Eight Ways to Social Accountability
Education Out loud just published a practical overview presenting eight concrete strategies for strengthening social accountability in education – complete with step-by-step approaches from grantees across Africa.
Last year, Education Out Loud released an appreciated publication titled “Transforming Education Systems through Social Accountability”, which showcased practical tools, mechanisms, and strategies used by grantees across Asia to promote transparency and accountability in education. Now, building on that foundation, we are happy to present “Eight Ways to Social Accountability”. This latest release continues the journey of learning and exchange, offering fresh insights and practical examples from CSOs across Africa.
“This supplement continues the journey of learning and exchange, offering rich examples from eight grantees in Africa supported under Operational Component 2 (OC2). These organisations are creatively applying social accountability tools to transform education systems in their local contexts,” says Dorte Jørgensen, Senior Programme Coordinator, Education Out Loud.
Across the continent, CSOs are employing a range of strategies tailored to their local contexts to promote accountability in education. These include mechanisms such as community monitoring, advocacy campaigns, public hearings, and budget tracking. The publication explores:
- How CSOs promote accountability – step by step
- The transition from mobilising marginalised populations to influencing policy formulation and implementation
- Strategies to strengthen gender and social inclusion
- Changes resulting from their efforts
Featured examples include Haki Elimu in Tanzania, School for Life in Ghana, HOPE in Liberia, and APETECTRA in Benin, among others – each demonstrating the power of civil society in shaping more equitable and responsive education systems.
“Their knowledge is deeply rooted in practice and highly inspiring for others working to strengthen accountability in education,” says Dorte Jørgensen.
Education Out Loud is dedicated to enhancing the capacity of civil society to promote transparency and accountability in the implementation of education policies. This new publication is part of that mission, together with a suite of complementary resources designed to support learning, reflection, and action. These include:
- Publication: Transforming Education Systems through Social Accountability – insights from OC2 grantees in Asia
- Video: Key learnings from African grantees’ work with social accountability
- Reflections: Learning events in Tanzania and Benin
- Tool: Pathways to Enhancing Social Accountability in Education – a visual guide to key steps and strategies
Together, these resources offer a practical and inspiring roadmap for civil society organisations, policymakers, and education advocates committed to building inclusive and accountable education systems. We warmly invite all grantees and civil society actors working with social accountability to explore, share, and make full use of these rich and practical tools.