The role of civil society organizations in the enhancement of the social accountability mechanisms at local governance-one stop shop

Other Title(s)

دور مؤسسات المجتمع المدني في تعزيز أليات المساءلة الاجتماعية في الحكم المحلي-قلم الجمهور

Dissertant

Awwad, Ihsan Ali Abd al-Latif

Thesis advisor

Abu al-Rus, Sami Ali

Comitee Members

Wadi, Rushdi Abd al-Latif
al-Agha, Wafiq Hilmi

University

Islamic University

Faculty

Faculty of Commerce

Department

Department of Business Administration

University Country

Palestine (Gaza Strip)

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2016

English Abstract

This research aims to study the role of civil society organizations in enhancing the mechanisms of social accountability at local governance “one stop shop”.

Where this research targeted four municipalities in the Gaza Strip “Khan-Younis, Qarara, Bani Suhaila and Jabalia” municipalities.

These municipalities have been applying the mechanisms of social accountability through the one stop shop theme according to the guide of GIZ committee which applied this concept at municipalities.

This research also targeted citizens who benefit from the municipality's services, where the total number of the questionnaires distributed were 950, 900.

Questionnaire were recovered with 94.7% as a response rate.

Thus the data was analyzed using statistical analysis program SPSS.

The most important results reached in this research are: 1.

The research showed that there is a real need to increase awareness among citizens to understand the mechanisms of social accountability; this means that civil society organizations should make a great effort to implement programs to promote the concept among citizens.

2.

As the results showed that citizens believed that the presence of law and the clear procedures of decision making related to citizen enhance transparency.

3.

Democratic election for the local councils is one of the most important issues raised by the citizens to focus on which will enhance transparency and accountability.

4.

From the perspective of the citizens, the research emphasized on the importance of pursuing an open-door policy at municipalities.

5.

The research also showed that the municipalities do not use a written evaluation by citizens about the performance of the municipality‟s system.

This would give a negative indicator about the development of the municipality evaluation.

The most important recommendations of the research: 1.

The importance of implementing the mechanisms of social accountability by the organizations of civil society as community score card, citizen charter and public hearings which will enhance and raise transparency level of the municipality.

2.

It must keep in mind that the application of the concept of social accountability helps municipalities and motivate the citizens to change the Gazan citizen's situation for better.

3.

The decision-makers should involve citizens in decision-making process in order to make them more responsible, motivated and satisfied with the performance of municipalities.

4.

The decision-makers at the municipalities should make sure that the implementation of the mechanisms of social accountability will lead to a high level of transparency, participation, following up and monitoring.

5.

One of the most important recommendations which were showed during the research was the importance of enhancement of the four basic pillars of social accountability at the municipalities in order to strengthen the relationship between citizens and municipalities

Main Subjects

Business Administration

No. of Pages

119

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-723398