More examples of social accountability efforts in SUN countries Plus d'examples d'efforts de redevabilite sociale dans les pays SUN Mas ejemplos de esfuerzos de rendicion de cuenta social en los paises SUN

1. A SUN CSN Presentation on accountability
and examples from countries
©Sandy Maroun/Save the Children

2. Accountability
Accountability
• Accountability can be defined as ensuring that actions, decisions, programs, and policies made by
public officials and other decision-makers are (1) implemented, (2) meet their stated objectives,
and (3) respond to the communities they aim to benefit (Global Health Visions, 2015).
Mutual accountability
• Mutual accountability is a process by which two (or multiple) partners agree to be held
responsible for the commitments that they have voluntarily made to each other. (OECD).
Social accountability
• Social accountability can be defined as an approach towards building accountability that relies on
civic engagement, i.e., in which it is ordinary citizens and/or civil society organizations who
participate directly or indirectly in exacting accountability (World Bank, 2004).
“Civil Society stands as the critical bridge to ensure that policies, plans and pledges are implemented
in the interest of the people and reach the populations most vulnerable to malnutrition …. Civil
Society has an essential watchdog role to play to ensure accountability and delivery of commitments.”
SUN CSN
Accountability - What is it?

3. Recommendations
1. Accountability is about holding to account on
commitments: Advocacy work needs to include
ensuring SMART national, regional and international
commitments on nutrition by governments, donors
and private sector, including around 2016 Rio summit
goals.
2. Nutrition accountability needs a multi-stage, multi-
level & multi-sector approach: CSAs will achieve
greater impact if they work across the whole Social
Accountability system, rather than just on one specific
accountability tool, at one level or with one sector;
3. Nutrition accountability needs a multi-stakeholder,
consensus-building approach: a non-partisan
approach helps bring in people from all sectors and
levels, into a collective force for more effective
nutrition efforts and results;
4. Accountability needs a multi-media approach: CSAs
should apply creative communications strategies,
using traditional and social media, to ensure
consistent messaging and broad outreach;
Accountability Think Piece –SUN CSN resource

4. Recommendations
5. Accountability needs the right data: CSA advocacy is needed for greater investment in more frequent
data collection and transparency on nutrition outcomes, results, coverage, budgeting and expenditure,
including participatory data collection involving civil society;
6. Multiple strategies that evolve over time are needed to respond to the changing context:
accountability strategies need to be adapted over time, adjusting to changes, opportunities and
bottlenecks that emerge, and based on deep understanding of the context, and the power and
incentives of different actors;
7. Use different tactics for engagement: CSAs need to apply a mix of tactics in their accountability work,
promoting collaboration, consensus-building and mutual accountability;
8. Connect with enforceability mechanisms within Government: CSA accountability work needs to link
civil society “voice” with the “teeth” of systems within Government; (such as internal performance
management systems, audit, legal systems, etc.).
9. Increasing the focus on women in nutrition accountability processes is essential: Ensure a specific
focus on gender and nutrition in all accountability and advocacy work.
10. Promoting accountability means also “walking the talk” on accountability: CSAs need to “Walk the
talk” and ensure their own accountability. CSN should promote greater sharing of experiences and tools
for accountability of CSAs.
Accountability Think Piece –SUN CSN resource

5. The social accountability system
This diagram was developed by the Public Sector Accountability Monitor (PSAM) in South Africa,
as part of their training programme on the Social Accountability System.
Accountability Think Piece –SUN CSN resource

6. Case studies
Peru: Working together for accountability for nutrition
Zimbabwe: Engaging Parliamentarians for Accountability
Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Zambia : Budget analysis and advocacy for Increased Investment in
Nutrition and Accountability
Tanzania: Tracking Nutrition Funds at Local Level
Nutrition for Growth: Following the Funding
Sri Lanka & Myanmar: Accountability for compliance on the International code for the
marketing of breast milk substitutes
Guatemala: Social auditing & youth groups
Nepal & Niger : Establishing effective complaints mechanisms
Accountability Think Piece – new SUN CSN resource

7. Working together for accountability
Peru has made strong progress on child
nutrition since 2007, with stunting dropping
from 28.5% to 14.6%. This dramatic change
occurred through a combination of civil society
advocacy, political will that has been
maintained across political cycles, alignment of
Government, donor and NGO efforts within a
national multi-sectoral strategy, and results-
based budgeting. This case study explores an
area that has received less attention to date:
how stakeholders worked together to promote
nutrition accountability, and ultimately
nutrition results and impacts.
Case study - Peru
Mechanism
Consensus-building forums
Annual Balance exercises

