Lesson 1
which power is exercised in the management of the country’s
“government” and “governance” are interchangeably used,
both denoting the exercise of authority in an organization,
institution or state.
Government – the office,authority or function of governing
Governing – having control over oneself
Governing – name given to the entity exercising the authority
Power – ability to influence the behavior of others
Authority – most simply define as legitimate power
Authority – is the right to influence the behavior of others
Authority – based on acknowledged duty to obey rather than
on any form of coercion or manipulation
Governance (Institute of Governance 2006) – process
whereby societies or organizations maker their important
decisions, determine who has voice, who is engaged in the
process and how account is rendered
Governance - Broadly, the way that power is taken on and
used by the leaders of an organization
Governance - Specifically for community based organizations,
it refers to the structures and processes that are used to steer
the organization
Good Governance (Marilyn Watt) - A transparent decision-
making process in which the leadership of an organization, in
an effective and accountable way, directs resources and
exercises power on the basis of shared values
Keys to Good governance
- transparent decision making process
- leadership
- effective and accountable way
- directs resources
- exercises power
- basis of shared values
Good Governance - A sharing of decision making so that
power and resources do not accumulate in the hands of one
person or a single group.
1. Accountability ---- Responsibility
2. Transparency --- Information
3. Governance --- Structure
Governance (World Bank 1992) – method thru which power is
exercised in the management of a country’s political,
economic, and social resources for development
Governance (Asian Development Bank 1995) – manner in
social and economic resorces for development
Governance (Canada Institute of Governance 2002) – the
process whereby societies or organizations make important
decisions, determine whom they involve and how they render
account.
Governance (UNDP 1997) – the exercise of economic,
political, and administrative authority to manage a country’s
affairs at all levels. It comprises the mechanisims, processes,
and institutions thru which citizens and groups articulate their
interest, exercise their legal rights , meet their obligations,
and mediate their diferrences.
KEY Actors of Governance
1. State – creating favorable political, legal, economic
environment
2. Market – creating opportunities for people
3. Civil Society – mobilizing people’s participation
Stakeholders
1. Executive 5. Media
2. Judiciary 6. Social Organizations
3. Legislative 7. Civil Society
4. Political Parties 8. Private Sector
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Lesson 2 – Role of the People in the Organization
Basic Features of Good Governance
1. basic form of accountability
2. Decisions are discussed and made collectively
3. There are restrictions on one person becoming more
powerful than the others
4. formalized through rules and procedures
Organizations with Good Governance have
1. governing body (normally called a board)
2. Clear roles within this governing body
3. A system where the people on the governing body can and
do change
4. A system where the roles within the governing body are
chosen fairly and appropriately
Good Governance in Community based Organizations -------//----------//---------------//--------------//--------------//---------

1. There is a membership Lesson 3 – Governance Manual

2. There are regular elections for the board and nominations By laws - documents that set out the rules of an organization’s
for all positions on a board governance structure

3. The board is voluntary and unpaid
4. There are clear and specific roles (president/chairperson,
treasurer, secretary)
5. There are regular, minuted meetings
6. The meetings are organized in a standard format with
regular reports on key issues
7. There are written procedures for how elections and
meetings and for how conflict is resolved
8. If there is a coordinator, executive officer or secretariat
responsible for the organization’s daily business, they are
accountable to the board
The by-laws along with legal documentation (incorporation)
and the mission statement as well as other documents
communicate what the organization is doing, how it’s doing it
and where it’s going
Basic Governance Manual
 Membership rules
 Board election processes
 Responsibilities of the board
 Board positions, criteria and duty statements
 Terms of office for board members

9. There is a distinction between governance (board, broad  Decision making and minuting procedures
direction) and management (staff, everyday activity)
 Frequency and number of meetings per year
10. Separation of Powers
 Meeting quorum
Secretariat and Boards
 How meeting dates are set and agendas developed
Role of the Board – set broad direction and oversee the (and by who)
general business
Developing Governance Manual..
Role of the Secretariat – implement Board’s decisions and
attend to the details in making things happen 1. Takes time

The board and secretariat have a MUTUAL AND RECIPROCAL 2. Must be consultative
RELATIONSHIP – two way relationship
3. Engage the organization’s members and/or constituents
Board – supports the secretariat’s work in day to day
4. Must be formally endorsed by the membership
management
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Secretariat – supports the board’s development and decision
making process Lesson 4 – Governance and Sustainable Human
Development
Importance of Good Governance
Characteristics of Good Governance
 Stability and reliability
1. Accountable 5. Equitable and Inclusive
 Guards against corruption
2. Transparent 6. Effective and Efficient
 Clear rules and procedures (transparency)
3. Responsive 7. Follows the rule of law
 Accountability to communities/members
4. Participatory 8. Consensus Oriented
 Sustainability and development
Good governance – participatory, transparent, accountable,
 Diversity of views and also effective and equitable
 Participation of more people Good governance - ensures that political, social and economic
priorities are based on broad consensus in society and that
 Guard against autocratic rule
the voices of the poorest and the most vulnerable are heard
 Having structure to keep organization focused on in decision-making over the allocation of development
stated mission resources.
CHALLENGE FOR ALL SOCIETIES - to create a system of
governance that promotes supports and sustains human
development - especially for the poorest and most marginal.
Governance Legs
1. Economic governance - includes decision-making processes
that affect a country's economic activities and its relationships
with other economies. It clearly has major implications for
equity, poverty and quality of life.
2. Political governance - the process of decision-making to
formulate policy.
3. Administrative governance - the system of policy
implementation.
Human Development - expanding the choices for all people in
society
-men and women - particularly the poor and vulnerable
are at the center of the development process.
KEY Principles for achieving human development for everyone
1. Collective Capabilities – Diadvantages are often common to
groups, they can better be tackeled thru collective action, thru
empowering groups
2. Voice and Autonomy – Both an end to development and a
means as theu are essential for empowering those who are
left behind.
3. Human Security – helps protect those who are
disadvantaged and marginalized
4. Human Rights – A poweful tool in empowering those left
behind to seek remedies and hold governments to account
5. Sustainable Development – it is an isse of social justice. It
relates to interhenerational equiru – the freedom of future
generations and those of today
Human Development (UNDP 1996) - protection of the life
opportunities of future generations and the natural systems
on which all life depends
Central purpose of development - the creation of an enabling
environment in which all can enjoy long, healthy and creative
lives.
Economic growth - means to sustainable human development
- not an end in itself; economic growth does not automatically
lead to sustainable human development and the elimination
of poverty
5 Aspects of Human Development
1. Empowerment - The expansion of men and women's
capabilities and choices increases their ability to exercise
those choices free of hunger, want and deprivation. It also
increases their opportunity to participate in, or endorse,
decision-making affecting their lives
2. Co-operation - With a sense of belonging important for
personal fulfillment, wellbeing and a sense of purpose and
meaning, human development is concerned with the ways in
which people work together and interact.
3. Equity - The expansion of capabilities and opportunities
means more than income - it also means equity, such as an
educational system to which everybody should have access.
4. Sustainability - The needs of this generation must be met
without compromising the right of future generations to be
free of poverty and deprivation and to exercise their basic
capabilities.
5. Security - Particularly the security of livelihood. People
need to be freed from threats, such as disease or repression
and from sudden harmful disruptions in their lives.
4 Critical Elements of Sustainable Human
development(UNDP)
1. eliminating poverty,
2. creating jobs and sustaining livelihoods,
3. protecting and regenerating the environment,
4. and promoting the advancement of men.
Developing the capacities for good governance undermines
all these objectives.