Mutual accountability in global partnership for
effective development cooperation
Prof. Severine M. Rugumamu
University of Dar es Salaam
Structure of Presentation
• Concept definition and specification
• Norms of Partnership
• Limitations of the Mutual Accountability
Principle
Concept definition and specification
Mutual Accountability broadly defined is a
process by which two or more actors agree to
be held accountable for commitments that
they have voluntarily made to each other.
 Anchored on transparency, answerability and
enforcement.
Synergies between horizontal and vertical
accountability.
Accountability Norms
 Relies on reciprocal trust and partnership around shared
agendas e.g. economic and social transformation
 Supported by Frameworks to monitor, evaluate progress
against targets and period reports to relevant partners
 Anchored on transparency and real-time information
disclosures
 Encourages behavior change to meet commitment rather
than hard sanctions.
Limitations of Mutual Accountability
Principle
 Performance incentives and sanctions are one-sided,
reflecting asymmetrical partnership
 Donors can reward good performers and sanction poor
performers and recipients can only name and shame….
 Partnership policies lack coherence: aid, trade, migration,
agriculture and fisheries work at cross purposes
 Coordination and harmonization among traditional
partners remain weak and fragmentary
 Coordination between traditional and emerging partners
almost non-existent
END
Strategies to end aid dependency in Africa!!