?
You have 60 mins
Case Study Analysis
Rapporteurs and groups present findings to another group.
Both groups explore the general themes and trends illustrated by the cases, pointing out differences and similarities, entry points, challenges and how they dealt with challenges.
Other groups challenge them and ask questions.
You will have 20 mins to report back and discuss
Day Two Agenda9:00-9:15 Review of previous day and outline of day two
9:15-10:30 Practical application: Designing an Accountability & Voice mechanism for local service delivery
10:30-10:50 Coffee break [pay bills]
10:50-12:15 Practical application: Designing an Accountability & Voice mechanism for local service delivery (cont.)
-including ask the experts clinic
12:15-13:30 Lunch break
13:30-14:30 Key issues discussions
14:30-15:45 Written assessment
15.45-16.20 Summing up, evaluations & next steps
Designing an A&V mechanism Select a rapporteur.
Select one country on which to focus.
In your groups begin by briefly analysing the A&V challenges in the selected country.
Brainstorm for ideas for potential A&V mechanisms/approaches that might address some of these challenges and gaps?
Select one of these potential mechanisms/approaches to work on as a group.
Create a brief outline of a proposed project
Prepare a brief summary of the rationale and details of your proposal to present.
You have 75 minutes
Ask the ‘experts’
Key issues 1. What can we do when political will is
lacking?
2. How to improve institutionalisation of A&V mechanisms?
3. How do we identify entry points for voice?
4. What are UNDP’s comparative advantages in working on A&V in the region?