Promoting More Transparent and Accountable Government Institutions
A key determinant for successful democratic consolidation is the ability of democratically-elected governments to provide "good governance." While many citizens of developing countries value characteristics associated with democracy (e.g., elections, human rights, and representation), they are often equally interested in qualities such as public accountability, responsiveness, transparency, and efficiency. "Good governance" assumes a government's ability to maintain social peace, guarantee law and order, promote or create conditions necessary for economic growth, and ensure a minimum level of social security. Yet many new governments fail to realize the long-term benefits of adopting effective governance policies. Even in cases where governments recognize the value of such policies, they often lack the capacity to implement them. For these reasons, newly democratic governments too often revert to more familiar patterns of authoritarianism and abuse.
Because the behavior of formal state actors can support or undermine developmental and democratic processes, USAID works to encourage and assist young democratic governments to reform their structures and processes to make them more transparent, accountable, and participatory. USAID works to encourage more transparent and accountable government institutions in five areas: - anti-corruption
- democratic decentralization
- legislative strengthening
- civil-military relations
- effective policy implementation.
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