Governance

Elements of Governance

ADB’s concept of governance relies on four key elements or conditions

• Accountability
• Participation
• Predictability
• Transparency

1. Accountability:

Public officials must be accountable or answerable for their actions and responsive to the entity from which their authority is derived. ADB promotes accountability in government to build capacity to undertake economic reforms, implement reforms successfully, and provide citizens with an acceptable level of public services. Evaluation criteria and oversight mechanisms are necessary to measure the performance of public officials and to make sure standards are met.

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2. Participation:

Participation refers to the involvement of citizens in the development process. Beneficiaries and groups affected by projects or other development interventions need to participate so that the government can make informed choices with respect to their needs, and social groups can protect their rights. ADB promotes participation in governments by

• Encouraging the participation of project beneficiaries and affected groups
• Improving the interface between the public and private sectors
• Empowering local government by letting them take ownership of projects
• Working with NGOs to mobilize and reach out to project beneficiaries

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3. Predictability:

A country's legal environment must be conducive to development. A government must be able to regulate itself via laws, regulations and policies, which encompass well-defined rights and duties, mechanisms for their enforcement, and impartial settlement of disputes. Predictability is about the fair and consistent application of these laws and implementation of government policies.

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4) Transparency:

Transparency refers to the availability of information to the general public and clarity about government rules, regulations, and decisions. It can be strengthened through the citizens´ right to information with a degree of legal enforceability. Transparency and disclosure in government decision-making and public policy implementation reduces uncertainty and can help inhibit corruption among public officials.

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