Post-2015 accountability mechanisms (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1101)
Literature on accountability mechanisms for tracking progress on development after the Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015
Abstract
Query
Identify literature on accountability mechanisms for tracking progress on development after the Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015. Where possible, identify how have these been received by governments, civil society and businesses.
Key messages
The Post-2015 Development Agenda refers to a currently ongoing process of defining the future global development framework, which will succeed the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The details and wording are yet to be agreed, but there are, however, a significant number of proposals for goals and targets, and with them descriptions, in some cases, of accountability mechanisms. Research for this report finds little in the way of commonly agreed accountability mechanisms across the available literature. This is likely due to goals and targets not being agreed yet, and a tendency for organisations to highlight their own capacities and strengths in their proposals.
Post-2015 literature mainly covers potential goals and targets, with arguments in favour of them. The scarce material on concrete accountability mechanisms seems to be primarily from international and supranational organisations rather than from national government or civil society organisations. Most of this material argues for strengthening and unifying existing accountability mechanisms, and in particular strengthening national processes and statistical systems. Though there is material which explores the existing proposals’ goals and targets, there is little literature which evaluates the accountability mechanisms within these proposals. Research for this report was unable to provide a comprehensive overview of the relevant literature but presents some notable examples.
Citation
Rao, S. Post-2015 accountability mechanisms (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1101). Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (2014) 11 pp.
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