​The last two decades have seen a rapid growth of investment in social accountability and citizen empowerment initiatives. When citizens engage with their governments and hold them to account, countries achieve better developmental and democratic outcomes.

This paper speaks to a number of current debates regarding the effectiveness of accountability programmes. Drawing on lessons from the five-year Mwananchi social accountability programme, the authors argue for greater innovation and flexibility from donors, and analyse the need to identify and support project interlocutors with the power to really 'change the game'.

Find out more about the Mwananchi Programme, including news, resources and stories of change.

Fletcher Tembo and Jenny Chapman