Social accountability resources and tools

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are increasingly joining forces with public health personnel at the local and national levels to provide greater scrutiny of programs and budgets. Described as “social accountability,” common themes include: preparation and planning; involvement of marginalized and impoverished populations; identification of barriers for effective participation; interface meetings between civil society and governmental/public sector; measurable indicators of accountability and health outcomes; and rigorous evaluations of interventions. This document is intended to assist CSOs, non-governmental organizations, and government health program planners, managers and staff to identify and adapt existing guides and tools for effective social accountability strategies. The materials are divided into four sections: Global/general social accountability resources and tools; Country/regional social accountability resources and tools; Citizen/community monitoring of health services; and Participatory budgeting and public expenditure tracking.