Evaluating political accountability in water projects with the aim of determining the impact of political accountability on project sustainability.

[摘要] The study investigated what the degree of political accountability is in waterprojects as practiced by project implementers. The evaluation was also aimedat determining the impact of political accountability on project sustainability. Inorder to evaluate the question, field research was conducted. Field researchwas of a quantitative nature, using a questionnaire. This involved (a) selectingtwo systems (project implementers, a municipality and a non-governmentalorganisation) where the systems' political accountability within water projectscould be compared, and (b) interviewing community respondents from a setquestionnaire in four villages. The main findings are that (i) the level ofpolitical accountability in water projects depends on the system implementinga water project, (ii) three elements of political accountability (responsibility,information, and inclusion) differ significantly between the two systems, and(iii) political accountability has a significant impact on project sustainability. Itis recommended that project implementers take into consideration theidentified three elements of political accountability in order to improve projectsustainability.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University