Accountability as a practice: a case study of a nongovernmental development programme in Tanzania. Issue 5 (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berghmans, Mieke
• Is Part Of: Development in practice. Volume 32:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 647
• Page End: 659
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: NGO -- local NGO -- international NGO -- governance -- accountability -- practice theory -- ethnography; Technical assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; 338.91091724
• DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2022.2040955
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-4524

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The number of empirical studies focusing on NGO accountability practices remains limited. This paper responds to this gap. It presents the accountability practices identified in an empirical study of a nongovernmental development programme in Tanzania. Drawing on data collected through field work and analysed through coding, visualisations, and detailed descriptions, this study observed how practices constituting this development programme were held together by accountability practices. This paper analyses these accountability practices: (a) prescribing–reporting–verifying, (b) measuring, (c) contracting, and (d) capacity building, learning, and acting together. It demonstrates how these accountability practices facilitate the coordination of this development programme.