Governance and Peace Building

Advocacy for sustained policy change

Good governance: COPE believes that Governance’ means the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).

Governance focuses on the formal and informal actors involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made.

Governance also focuses on the formal and informal structures set in place to arrive at and implement the decision.

Good Governance includes 8 guiding principles that can be used in the processes of making and implementing decisions for the county’s resources.

COPE believes that the use of good governance principles can decrease corruption, misuse of resourc­es, and ensure that the views of minorities and the most vulnerable are included.

Good governance practices can enable responsible and responsive governments and organisations. They help leaders make the right decisions with the most effective outcomes.

Actors in Governance

COPE believes that actors that can make significant difference in governance encompass; government ministers, departments, civil servants, political parties, civil society, media, urban rich and poor, rural rich and poor, religious groups, traditional groups, international and regional organisations.

Good governance can be exercised on the following levels:

Family, Community, Government – local and national , Regional and International

COPE see into it that the eight (8) good governance principles can make effective leadership and citizenry development.

1. Accountable leaders: Public officials must be answerable for government decisions and be responsive for the effects of their actions.

2. Transparent leaders: Display information to the general public for clarity on government decisions. Transparency can help prevent corruption.

3. Responsive leaders: ensure that institutions and processes should serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.

4. Effectiveness and Efficiency of service delivery: Processes and institutions need to produce results that meet the needs of society, while making the best use of resources to achieve the desired target.

5. Equitable and Inclusive leadership: People should not feel excluded from the mainstream of society and everyone should have opportunities to improve their well-being.

6. Rule of Law in the leadership: There should be fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially, fully protecting human rights and rights of minorities.

7. Participatory leadership: This requires citizens, both men and women, to be involved in the development process. People need to participate so that the government can make informed choices.

8. Consensus-oriented: Different interests and viewpoints need to be mediated to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interest of the whole community.