Governance
(L-R) Bilal, 35, Mwanahamis, 30 and Adinani, 63, communtiy activists, Tanzania
Photo: Andrew McConnell/Panos/ActionAid
Fair, accountable government is crucial to ending poverty and promoting human rights. We help people to engage with governments, fight for justice, end discrimination and corruption, and take control of the decisions that shape their lives.
Issues of politics and governance might sound dry, but they are at the heart of building a just society, where people can claim their rights.
Governance is the way in which a country or society takes decisions and allocates resources. It's not just about voting systems, it's about the way in which people, including the poorest and most excluded can be involved in those decisions, and hold institutions accountable.
ActionAid's work on governance
While elites and established interests hold the reins of power, and prevent people from claiming their rights, it's vital that people are enabled to question and challenge those in power.
Local: By training people to understand, monitor and track budgets, ActionAid enables them work together to hold organisations to account, from schools to health authorities, local councils or the national government.
National ActionAid works to hold those in power accountable for their impact upon poor people. In the UK, this meant a successful campaign to get the government to agree to meet the international commitment to spend 0.7% of income on international aid. In Kenya, ActionAid’s support of the Women’s Agenda Network has played a vital role in bringing Kenyan women's voices into national politics.
International: We use our international perspective and research to influence the policy and practice of institutions like the World Bank and IMF at country and international level.
