Call for abstracts / papers

Democratic Accountability in Development

1. Background

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) supports sustainable democratic change through providing comparative knowledge and assisting in democratic reform and influencing politics and policies.

The Institute has set up a program on Democracy and Development that is embarking upon issues of democratic accountability in sectors, services and activities essential for development. The program seeks to stimulate debate among civil society organizations, governments, research institutions and international organizations on effective ways to foster democratic practices in development, an area where democracy support has been traditionally absent.

This call for papers is part of International IDEA’s efforts to stimulate debate on the impact of democratic accountability arrangements on development outcomes and facilitate exchange between key democratic stakeholders in developing countries. The selected papers will be considered for publication and presented at an international workshop in Mozambique, April 2010 organized by International IDEA, the Netherlands Embassy and the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV).

2. Submissions

International IDEA welcomes abstracts from professionals working with non-governmental organizations, research centres, governments and international organizations engaged with issues of governance and development in developing countries.

The abstracts must be no longer than 700 words, and focused on the analysis of (an) actual case(s) where formal or informal democratic accountability arrangements had discernible effects on the provision of services deemed as essential for development, in developing countries. Successful applicants will be invited to submit full papers (see 8 and 9).

Abstracts must be submitted in English. Successful applicants might be allowed to submit full papers in other languages, in agreement with International IDEA.

Submissions exceeding word limit or in different language will unfortunately not be considered.

3. Scope and questions to be addressed

The abstracts must address the role played by democratic actors in formal or informal accountability mechanisms in development processes. From a democratic perspective, key democratic actors are parliaments, political parties, local governments, executives, media, interest groups and other groups within civil society, specially: users associations, unions, business associations, faith-based groups, watchdog groups, and others with stake or legitimate interest in the provision of services.

The accountability arrangements under analysis may be both formal and informal. The exam of innovative ways of holding public officials to account is encouraged.

The abstracts must provide key information on the proposed papers, addressing at least the following:

1. General: The name of the country or countries; the sector(s), service(s) or activity(ies); the accountability arrangement(s); and the democratic actors under analysis.
2. Impact on development: The discernible effects of accountability arrangements on development outcomes and the mechanisms under which those effects have taken place. International IDEA is interested in both positive and negative effects of accountability on development.
3. Description: A brief description of the case or experience.
4. Factors: What were the relevant institutional and structural conditions (formal and informal) that ultimately accounted for the (positive and negative) impact of accountability arrangements on the service, sector or activity?
5. Indicators: Are there any key, observable indicators that measure the performance of democratic accountability arrangements on the sector, service or activity?

4. On the sectors and activities

The abstracts must refer to services or activities that are relevant for development. An illustrative but not exclusive list of sectors is:

1. Agriculture
2. Education
3. Health
4. Infrastructure
5. Water and Sanitation

International IDEA may consider research on additional sectors (e.g. security, housing), other state activities (e.g. management of natural resources) or institutional arrangements (e.g. donor support to national budget) as long as the abstract identifies their impact on development outcomes.

5. On the regional coverage

The countries under study will, preferably but not exclusively, be from the following regions:

1. Africa
2. Asia-Pacific
3. Latin America (particularly the Andean sub-region)
4. Middle East

International IDEA may accept the inclusion of cases from developed democracies if they convey relevant and useful conclusions for newly established or less developed democracies.

6. Further criteria

Abstracts will be selected on the grounds of the competence shown by their authors in addressing the topic. Additionally, International IDEA will judge favourably:

1. Comparisons between sectors, services or activities from more than one country or region.
2. Papers addressing issues of gender, conflict or diversity in relationship to democracy and development.
3. A combination of rigour and accessible language, for the benefit of broader audiences.
4. Abstracts presented by professionals from organizations based in developing countries.

At least one paper on the Water and Sanitation sector will be part of the final selection.

Further guidelines on the final papers will be provided directly to the successful applicants by January 19th, 2010.

7. Use of grey literature

While the assessment of democratic accountability arrangements on service delivery in developing countries has deserved some academic interest, civil society organizations, governments, think-tanks and development agencies have also devoted impressive efforts to canvass different aspects of the field.

International IDEA encourages the integration of this knowledge into the proposals. The applicants are expected to make use of both academic and non-academic literature (project reports, project evaluations, policy papers, working papers, press articles, etc.)

8. Timeline

- January 19th, 2009: Final submission for abstracts with paper proposals
- January 26th, 2009: Selected authors are invited to submit full papers
- March 12th, 2010: Final submission of full papers

9. Grants

International IDEA will select up to 7-10 papers. Authors will receive a grant of EURO 1,500 (for each paper) and an invitation to present their work during an international workshop to take place in Mozambique in April 2010. Papers will be also considered for publication.

10. Submissions and further enquiries

Submissions will be done electronically. Authors must send their abstracts accompanied by a two-page curriculum vitae, to the following address: accountability@idea.int

Further enquiries are also welcome on the same electronic address.