Transparency and Public Accountability

Transparency refers to the condition where stakeholders can access information. It involves providing information about an organization's activities to its members, service recipients, donors, or others, or enabling them to access such information. However, the extent of transparency depends on the laws, policies, and regulations governing the organization. Accountability refers to the obligatory condition where an organization must answer for its actions. Representatives elected by sovereign people are accountable to the public. A nation receiving aid may need to provide reports or requested information to donor nations, which is termed accountability. Since public institutions operate with public taxes and rights, their accountability to the public is called public accountability.

Relationship Between Transparency and Public Accountability

• Transparency strengthens public accountability. The first step of public accountability is ensuring citizens have free access to information.
• Transparency reveals the state of utilization of public resources, creating a basis for holding responsible officials accountable.
• Public officials who provide information naturally become accountable.

However, transparency alone is not public accountability. Safeguarding sensitive information, maintaining confidentiality, and presenting it when required are also part of public accountability. For instance, the police headquarters keeping criminal investigations confidential and sharing information when necessary exemplifies public accountability, rather than making such cases transparent.

Status of Public Accountability

Legal and Constitutional Provisions

• The Council of Ministers is accountable to the Parliament.
• Constitutional bodies must submit reports to the Parliament.
• Government policies, programs, and reviews of past programs are discussed in Parliament.
• Local bodies are required to provide information to local councils.
• Laws governing regulatory bodies.
• Right to Information Act.
• Good Governance Act, among others.

Structural Provisions

• The Legislature-Parliament serves as a medium to make the government accountable.
• The Prime Minister’s Office plays a role in holding other bodies accountable.
• Higher-level bodies control subordinate bodies.
• Reporting systems.
• Auditing systems to ensure accountability of relevant bodies.

Institutional Arrangements

• Monitoring by civil society and non-governmental organizations.
• Oversight by FATF and UN agencies.
• Accountability to bodies like the WTO, among others.