What is participation and governance?
When we refer to participation we are talking about disadvantaged people being able to exercise their rights and responsibilities, and to access the basic services to which they are entitled. In order for them to be able to do this, they need to be able to actively participate in mainstream decision-making processes, for example by having a say in local development plans for education, health or water supply services or voting in elections. Governance is about power, relationships and accountability: who has influence, whose voice is heard, who makes decisions and how decision-makers are held to account. As such, ‘good governance’ is an issue for all individuals, agencies and organisations (state, private sector and civil society) that hold power in making decisions affecting access to rights.
