Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Role of Social Accountability in Poverty Alleviation Programs in Developing Countries: An Analysis with Reference to Bangladesh

  • Published:
Public Organization Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In spite of different approaches being experimented over the past six decades, poverty alleviation programs in the developing world have largely failed to improve poverty situation. Of all the factors responsible for the growing trend of poverty, the accountability of public officials remains an intriguing one. The relative ineffectiveness of conventional accountability mechanisms has given rise to social accountability practices. This paper aims to explore the terrain of social accountability and its role in poverty alleviation programs in Bangladesh. The paper argues that despite the great potentials, social accountability mechanisms work with difficulties in Bangladesh owing to contemporary socio-economic and political realities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerman, J. (2004). Co-governance for accountability: beyond “exit” and “voice”. World Development, 32(3), 447–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ackerman, J. (2005). Social accountability in the public sector: A conceptual discussion. Washington, D.C: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad, R. (2008). Governance, social accountability and the civil society. Journal of Administration & Governance, 3(1), 10–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali, T., & Hossain, N. (2006). “Popular expectations of government: Findings from three areas in Bangladesh.” PRCPB working paper no. 13. Dhaka: BRAC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apusigah, A. A. (2009). Promoting citizen government engagement for good governance in Ghana: the place of rights-based approaches. European Journal of Social Sciences, 11(4), 551–563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Azeem, V. (2006). Social accountability and poverty reduction in Ghana. Accra: ISODEC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Azfar, O. (2007). Disrupting corruption. In A. Shah (Ed.), Performance accountability and combating corruption (pp. 255–283). Washington D.C: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Behn, R. D. (2001). Rethinking democratic accountability. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blair, H. (2011). Gaining state support for social accountability. In S. O’dugbemi & T. Lee (Eds.), Accountability through public opinion: From inertia to public action (pp. 37–52). Washington DC: World Bank.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Blind, P.K. (2011). “Accountability in public service delivery: a multidisciplinary review of the concept.” Paper prepared for the Expert Group Meeting on Engaging Citizens to Enhance Public Sector Accountability and Prevent Corruption in the Delivery of Public Services. Vienna, Austria, 7–8 and 11–13 July 2011

  • Centre for Good Governance and World Bank. (2005). Draft report of the orientation and methodology workshop for the application of social accountability mechanisms in community driven development and decentralization programs in South Asia. Hydarabad: Centre for Good Governance.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Policy Dialogue (2004). “Poverty reduction strategy for Bangladesh: Views of civil society.” Available online at URL: www.cpd.org.bd/downloads/IRBD/INT02-04.pdf. Accessed 18 Aug 2011.

  • Chondhoke, N. (2003). Governance and the Pluralization of the State: Implications for democratic citizenship. Economic and Political Weekly, 38(28), 2957–2968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choudhury, Z. (2012). “Politics of intolerance and our future.” Available online at URL: http://www.thedailystar.net/forum/2012/April/politics.htm. Accessed 30 June 2012.

  • Devine, J. (2006). NGOs, politics and grassroots mobilization: evidence from Bangladesh. Journal of South Asian Development, 1(1), 77–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enrique, P. (2011a). “Public practices and institutions for enhancing public accountability and preventing corruption in the delivery of public services through the engagements of citizens.” A presentation prepared for the Workshop on Engaging Citizens to Enhance Public Sector Accountability in the Delivery of Public Services. Vienna, Austria, 11–13 July. Available online at URL: http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un-dpadm/unpan046412.pdf . Retrieved on 5 August 2011.