8. Engaging Parliamentarians for accountability
Members of Parliament play a key role in policy
formulation, monitoring and implementation. They can also
ensure that initiatives are informed by the real needs of
their constituents and are in line with national frameworks.
They also play a key role in reviewing legislation, approving
budget allocations and exercise oversight.
But to perform well, MPs need to be well informed.
Zambia’s ZCSOSUNA made sure parliamentarians were
aware of the nutrition-based commitments reached by
their government and had up-to-date information on the
specifics of the nutritional status of their constituents. This
case study is about how they built a partnership with
government, timed their intervention carefully and made
good use of the media. The case study also looks at the
impact of their work and their learning from the process.
Case study - Zimbabwe
Mechanism
Civil society represents the voice of
citizens to parliamentarian
champions

9. Budget analysis and advocacy for
Increased Investment in Nutrition
Although there have been
improvements in maternal and
child malnutrition in
Malawi, under-nutrition remains
high with 47% of children stunted,
14% underweight
and 4.1% wasted. Malawi’s CSONA
has been carrying out annual
budget analysis exercises that
focuses on six ministries.
Case study - Malawi
The aim is to continuously generate
evidence that informs CSONA’s
advocacy work, as well as to
develop recommendations for
Government rand members of
Parliament (MPs) on
implementation gaps and failing to
meet commitments. The case study
looks at impact and lessons
learned.
Mechanism
National - Civil Society Alliance conducts budget analysis and
works with parliamentarian champions
Sub-national – works with local authorities to track budget
expenditures and call for improved use of existing funds and
increased allocation for nutrition

10. The art and science of budget analysis
Zambia’s CSO-SUN has been conducting budget analysis for a period of three years
(2012-2015) to advocate for positive changes in financing of nutrition interventions. There are two
main phases:
 Pre-budget analysis – coordinated lobbying by civil society for Ministries to prioritise nutrition
funding during the mid-year expenditure planning phase respecting the local legal framework.
 Post-budget analysis: detailed analysis is carried out of the country’s Estimates of Revenue and
Expenditure document to calculate allocations made to each sector and the main budget lines
they manage.
Over the years, CSO-SUN’s budget analysis has become a credible source of nutrition budgeting
data in Zambia, amongst donors, government, parliament and civil society actors alike. CSO-SUN
uses the annual analysis to advocate for reforms and increased commitments. Among a range of
impacts, there has been a growing recognition by ministries of the importance of embedding
nutrition in programming, and some Ministry policies (such as Agriculture, and Social Protection)
now have a stronger nutrition component.
Case study - Zambia
Mechanism
National - Civil Society Alliance conducts budget analysis and
works with parliamentarian champions

11. Tracking nutrition funds at local level
Tanzania’s PANITA and Save the Children began efforts to
track nutrition resources at the local level in 2012. The
inspiration came from an earlier Nutrition Policy Mapping
exercise, which gathered inputs from a wide range of
nutrition stakeholders including Government. PANITA
then conducted an analysis of the public expenditure for
nutrition in two districts over three years.
Case study - Tanzania
The analysis focused on tracking actual expenditures as
compared to plans and budgets. In the process a user-
friendly tool for budget and expenditure tracking at
district level was developed. In 2014, the analysis was
carried out in five districts with PANITA members using
the tool to collect data. The findings revealed that
prioritisation of nutrition in plans and budget was
relatively low.
All this data is enabling PANITA to advocate
strongly for increased prioritisation and
accountability on nutrition, especially at the
local level.
Mechanism
Sub-national – works with local actors to track budget
expenditures and call for improved use of existing funds and
increased allocation for nutrition
Impact
Increased CSO participation in regional and district nutrition
steering committee meetings resulting in increased budgetary
allocation by the Local Government Authorities (LGAs) for
nutrition activities.

12. Donor accountability scorecard
This case study is about the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) donor
accountability scorecard. This online tool is designed to hold donors
to account for their commitments made at the Nutrition for Growth
Summit in 2013. Some U$4.15 billion was pledged for nutrition-
specific programmes targeting the immediate causes of
undernutrition, and USD 19 billion for nutrition-sensitive programs
addressing key underlying contributing factors.
The tool has been widely publicised and has helped ensure
commitments are met. It has also laid the ground for the second
Nutrition for Growth conference in Rio in 2016. It has prompted
conversations in many countries and at different levels about using
similar scorecard approach to tracking national commitments.
Case study – Nutrition for Growth
Mechanism
Score card
A new equity score card for East and
South Africa from Their World –
worth checking out

13. Improving voice and compliance to promote breastfeeding
Sri Lanka is on track to reach all the Millennium Development Goals, except the nutrition
targets, with under five malnutrition remaining a particular public health problem. The
Government has launched many initiatives to reduce childhood malnutrition, including several
that focused on increasing breastfeeding. Lack of awareness of a range of government-led
nutrition interventions is one important factor in the low level of public demand (“voice”) for
improved access and quality of nutrition services.
This case study is about how Sri Lanka’s SUN PF worked with community-based organisations
to raise mother’s awareness of government nutrition action and at the same time to link with
government accountability mechanisms at a local level. To inform its advocacy work, SUN PF
developed a questionnaire to measure breast feeding in target communities. The information
is being gathered and analysed and will be used to lobby the government and ensure
accountability on existing commitments.
Other CSAs are also actively engaging in the monitoring of the BMS
code and its possible violations in country through
community/civil society-led efforts
Myanmar CSA has developed a mobile application to roll out monitoring
of the BMS code in country and at the local level. Beneficiaries can report
violations using the Kobo Collect app and the complaints are filed in a
database and reported to authorities
El Salvador CSA’s host has for several years been engaging in monitoring
violations of the code , which is included in the country legal framework.
Case study – Sri Lanka & Myanmar
Mechanism
Mobile technology & local community survey

