accountability

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has pledged US$25 million towards strengthening credible national institutions like parliaments, human rights organisations and anti-corruption commissions in developing countries, during 2010.

Some US$13 million of this amount will be spent on supporting election processes in Sub-Saharan countries during 2010-2011.

The funds will also go toward promoting inclusive governance programmes such as access to information and channels that allow stakeholder voices to be heard in governance processes.

Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, has announced that South Africa will spend extra R112 billion in the next three years to tackle poverty, boost job creation and fight HIV/AIDS.

Speaking during his first budget speech since being appointed by President Jacob Zuma nine months ago, Gordhan points out that, "Of these amounts, over half go to provinces and municipalities for education, health, municipal infrastructure and human settlements, reflecting our commitment to sustaining growth in spending on our key priorities."

The World Bank president has voiced his satisfaction at the actions taken by African governments to deal with the global economic crisis.

Ending an eight-day, three-nation trip to Africa, which took him to Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire and Ethiopia, Robert Bruce Zoellick says that, "I leave African impressed by the actions many governments have taken to cope with the global economic crisis.

The release of the King 3 report on corporate governance in 2009 and its imminent application have invigorated debate on corporate governance and social responsibility. Although this is a positive step, there is a need to orientate the debate towards the responsibilities of the nonprofit sector in a more meaningful way.

The United States has suspended a five-year US$7 million programme for Kenya's education ministry over a massive corruption scandal.

Washington's ambassador, Michael Ranneberger, who points out that the programme was scheduled to begin this year, says that the suspension will be effective until there is a credible, independent audit and full accountability.

"Those culpable for the fraud should not merely be sacked; they should be prosecuted and put behind bars," says Ranneberger.

1. The Political Environment

1.1. Grace before the meal
The very essence of “politics” is the human intercourse about how we are governed, where we are going, what our context is, where we find ourselves among broader humanity, and the essential and ever-changing debate about how best to divvy up limited resources.