This note is an attempt to analyze the instrumental value of social audits in guiding programming from the perspective of human rights-based approaches (HRBAs). In the documentation of experiences and programmes that incorporated HRBAs in several Asia-Pacific countries between the years 2004-2005, it was found that various forms of social audits have been successfully employed to enlist duty bearer accountability and in claiming entitlements. In diverse situations relating to the State’s obligations in regard to policy planning/implementation, service providers’ responsibilities in relation to delivery of services, or in securing meso (middle)-level duty bearers’ accountability towards their stakeholders, it has been observed that social audits have been effectively deployed under various names and to varying effect.