Social Accountability in Ethiopia: Establishing Collaborative Relationships between Citizens and the State

Book excerpt: Social Accountability in Ethiopia is a comprehensive guidebook with numerous examples on the use of social accountability-a process by which citizens, communities, policymakers, and government officials are engaged in constructive dialogue about justifications for policies and actions, among other elements. It offers detailed and thorough discussion of how social accountability tools are used to objectively assess government service delivery performance and the mechanisms used for addressing service delivery deficits in constructive and collaborative processes between citizens and government actors. It also discusses how the social accountability practice can be sustained, regularized and mainstreamed in government service delivery decisions. It also enables citizens to voice their needs and concerns and work collaboratively to enhance the access, quality, and equity of the public services they use.