  • Enrique, P. (2011b). The workings of accountability: Context and conditions. In S. O’dugbemi & T. Lee (Eds.), Accountability through public opinion: From inertia to public action (pp. 53–64). Washington DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goetz, A. M., & Jenkins, R. (2001). Hybrid forms of accountability: citizen engagement in institutions of public sector oversight in India. Public Management Review, 3(3), 363–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Capital Development Fund. (2007). Project for the government of the people’s republic of Bangladesh project title : Local governance support project – learning and innovation component (LGSP-LIC). Dhaka: Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, M., & Sarker, A. E. (2010). Civic engagement and public accountability: an analysis with particular reference to developing countries. Public Administration and Management, 15(2), 381–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller, P., Harilal, K. N., & Chaudhuri, S. (2007). Building local democracy: evaluating the impact of decentralization in Kerala, India. World Development, 35(4), 626–648.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain, N. (2009a). “School exclusion as social exclusion: The practices and effects of a conditional cash transfer program for the poor in Bangladesh.” Working paper, no. 148. Sussex: IDS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hossain, N. (2009b). “Rude accountability in the unreformed state: Informal pressures on frontline bureaucrats in Bangladesh”. Working paper 319. Sussex: Institute of Development Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iftekharuzzaman. (2009). “Implementing right to information in bangladesh: opportunities and challenges.” Key-note paper presented at the International Conference on “RTI Implementation: Law, Institutions and Citizens” organized by the RTI Forum, Dhaka, 21–22 June.

  • Institute of Governance Studies (IGS). (2007). The state of governance in Bangladesh 2006: Expectations, commitments and challenges. Dhaka: IGS, BRAC University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Governance Studies (IGS). (2008). The state of governance in Bangladesh 2007: Confrontation, competition and accountability. Dhaka: IGS, BRAC University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Governance Studies (IGS). (2010). The state of governance in Bangladesh 2009: Entitlement, responsiveness and sustainability. Dhaka: IGS, BRAC University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Governance Studies (IGS). (2012). The state of governance in Bangladesh 2010–11: Policy, influence, and ownership. Dhaka: IGS, BRAC University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayal, N. G. (2008). New directions in theorizing social accountability. IDS Bulletin, 38(6), 105–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi, A., & Houtzager, P. P. (2012). Widgets or watchdogs? Public Management Review, 14(2), 145–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabeer, N., & Kabir, A. (2009). “Citizenship narratives in the absence of good governance: Voices of the working poor in Bangladesh”. Working paper 331. Sussex: Institute of Development Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabeer, N., Kabir, A., & Huq, T. (2009). “Quantifying the impact of social mobilization in Rural Bangladesh: Donors, civil society and the road not taken”. Working paper 33. Sussex: Institute of Development Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabeer, N., Mahmud, S., & Castro, J. (2010). “NGOs’ strategies and the challenge of development and democracy in Bangladesh”. Working paper 343. Sussex: Institute of Development Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamruzzaman, P. (2007). “The PRSP of Bangladesh – ownership, participation and poverty reduction.” Available online at URL: http://www.machizo.com/unnayannews/issue/prsp/ownership.htm.

  • Keohane, R. O., & Nye, J. S. (2000). Introduction. In J. S. Nye & J. D. Donahue (Eds.), Governance in a globalization world. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, P. S., Halligan, J., Cho, N., Oh, C. H., & Eikenberry, A. M. (2005). Special report: toward participatory and transparent governance: report on the sixth global forum on reinventing government. Public Administration Review, 65(6), 646–654.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knox, C. (2009). Dealing with sectoral corruption in Bangladesh: developing citizen involvement. Public Administration and Development, 29, 117–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malena, C. M., Forster, R., & Singh, J. (2004). Social accountability: An introduction to the concept and emerging practice. Washington, D.C: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCourt, W. (2003). Political commitment to reform: civil service reform in Swaziland. World Development, 31(6), 1015–1031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Finance (MoF). (2009). Bangladesh economic review. Dhaka: MoF, Government of Bangladesh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novy, A., & Leobolt, B. (2005). Participatory budgeting in Porto Alegre: a social innovation and the dialectical relationship of state and civil society. Urban Studies, 42(11), 2023–2036.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, S. P., & McLaughlin, K. (2002). From public administration to public governance: public management and public services in the twenty-first century. In S. P. Osborne & K. McLaughlin (Eds.), Public management: Critical perspectives (Vol. 1, pp. 1–10). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osman, F. A. (2010). Bangladesh politics: confrontation, monopoly and crisis in governance. Asian Journal of Political Science, 18(3), 310–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peruzzotti, E., & Smulovitz, C. (2006). Social accountability: An introduction. In E. Peruzzotti & C. Smulovitz (Eds.), Enforcing the rule of law: Social accountability in the Ne Latin American Democracies. Pittsburg, PA: University of Pittsburg Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Affairs Foundation, Sirker, K., & Cosic, S. (2007). Empowering the marginalized: Case studies of social accountability initiatives in Asia. Washington, DC: World Bank Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, M.H. (2006a). Institutional Mapping for Local Government Reform in Bangladesh. A report submitted to Bangladesh Democratic Local Governance Program (DLGP) [USAID/Dhaka sponsored Program]

