News
Middle East and North Africa ‘need more accountable public services’
03-May-2015
By Judith Ugwumadu | 17 April 2015
Accountability produces
better public services and is essential for long-term stability in the Middle
East and North African region, the World Bank has argued.
The bank warned in a new
report that essential public services in the MENA region were failing to meet
the needs of the citizens.
Its Trust, Voice and
Incentives said a lack of accountability from service providers and limited
channels for citizen feedback produced a ‘corrosive’ effect.
Hafez Ghanem, World Bank
vice president for the MENA region, said young people in particular were too
often let down by schools that do not prepare them for the jobs market.
‘The problem is not a lack
of resources but the wrong motivation, as public servants are not judged by
their ability to meet the needs of citizens. Breaking the cycle of poor
performance will be essential for rebuilding the relationship between citizens
and governments and allowing the region’s youth to reach their full potential.’
In its search for
solutions, the bank identified local examples of service delivery and shared
lessons learned in its report.
For example, the Kufor
Quod Girls’ Secondary School in the rural West Bank is a top performer for
maths and science. This is because of parental and community engagement and the
ability of the school’s principal to build and maintain a motivating work
environment for teachers, despite the poverty and instability that surround
them, the World Bank said.
It cited schools and
health clinics in Jordan and Morocco, which use citizen experience to find
better ways to provide services.
‘Improvements in services
will not come simply through policy reforms and investments,’ said Hana Brixi,
World Bank lead for public service delivery and lead author of the report.
‘It will require making
public servants and providers accountable to citizens and promoting citizens’
trust in and engagement with public institutions. Our case studies reveal the
impact of solutions designed to fit local contexts: local leaders, motivated
school principals and health clinic staff, and communities can effectively join
forces and make services work.’
The World Bank said it
would provide support to the governments and people of the MENA region to
develop inclusive institutions and efficient service delivery.
- See more at: http://www.publicfinanceinternational.org/news/2015/04/middle-east-and-north-africa-need-more-accountable-public-services/#sthash.9KdJGpae.dpuf