Levels of Citizen Engagement

SAI–citizen engagement can be incremental, and it can range from one-way interactions to the complementary features of collaboration and communication.

How are these engagement dimensions featured?

DIMENSION DEFINITION AND USES TOOLS SAI EXPERIENCES
Information

It is shaped as a one-way interaction which implies providing citizens with balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problem, alternatives, opportunities, and solutions. Although information does not precisely meet the definition of citizen engagement, it is an enabling condition for building such a  relationship.

Public disclosure of information; awareness-raising activities.

Costa Rica

Consultation

It is shaped as a one-way interaction, which implies obtaining citizen feedback on analyses, alternatives, and decisions, which can—in turn—become a valuable input to state agencies (SAIs in particular).

Focus groups; citizen satisfaction surveys; citizen complaints.

Chile

Korea

Collaboration

It is shaped as a two-way interaction or bi-directional relationship that involves partnering with citizens in part or all of the decision-making process.

Joint or participatory audits; citizens´ juries; participatory budgeting.

Philippines

Empowerment

It implies that final decision making is in the hands of citizens.

Community management; citizen watchdogs

Dominican Republic

“Supreme Audit Institutions and Stakeholder Engagement Practices. A Stocktaking Report"
Effective Institutions Platform, September 2014.

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Bibliography

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DESA & INTOSAI (2011): “Effective practices of cooperation between SAIs and citizens to enhance public accountability”.

UN (2006):“Dialogue on Civil Society Engagement in Public Accountability”, Workshop Report, Manila, Philippines.

Cornejo, C. (2012): “Citizenship and Supreme Audit Institutions: Transparency, Civic Participation and Accountability”, report on the Expert´s Forum, coordinated on behalf of the TPA INITIATIVE (April 16th to 27th, 2012) in the Journal of the Ibero- American Experts’ Network Nº 9, pp. 42-47, Madrid, 1st semester.

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Castro, M., Cornejo, C. et al (2013): “Transparency, Participation and Accountability in Public Oversight: advancing Latin American SAIs agenda at the subnational level” in Supreme Audit Institutions. Accountability for development, NOMOS, INTOSAI-GIZ.

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Van Zyl, A. (2013): “Greasing the Wheels of the Accountability System: How Civil Society Organizations close the Gap between Transparency and Accountability”, Washington D.C., International Budget Partnership.

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Ramkumar, V. &Krafchik, W. (2006): “The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Auditing and Public Finance Management”, The International Budget Project.

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OLACEFS – GIZ/BMZ (2012): “Citizen participation in public oversight: good practices for strengthening relationships between SAIs and citizenship”, Commission on Citizen Participation, San José.

INTOSAI (2013): “Challenges of SAIs regarding Sustainable and Efficient Ways to Communicate their Audit Findings and Recommendations”, INTOSAI Basic Paper, 22nd UN/INTOSAI Symposium, Vienna, March 5-7.