January 14, 2015
Commentators on citizen-led accountability programs in persistently underdeveloped and conflict-prone states frequently advocate approaches that “work with the grain” of local social norms and institutions. At the same time, it is argued that local ownership of such initiatives requires donors and outsiders to work at “arm’s length,” allowing citizens the freedom to identify their own issues and design context sensitive solutions. While I wholeheartedly agree with such calls, this blog introduces research from Pakistan that raises a number of considerations for those designing accountability programs that subscribe to these aims.