Good governance is one of the key factors which determine a nation’s ability to achieve developmental progress. Unfortunately, many of the governmental institutions in Southern Africa are still plagued by corruption problems associated with a lack of accountability and transparency. There is always a danger that political leaders anywhere will become out of touch and complacent once they have gained power and prominence, but this is especially true in places where the people lack both impartial information about the government, and an accessible means of making their opinions known to their leaders. When the state is in control of a large share of the media houses, it becomes even more difficult for members of the public to get unbiased news or voice their dissent.
At Panos, we believe that media and communication are essential tools in shaping public opinion and we utilize them both to inform the public and to create an opportunity for marginalized groups to communicate directly with policy makers and other intervention specialists. Panos does this through a set of methodologies, both time-tested and innovative.
The main aim of PSAf’s Governance and Development Programme is to increase citizens’ participation and empowerment to foster transparency and accountability in governance processes.
PSAf works in the following areas:
Constitutional issues – We strive to hold leaders accountable by creating opportunities for dialogue and engagement regarding constitutional processes and issues within the constitution that affect citizens, especially those concerning their economic, social, and cultural rights. PSAf also generates awareness around constitutional issues among citizens and provides platforms for them to raise their voices about their constitutional rights.
Institutional governance – We conduct policy research and create space for discussion and debate with parliaments and local governments in an effort to enhance development. Providing space for discussion and debate also includes bringing citizens and their duty bearers to dialogue on accountability and transparency to promote responsiveness from elected leaders. PSAf also raises awareness on the role of key governance institutions through the different media platforms.
Elections and citizens’ participation – We enhance engagement between the poor and the marginalized and their leaders during pre and post election periods by creating space for dialogue and debates between citizens, media, and policymakers. Strengthening the media’s capacity to report on elections from a people’s perspective and monitoring media outputs during this period also form an essential part of this focus area.
Trade and aid – We support trade and aid intervention through policy research, policy dialogues, and capacity building for the media in reporting and communicating trade issues with a focus on those most affected by the policies.
National, regional, and international development strategies – We generate informed debate on national, regional, and international development strategies and disseminate this information to citizens, media, policymakers, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
Budget monitoring and tracking – We monitor and track national expenditures on essential services, while strengthening the capacity of media and other civil society organizations to focus on budget tracking to enhance national development. PSAf also produces policy documents on budget monitoring and tracking to support advocacy for the marginalized in relation to national budgets.
