Accountability has become an increasingly important discussion topic for civil society. As the need for transparency and openness grows, so does the necessity for enhanced skills in monitoring, reporting and evaluation.
The Commonwealth Foundation recognised the need to create a space where practitioners and invested parties to take part in the debate, to raise awareness of challenges faced by civil society and to find innovative methods for addressing them.
From October to December 2010, the Foundation held an online forum which provided the opportunity to ask questions of experienced members of the civil society community, policy makers and legislators on questions of civil society accountability, effectiveness, and legitimacy. Each discussion was chaired by an eminent practitioner who introduced a topic and responded to comments posed.
Topics of discussion were:
Evidence-based advocacy as a tool for CSO Accountability: a case study
Harsh Jaitli , Executive Officer, Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), India
Is Accountability the same for all organisations?
Balasubramanyam Chandramohan, Governing Board and Projects Secretary of Council for Education in the Commonwealth, UK
What is the role of civil society self regulation?
Anabel Cruz, Director of the Communication and Development Institute, Uruguay
Public Perception of civil society: are they accountable?
Rodney Grant, Chief Executive Officer, Pinelands Creative Workshop (PCW), Barbados
Civil society accountability: what do we mean?
Harriet Namisi, Programme Coordinator Governance, DENIVA, Uganda