A Users' Guide to Measuring Local Governance

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Governance for Local Development Index (GOFORDEV Index)
Producer
Philippines Center for Policy Studies (PCPS) –
Governance Project
History
The Governance Project of the Philippines Center
for Policy Studies (PCPS) was initiated in 1999 to
support the implementation of the country’s fiscal
decentralization program. This was to be achieved
through the development, adoption and
institutionalization of a performance assessment
system for urban municipal governments. The
Governance for Local Development (GOFORDEV)
Index was developed during the first two phases of
the project. Indicators were selected to provide the
essential information required for a reasonable
assessment of local governance. The initial list of
indicators was validated in two focus group
discussions held in January 2001 which were
attended by 22 local stakeholders. Comments and
suggestions on the conceptual framework, the
initial list of proposed indicators and the survey
questionnaire were incorporated in the final
indicator set and survey questionnaire.
Objectives
The GOFORDEV Index is a set of indicators that
measures the quality of governance at the municipal
level. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for
greater and more focused interactions between
citizens and local officials. Once adopted, the Index
is expected to promote local development
through more transparent, accountable and
participatory governance.
Applicability
The Index has been applied in 41 municipalities
across the Philippines. It can be used in both urban
and rural areas, and also with local governments
that have limited capacities.
Types and sources of data used
Both qualitative and quantitative data are used.
Qualitative data are collected through household
surveys. Qualitative data as well as quantitative
measures are also obtained from available public
documents such as minutes of the meetings of the
local consultative bodies and the annual audited
financial report of the local government.
Information is both subjective and objective.
Methodology
The GOFORDEV Index is a simple average of three
sub-indices – the Development Needs Index, the
Development Orientation Index, and the
Participatory Development Index. Each of these in
turn comprise a total of 10 indicators (see Table
30). Each indicator provides a result that can be a
percentage or a score between 0 and 1 (0 =
absence; 1 = existence).The data collected are then
processed using the GOFORDEV Index encoding
software. The software is a Windows-based
programme that calculates the scores, generates
statistical tables, and prints the presentation
materials. The final score ranges from 0 to 100. The
proximity of the score to 100 indicates how close
the LGU is to “good governance”.
Key actors/stakeholders
The implementation of the GOFORDEV Index is
undertaken by the local governments, other
government offices and civil society organizations,
with the support of the Philippines Center for
Policy Studies. Local governments have a central
role as they provide much of the information
requested and are also responsible for the
follow-up.
Results reporting format
The results are tabulated and communicated
through public presentations. Local partners
implementing the Index are invited to organise
public meetings involving peoples’ organizations,
NGOs, church groups, business groups, and local
officials, to elicit feedback and suggestions on the
scores. This also helps in identifying priority areas
for intervention. Table 31 presents the results for
the GOFORDEV Index in two pilot areas for 2001.
A Users’ Guide to Measuring Local Governance 121