Good Governance
-
Community mobilization project sponsored by Mercy Corps. A meeting where women gather in groups and rent out chairs, tables and tents for celebrations. Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps
Bad governance is broadly recognized as a root cause of poverty, often equated with global trends such as climate change or the youth bulge as a force able to rapidly undo development efforts or fuel conflict. On the other hand, governance success has the potential to quickly leverage and sustain development gains.
Governance is a powerful component of integrated programming for Mercy Corps. Since, at its core, governance is about decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented, its influence cross-cuts all sectors and locations of relief and development programming. Mercy Corps believes that each country needs to decide its own economic and social priorities with leadership from government, in partnership with and accountable to the people who live in the country. Individuals, institutions and organizations within the public, private and civil society arenas need to be strong, accountable and participatory. In this way, good governance is not an end in itself, but rather a means to building and sustaining secure, productive and just communities.
Download our Governance and Partnerships Approach below to read more about our strategy.
Mercy Corps believes that partnership is critical to achieving deep impact, sustainability, and amplifying reach. We collaborate with a diverse range of partner agencies and institutions at all levels of the public, private and civil society sectors to address the global challenges that drive our work. See the list at the right for a few of our current international partners.
Attachments
Sector Approach: Governance and Partnerships All stories about Good Governance
-
Uganda: The Conflict Management System in Karamoja: An Assessment of Strengths and Weaknesses May 7, 2013
"The Conflict Management System in Karamoja: An assessment of strengths and weaknesses” (April 2013) explores the effectiveness of the conflict management system in northern Uganda’s remote Karamoj
-
Civic Engagement of Youth in the Middle East and North Africa February 24, 2012
In the wake of the Arab Awakening, Mercy Corps and other agencies are grappling with the question: How can the recent surge of self-assertion and of political activism by Arab youth be harnessed to
-
Libya: Beyong Gaddafi: Libya's Governance Context February 22, 2012
More than 6.4 million Libyans are living out a historic transition: emerging from 42 years of harsh authoritarianism towards a democratic state wherein the people are the source of authority.
-
Mercy Corps' Guide to Good Governance Programming (March 2011) March 9, 2011
A framework for good governance programming that reflects Mercy Corps’ Vision for Change and expertise. Core principles with many practical examples from our programs.
-
Mercy Corps Approach to Good Governance July 9, 2010
Good governance emphasizes the partnership between citizens and government for the common good; how mechanisms, processes and institutions facilitate citizens and groups to articulate their interes
-
Sudan: Southern Sudan: Rights and Responsibilities for Good Governance July 8, 2010
Over the past 30 years, civil war and major social upheaval have shattered and distorted many of southern Sudan’s governance structures.
-
A Framework for Good Governance July 8, 2010
The Governance Framework serves as a tool to help program teams dissect governance approaches and surface programmatic hypotheses or “theories of change.” Through these steps, a program team can de
-
Somalia: Somalia: Engaging Grassroots Traditional Governance Initiatives July 7, 2010
Somalia has not had a strong central government since the collapse of the military regime in 1991.
-
Kosovo: Strengthening Capacity at the Municipal Level July 7, 2010
Equitable and inclusive participation in public-decision making can help communities safeguard peace in fragile, post-conflict environments.
-
India: India: Good Practices in Public-Private Partnerships July 7, 2010
Tea is the primary cash crop in Darjeeling. But small farmers often couldn't sell their tea legally because of restrictive government policies.