14. Social auditing - Youth networks monitor the implementation of the national nutrition plan in hard to reach
communities
Aim: to monitor progress, identify challenges and actions needed to ensure effective delivery of health and
nutrition services during the first 1000 days
Main actors: Youth networks and a commission of grassroots CSOs
Coverage
 4 regions, 7 departments, 8 municipalities and 32 communities and their health centres
Methodology
 Developed as an alliance – software developed to systematize the results.
 In each of the 32 communities, 19 samples were collected (2 from pregnant women, 6 from mothers of
children less than 6 months old, 9 of mothers with children aged between 6 and 24 months, 1 from health care
professional, 1 from a midwife).
 The project worked in some of the hardest to reach communities, where the only access is on foot – a 6-7
hours walk with significant security risks.
 Capacity strengthening for consolidating pilot phase is underway.
Instruments used for the collection of data
 Observations of nutritional and food education chats, checks of vitamins and vaccines available in health
centre, interview with pregnant women, mothers of children less than 6 months old, mothers with children
aged between 6 and 24 months and checks in the health centre with the health care professional.
Results
 Effective implementation of MSPAS (the 1000 day window programme) remains a challenge in hard to reach
areas – non compliance to established protocols, poor health care worker practice, no adapted tools for
behaviour change communication, corruption
 Presented as part of advocacy forums to vice-ministers, congress and other deputies
Case study – Guatemala
Mechanism
Social audit & youth networks

15. An Ombudsperson model in Nepal being explored for social
accountability
An Independent Body for Resolving Discontent, Grievances and
Contention (preliminary work)
A grievance mechanism for citizen complaints in Niger
Case study – Nepal & Niger
Mechanism
Ombudsperson
Grievance mechanism
19%
81%
Plaintes par genre
Female

16. Catégories
1 Demande d'information 5
2 Demande d'assistance 11
3 Mécontentement mineur par rapport aux activités(articlesmanquantsdansun kit,
manque de suivi, etc.)
9
4 Mécontentement majeur par rapport aux activités(articlesde mauvaise qualité,
problèmesconcernant lasélection desbénéficiaires, sécurit : mise en danger desenfants
ou desadultes, par exemple: case d0un site de construction jugé dangereux, etc.)
18
5 Manquementsau code de conduite et/ou àlapolitique de défense et de protection des
enfantsde Save the Children (allégationsde comportement inapproprié ou de mauvaise
conduite de lapart d'un employé, d'un représentant ou d'un partenaire de SCI. Il peut
s'agir notamment de fraude, de vol ou de corruption (détournement de biens, potsdu
vin, demande de paiement par exemple) ou d'agression verbale, physique ou sexuelle ou
d'exploitation sexuelle enversun ou desbénéficiaires, etc.)
0
6 Allégationsd'agression ou d'exploitation sexuelle enversun enfant ou un bénéficiaire de
lapart d'une personne qui n'est pasun employé ou un représentant de SCI, c'est-à-dire
de lapart d'un membre de lacommunauté, d'un employé d’une autre ONG ou d’une
agence de l'ONU.
0
16
Establishing effective complaints systems: Niger

17. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE MAP
More of our impact on our map

18. Summary of recommendations
Accountability Think Piece
1. Accountability is about holding to account on
commitments
2. Nutrition accountability needs a multi-stage,
multi-level & multi-sector approach
3. Nutrition accountability needs a multi-
stakeholder, consensus-building approach
4. Accountability needs a multi-media approach
5. Accountability needs the right data
6. Multiple strategies that evolve over time are
needed to respond to the changing context
7. Use different tactics for engagement
8. Connect with enforceability mechanisms within
Government
9. Increasing the focus on women in nutrition
accountability processes is essential
10. Promoting accountability means also “walking the
talk” on accountability

19. Moving forward & Key partnerships
Objectives
- Ensure strong CS contribution to COP1
- Strengthen and build capacity for CSAs to scale up social accountability from local to national
levels
- Capture best practice (more case studies and linking to impact) and foster cross-learning for
multiplying efforts (Learning Routes, Regional Hubs, Regional Gatherings, SUN GG, …)
Key stakeholders
- CIVICUS & datashift
- GODAN
- The Hunger Project
- SEND West Africa
- Save the Children
- WorldVision
- CSAs