USA Africa Dialogue Series - What are the limits of transparency and technology?

Transparency is not a magic bullet but rather part of the arsenal. Transparency, when combined with accountable and responsive institutions as well as the space for civil society to get involved, is a game changer. These other factors are what make transparency meaningful and useful to build trust, fight corruption and achieve development progress. Alone, transparency may be cost-free but it also falls short on realizing all the promises that have been tied up with it.

But what does transparency really encompass or mean? Transparency can generally be defined as the "characteristic of governments, companies, organisations and individuals of being open in the clear disclosure of information, rules, plans, processes and actions".

Take the case of public spending. Transparency can be used to follow the money to make sure that promised funds are turned into results for the poorest. In Mexico, "social witnesses" are required by law and have overseen more than $50 billion of public spending and tendering procedures. Findings from Transparency International show that in countries where there is greater openness, more checks-and-balances and better rule of law, more pregnant women have healthy births, more children and young people are educated to read, and more families have access to clean water and sanitation.

Link:http://oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/what-are-the-limits-of-transparency-and-technology-the-thoughts-of-three-...

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Yona Fares Maro

Institut d'études de sécurité - SA

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