UNDP Oslo Governance Centre

Democratic Governance Assessments

Through the Global Programme on Capacity Development for Democratic Governance Assessments and Measurements, UNDP seeks to assist developing countries produce disaggregated and non-ranking governance indicators to enable national stakeholders to better monitor performance in democratic governance reforms. The aim of the Programme, co-ordinated by the Oslo Governance Centre, is to develop the capacities of government, the national statistics office and civil society in the collection, maintenance and analysis of governance related data and to assist the development of an inclusive and consultative framework for the systematic assessment and monitoring of democratic governance goals and targets expressed in national development plans. The Global Programme from 2008 to 2011 is a continuation of the work that formed part of the Governance Indicators Project from 2004 to 2007.

Programme Information:

About the Global Programme on Democratic Governance Assessments
This brochure provides a quick introduction to key features of the programme and responds to questions such as: Why this programme? and: What does it offer?

English, French, Spanish

 

Global Programme on Democratic Governance Assessments
This project document describes the UNDP approach, guiding principles, and how the programme aims to respond to country demand. It also provides an overview of services.

English, French

Key Publications

Users’ Guide on Measuring Fragility
The Users’ Guide on Measuring Fragility, jointly produced by UNDP Oslo Governance Centre and the German Development Institute, provides a comparative analysis of cross-country fragility indices - their conceptual premises, methodologies and possible use.
English

 

A Users' Guide to Measuring Local Governance

This Guide is intended to respond to an increasing demand from UNDP Country Offices and a wide range of national stakeholders for guidance on the multiplicity of tools and methods that are being used to measure, assess and monitor governance at the local level. The guide contains an extensive source guide with more than 20 ready-made tools for assessing local governance. English

 

Users' Guide for Measuring Public Administration Performance

This Guide responds to a growing demand for more operational and nationally-owned measurement tools for public administration. It critically reviews the existing assessment tools and information sources which are readily accessible online. It provides practical guidance drawing on scenarios, and provides an exhaustive inventory of existing assessment tools and methodologies. English

 

Practice Note on Democratic Governance Assessments
The Practice Note is based on the experiences of selected Country Offices and outlines the principal objective for UNDP’s engagement: to support national ownership and capacity development of national partners to be able to undertake and use governance assessments to enhance democratic governance.
English, French, Spanish

 

Governance Indicators: A Users' Guide (2nd Edition)
This second edition of the Users’ Guide includes several new indicator sources and an updated version of those that were featured in the first edition.

English, French, Spanish, Arabic
Hard copies: English, French, Spanish, Arabic

 

Measuring Democratic Governance: A Framework for selecting pro-poor and gender sensitive indicators
By presenting methods for generating pro-poor gender sensitive indicators, this framework assists policy-makers monitor and evaluate democratic governance at the country level

English English (hard copy)

 

A Users’ Guide to Measuring Corruption
A Users' Guide to Measuring Corruption, jointly produced by UNDP and Global Integrity, is one of the first attempts to explore how best to use existing tools to measure what is increasingly viewed as one of the major impediments to development: corruption. Read more

English, Spanish, French
Hard copies: English, Spanish, French

Mapping of Corruption and Governance Measurement Tools in Sub-Saharan Africa
This mapping provides guidance to uses and limitations of 42 different international, national and local tools for measuring corruption in 28 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

English English (hard copy)

Mapping of Corruption and Governance Measurement Tools in Latin American Countries
This mapping provides guidance to uses and limitations of nearly 100 different international, national and local tools for measuring corruption in 17 countries in Latin America.

 English, Spanish
Hard copies: English, Spanish

 

Planning a Governance Assessment: a Guide to Approaches, Costs and Benefits[NEW]
Providing an easily accessible overview of options, this guide advises on how to operationalize a country-led assessment in line with strategic principles such as ownership and inclusive participation.
 English

 

Governance Assessments and the Paris Declaration: Opportunities for Inclusive Participation and National Ownership
This report from the 2007 UNDP/CMI Bergen Seminar discusses the prinicples of national ownership, national capacity development,alignment and harmonization.

 English English (hard copy)

Indicators for Human Rights Based Approaches to Development in UNDP Programming - A Users Guide
This is a practically oriented Guide on indicators for human rights based approaches to development programmes for UNDP Country Offices (COs)

 English  Spanish  French
Hard copies: English

 

UNDP National Human Development Reports (NHDR) and the Use of Democratic Governance Indicators
Surveying more than 350 national human development reports, the study finds that democratic governance is receiving increasing attention.

English English (hard copy)

 

Framework for Piloting Pro-Poor and Gender Sensitive Governance Indicators for Policy Reform
The objective of the pilot programme is to support nationally led processes for democratic governance reform through multi-stakeholder dialogue mechanisms.

English English (hard copy)

 

Bibliography of governance and democracy indicators resources
This bibliography of resources on governance and democracy indicators contains more than 100 reference sources that are available online.

English English (hard copy)

 

Sources for Democratic Governance Indicators
Through a user-user-friendly overview of internet-accessible governance indicators, this reports provides guidance on the scope, key elements, and dimensions of governance covered by various indicator sources.

English English (hard copy)

 

Measuring Democratic Governance: A training module for selecting and using democratic governance indicators that are pro-poor and gender-sensitive
This training consists of a Powerpoint presentation containing overheads and detailed notes for facilitators, handouts and posters for use during the training

Selecting Democratic Governance Indicators (PPT)
Measuring Democratic Governance (PDF)

 

Country Cases

Philippines:

Governance Indicators in the Philippines: A User's Guide
By providing basic information on various institutions engaged in establishing and identifying governance indicators generally used in the Philippines, this guide proves useful for matching the supply of indicators with political demand

English English (hard copy)

 

Rapid Assessment Report on Governance Indicators Sources and Use in the Philippines
The report identifies and maps exisitng governance indicators sources in the country, and assesses the extent to which policy makers make use them.

English English (hard copy)

 

Malawi:

Summary Review of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS) Governance Indicators
This paper aims to inform discussions on the establishment of a system to monitor the implementation of the governance goals and strategies as articulated in Malawi's national development plan

English English (hard copy)

 

Mongolia:

Democratic Governance Indicators: Assessing the State of Governance in Mongolia
This investigation is the first comprehensive study carried out in Mongolia for the purpose of developing democratic governance indicators. The study informs the monitoring of the parliament-approved 9th national Millennium Development Goal - democratic governance.

English English (hard copy)

 

For further information please contact:

• Joachim Nahem, Governance Specialist
  joachim.nahem@undp.org