Transcript Social Accountability Environment in Mongolia - ANSA-EAP

Barkhas Losolsuren
23 June 2010

SA as defined by ANSA refers to
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The ultimate objective of social
accountability is accountable government.
◦ “… actions initiated by citizen groups to hold
public officials, politicians, and service
providers to account for their conduct and
performance in terms of delivering services,
improving people's welfare and protecting
people's rights”.
2 issues:
 Government’s own accountability
framework;
 Social accountability environment
Political Accountability
 Policy Accountability
 Procedural Accountability
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Availability of mechanisms and
arrangements by which citizens can hold
the government accountable
Holding government accountable means
◦ Obtaining information;
◦ Receiving explanations and justifications;
◦ Enforcement - reward or punishment.
Direct and indirect means
In most cases, only instance of reward/
punishment is understood as accountability
Accountability of the parliamentary
majority
 Accountability of the executive
 Constitutional Court
 Administrative Law system

Elections
 Direct means
◦ Referendum
◦ Constitutional amendment
 Indirect means
◦ Standing committee open hearings
◦ Media

Policy development process
 Policy and planning
 Policy input/output/outcome or
impact framework

Trade unions – limited area, but effective
 Policy outcome evaluation – not
mandatory
 Obtaining comments from public recommended but no specific procedures
 Citizens’ oversight over implementation
process - no mandatory mechanisms
 Citizens’ evaluation of service delivery –
not mandatory

Financial procedures
 Human resource procedures
 Procurement procedures
 Organizational governance/internal
policies

IAAC hotline
 Citizens report card/surveys
 Budget expenditure monitoring
 National Audit Office – now includes
survey
 National Human Rights Commission –
receives complaints, provides
recommendations
 No ombudsman’s institution
 Courts

Government accountability system is
incomplete:
◦ Who is responsible
◦ Responsible for what
◦ Who is to hold accountable
 By what means
 Administrative
Procedure Law is
required
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No environmental financial mechanism
 Rights and duties, hierarchy of
responsibility are generally absent from
laws
 No proper accountability system for
public organizations and officials
(existing provisions are directed at
citizens not public officials)
 Functions and authority of law
implementation organizations are poorly
structured;

Legislative provisions for participation of
public and NGOs in decision making and
monitoring is symbolic (rather than
procedural), inducing lawlessness in
government officials without the control
of civil society
 Administrative decisions for natural
resources are not based on scientific
research and analysis but on self-interest
 Dispute resolution procedure is
inadequate
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THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION