Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2014

Abstract

The concept of accountability is important in the family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH) sector, building on a rich history of community involvement and civil society participation. There are three categories of FP/RH accountability initiatives: tracking donor and government financial commitments, tracking national-level program implementation, and tracking service-delivery outcomes. The third category, often referred to as “social accountability,” includes the efforts of citizens and civil society to scrutinize and hold duty bearers to account for providing promised services, most often at the subnational or community levels. Social accountability is premised on the assumption that increased and targeted citizen and civil society engagement and action will force public officials to act on their commitments. The Evidence Project convened an expert consultation, “Strengthening the Evidence Base on Social Accountability for Improving Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programs” in July 2014 hosted by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, an Evidence Project partner, in London. This meeting report notes that the aim was to develop an understanding of social accountability for improving FP/RH programs and to identify gaps in the evidence base that can be addressed by the Evidence Project.

DOI

10.31899/rh10.1006

Language

English

Project

The Evidence Project

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