Efficacy of Top down audits and Community Monitoring

In this paper we survey the recent literature on top down audits and community monitoring. Whilein the case of top down audits the efficacy of audits depends on the type of punishment- electoral punishmentvs legal punishment, the literature finds that electoral punishment is less effective than legalpunishment. Moreover, electoral punishment depends on whether voters are aware of audit reports.The type of service being audited - the opportunity for corruption and the clarity of rules and regulationseffect the success of audits. However, even when top down audits succeed in cutting down corruption,they may not always lead to better outcomes. Social audits are effective when collective actionproblems are less salient e.g. when groups are homogeneous, when the design is such that communityparticipants feel empowered e.g. through elections to the monitoring committee, information is notuseful by itself unless accompanied by tools to influence outcomes, and finally there is not a clear mapbetween finding corruption and improving ultimate outcomes. We suggest that a fertile area for futureresearch is the design of optimal audit schemes that take account of the opportunities for corruptionand the motivations of both the providers and the auditors.

Effectiveness of Evaluation Evidence to Influence Change in Primary Education Sub-sector in Uganda

A well-designed impact evaluation study in the education sector is relevant in informing decision and policymaking based on high-quality evidence generated from the research. In this paper, we provide a chronology on how we developed and implemented an impact evaluation on school facilities grant (SFG) programme designed to support Government aided primary schools in Uganda – to construct classrooms, sanitation facilities as well as teacher houses. We describe the appropriate methodology, randomization designs implemented and the target groups. Results revealed that selecting a clear intervention with identified observable and unobservable characteristics is important for the robust results. Measuring attribution on outcomes may also require a balance on internal and external validity checks and analysis. The internal validity, in addition to statistical measures also requires stakeholders’ engagement in the impact study process as a way of promoting social audits of public programmes. Finally, a well-planned and designed evaluation often leads to increased public trust in the findings and evidence uptake hence informing policy decision in management of programmes and projects.

Social Audit And Panchayati Raj

Social audit can be used in the various sectors like health, water, financial institution, organizations, companies, public and private sectors. With the help of social audit, industries can measure their performance. The social audit got a legal statue after incorporation of the 73rd amendment to the Indian constitution regarding panchayati raj institutions. This amendment gave power to gramsabha to conduct social audits and it has with this historic amendment that the concept of social audit gained importance in our country. The gramasabha shall conduct regular social audit of all the projects under the scheme taken up with in gram panchayat. So this study analyzed the performance of PRIs through social audit practice. It is purely based on primary data which has used convenient method of sampling method. The result has contributed that, social audit practice through gramsabha has developed the rural area but still there is a need for effective implementation of social audit practice. So government should provide training to panchayat raj employees to effectively carry social audit apart from this other institutions such as NGOs need to support villagers to conduct social audit.

Social Accountability in Maternal Health Services in the Far-Western Development Region in Nepal: An Exploratory Study

Background: Social accountability or citizen-led accountability has been promoted in many low- and middle-income countries to improve the quality, access to and use of maternal health services. Experiences with social accountability in maternal health services in Nepal have not yet been documented. This study identifies existing social accountability structures and activities in maternal health services in two districts of Far-Western Nepal and explores their functions, implementation and gaps/challenges. Methods: An exploratory study was conducted that included in-depth interviews with purposively selected policy advisors (8), healthcare officials (11), healthcare providers (12) and non-governmental staff (3); and focus group discussions (FGDs) with 54 women. Data analysis was conducted using thematic content analysis based on George’s information, dialogue and negotiation framework. Results: Social accountability in maternal health existed in terms of structures such as mothers’ groups (MGs), female community health volunteers (FCHVs) and Health Facility Operation and Management Committees (HFOMCs); and activities such as social audits and community health score board (CHSB). MGs and FCHVs were perceived as trusted intermediaries, but their functioning was limited to information. HFOMCs were not fully functional. Social audits and CHSBs were implemented in limited sites and with poor participation by women. Health-sector responses were mainly found at the local level. Factors contributing to these challenges were the absence of a mandate and limited capacity, including resources. Conclusion: Formal structures and activities existed for social accountability in maternal health services in the Far-Western Development Region of Nepal, but there were limitations pertaining to their implementation. The main recommendations are: for clear policy mandates on the social accountability roles of MGs and FCHVs; wider implementation of social audits and CHSBs, with emphasis on the participation of women from disadvantaged groups; improved capacity of HFOMCs; and improved engagement of the health sector at all levels to listen and respond to women’s concerns.

Corporate social responsibility against workers?

Purpose This paper aims to investigate to what extent and for which reasons the codes of conduct and social audits of multinational corporations (MNCs) have failed to change practices within Chinese factories. A special attention is given to the social compliance initiatives (SCIs) and multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) which did not overcome the main obstacles of the compliance approach. Design/methodology/approach This research is based on a fieldwork in China, including 36 semi-constructed interviews with practitioners involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR), participant observation in the CSR programme of the International Labour Organisation office in Beijing and several visits of factories involved in CSR programmes. Secondary sources are used to estimate the distribution of value added along global value chains (GVCs). Findings The codes of conduct and social audits tend to reproduce the domination of MNCs within GVCs. This paper highlights some obstacles – and opportunities – for CSR appropriate to the Chinese context. Research limitations/implications Only a few MNCs agreed to meet the author and speak openly. No one allowed the author to visit their suppliers’ factories. Practical implications The findings of this study suggest that the most widespread approach to CSR by MNCs is flawed. More attention should be given to specific institutional contexts and to workers’ participation. Originality/value CSR discourse and practices in China are put in the context of GVCs and in the transformation of Chinese industry and labour relations. This method allows going beyond a case study approach. Instrumentations of several SCIs and MSIs are also analysed in detail.