This document contains a draft set of focus group discussion questions based on the "Critical 9" for revising to better suit a local context. The questions address topics like how political institutions would support or hinder a CRC methodology, what policies and spending are decided locally, safety and freedom of expression in the locality, the status of civil society and professional organizations, media independence and coverage of issues, attitudes of service providers to citizen feedback, and relationships between levels of government and potential for local leadership advocacy.

1. APPENDIX 4: Draft FGD Questions
Listed below is a draft set of FGD questions based on the Critical 9. It may be necessary to
revise them to better suit your locality.
1. How would the political institutions in your state support or hinder the CRC
methodology?
2. What types of policies and spending decisions related to service delivery are made at
the local level?
3. How safe is your locality? Would organizations feel safe conducting the CRC?
4. Can citizens voice their opinion regarding the government? Do individuals fear
retribution for openly critiquing government?
5. Is there an active civil society in your locality? Are organization networked? Are there
independent, non-partisan CSOs?
6. How does your locality fare in terms of professional organizations?
7. Is your local media independent? Does it cover issues related to public service
delivery? Would it cover CRC findings and present them in an unbiased manner?
8. What is the attitude of service providers? How open are they to citizen feedback?
9. What is the relationship between the higher levels of government and decentralized
initiatives in your locality? Could this leadership become a potential advocate for
change?
This document is the Intellectual Property of Public Affairs Centre (PAC). Any quotation from it should duly
acknowledge PAC.