​New updates from LOGIN

Workshop Report Available on MELP: Read Now!

LOGIN recently organised a workshop on civic engagement, accountability and open governance in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. The event brought together representatives from the civil society, government departments, local government associations and universities from 12 South-East Asian countries. The workshop report, detailing the methods and proceedings of the learning event, is now available on MELP. http://www.loginasia.org/files/documents/CE_Workshop_Report.pdf

LOGIN's Experience Collation on One Stop-Shops: Know More...

Public service delivery is one of the key learning themes for LOGIN. At the 3rd General Assembly, One-Stop Shops (OSS) were discussed as effective means for providing public service delivery, and an area where further learning could be pursued within the network. Towards this end, the LOGIN Secretariat has undertaken preliminary efforts to document experiences from Asia and Europe in implementing OSS models. Further efforts will be invested based on interest and demand from the membership.

http://www.loginasia.org/users/login

From LOGIN's Knowledge Store: Research Articles for You!

Gauging the Effects of Social Accountability on Services, Governance, and Citizen Empowerment

Derick W. Brinkerhoff, Anna Wetterberg : 2015

Engaging citizens in holding public officials and service providers accountable, referred to as social accountability, is a popular remedy for public sector performance weaknesses, figuring prominently in many international donor-funded projects and leading to widespread replication. However, the contextual factors that influence the successful transfer of social accountability are debated. Demand-side factors (civil society and citizens) are
overemphasized in much of the literature. Yet supply-side factors (state structures and processes) and the nature of state–society relations are also important. This article examines four projects in developing countries to explore how these contextual factors influenced social accountability aims and outcomes. The salience of supply factors in enabling social accountability for service delivery and government performance stands out, particularly the degree of decentralization and the availability of space for citizen engagement. The capacity and motivation of citizens to occupy the available space, aggregate and voice their concerns, and participate with state actors in assessing service delivery performance and problems are critical.

Source: Public Administration Review, 76: 274–286

Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/puar.12399/full

Open Government and (Linked) (Open) (Government) (Data)

Christian P. Geiger, Jörn von Lucke : 2012

This article explores the opening and the free usage of stored public sector data, supplied by state. In the age of Open Government and Open Data it’s not enough to simply put data online. It should, rather, be weighed out whether, how and which supplied public sector data can be published. Open Data are defined as stored data which could be made accessible in the public interest without any restrictions for usage and distribution. These Open Data may be statistics, geo data, maps, plans, environmental data and weather data in addition to materials of parliaments, ministries and authorities. The preparation and the free access to existing data permit varied approaches to the reuse of data, which is discussed in the article. In addition, impulses can be given for Open Government – the opening of state and administration, to more transparency, participation and collaboration as well as to innovation and business development. The Open Data movement tries to get to the bottom of current publication processes in the public sector which could be formed even more friendly to citizens and enterprises.

Source: JeDEM - eJournal of eDemocracy and Open Government 4(2): 265-278

Link: http://www.jedem.org/index.php/jedem/article/view/143/115