  • Rahman, S. (2006b). Development, democracy and the NGO sector: evidence from Bangladesh. Journal of Developing Societies, 22(4), 451–473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarker. (2011). Public accountability in quandary: the case of Bangladesh. Asian Profile, 39(3), 205–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarker, A.E. (2012). “The political context of decentralization: reflections on South Asia.” Paper presented at the 16th IRSPM Conference held at Rome, 11–13 April.

  • Sarker, A. E., & Rahman, M. H. (2007). The emerging perspective of governance and poverty alleviation: a case of Bangladesh. Public Organization Review: A Global Journal., 7(2), 93–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sobhan, R. (1998). “How bad governance impedes poverty alleviation in Bangladesh”. Working paper no. 143. Paris: OECD Development Centre.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • The Daily Star. (2006). Repeal official secrets act, ensure press freedom. Dhaka: The Daily Star.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Daily Star. (2011). “Good initiatives lost to bad instances”. Available online at URL: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=199289. Accessed on 19 Aug.

  • Thomas, T. & Rahman, M.H. (2011). Breaking the cycle of frustration: towards a new governance framework for Bangladesh, paper presented at the International Conference on “Governance in Bangladesh: retrospective and future prospects”, Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University, Bangladesh and Centre for Development Studies, University of Bath, UK, Dhaka, 26–29 November, 2011.

  • Transparency International Bangladesh. (2012). Committees of Concerned Citizens (CCC) – Youth Engagement and Support (YES). Dhaka: Transparency International Bangladesh.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Development Program (UNDP). (2013). Human development report. New York: UNDP. Available online at URL: https://data.undp.org/dataset/Table1-Human-Development-Index-and-its-components/wxub-qc5k Retrieved on 17 February 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, S. (1999). NGOs, civil society and the state in Bangladesh: the politics of representing the poor. Development and Change, 30, 307–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, J. (2000). Prisoners and escapees: improving the institutional responsibility square in Bangladesh. Journal of Public Administration and Development, 20, 221–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2004). State-society synergy for accountability: Lessons for the World Bank. Washington, D.C: World Bank.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2008). Poverty assessment for Bangladesh: creating opportunities and bridging the east-of west divide. Dhaka: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2011). Supporting social accountability in the Middle East & North Africa. Washington D.C: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, G., Noble, M., & Magasela, W. (2007). Towards a democratic definition of poverty. Socially perceived necessities in South Africa. Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council. Available online at URL: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/poverty/docs/sforum/spresentations/d.luyt.pdf Retrieved on 17 February 2013.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management, Marketing and Public Administration, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    Abu Elias Sarker

  2. Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, PO Box 72229, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Mohammad Habibur Rahman

Authors
  1. Abu Elias Sarker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammad Habibur Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abu Elias Sarker.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sarker, A.E., Rahman, M.H. The Role of Social Accountability in Poverty Alleviation Programs in Developing Countries: An Analysis with Reference to Bangladesh. Public Organiz Rev 15, 317–333 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-014-0275-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-014-0275-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation