A Users' Guide to Measuring Local Governance
A Users' Guide to Measuring Local Governance
A Users' Guide to Measuring Local Governance
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19<br />
Index of Responsibility, Transparency and Accountability<br />
(Macedonia)<br />
Producer<br />
UNDP with Macedonia’s State Commission for<br />
Prevention of Corruption, Association of <strong>Local</strong><br />
Self-Government Units, Ministry of <strong>Local</strong><br />
Self-Government, State Audit Office, and other<br />
national ac<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
His<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
The Index of Responsibility, Transparency and<br />
Accountability at the local level in Macedonia (RTA<br />
Index) has been developed within the framework<br />
of the UNDP project “Fighting corruption <strong>to</strong><br />
improve governance”. It was created in response <strong>to</strong><br />
the need for a <strong>to</strong>ol <strong>to</strong> measure corruption at the<br />
local level, within the context of an intensive<br />
decentralisation process which confers an<br />
increasing number of competencies upon local<br />
governments.<br />
Objectives<br />
The overall objective of this Index is <strong>to</strong> increase<br />
accountability, responsibility and transparency of<br />
local governments, which will foster better local<br />
governance at the local level. In particular,<br />
the Index is designed <strong>to</strong> make measurable<br />
assessments of the capacity of a given institution<br />
<strong>to</strong> combat corruption, by identifying those ‘points’<br />
most vulnerable <strong>to</strong> corruption, the specific<br />
mechanisms that can be used <strong>to</strong> prevent<br />
corruption, indica<strong>to</strong>rs measuring the effectiveness<br />
of these mechanisms, and criteria <strong>to</strong> score these<br />
indica<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
Applicability<br />
The Index can be used as a mechanism for<br />
self-evaluation by the local government, as a <strong>to</strong>ol<br />
used <strong>to</strong> identify the points that are vulnerable <strong>to</strong><br />
corrupt behaviour, as a way <strong>to</strong> increase the level<br />
of accountability and transparency of local<br />
governments, and also as a solid database about<br />
local governance.<br />
It has universal features that enable its application<br />
<strong>to</strong> all Macedonian municipalities. With small<br />
adjustments <strong>to</strong> the local context, it could be used<br />
in other countries.<br />
Types and sources of data used<br />
Mainly based on objective information, including<br />
available administrative data on budgets,<br />
procedures and functions related <strong>to</strong> the local<br />
public administration.<br />
Methodology<br />
Perceptions from experts and users of municipal<br />
services have been used as an important<br />
source in the design of the <strong>to</strong>ol, namely <strong>to</strong> identify<br />
corruption “hot spots” which need <strong>to</strong> be<br />
moni<strong>to</strong>red.<br />
The Index covers three main areas of competence<br />
of local government: urban planning, financial<br />
management and property, and public procurement.<br />
For each of these areas, the Index identifies four<br />
aspects:<br />
• 10 <strong>to</strong> 15 “hot-spots” or “critical points” for<br />
corruption in local government,<br />
• the corresponding anticorruption mechanisms<br />
that can prevent the appearance of corrupt<br />
practices<br />
• the corresponding indica<strong>to</strong>rs of the existence<br />
and proper functioning of such mechanisms.<br />
• The scoring of indica<strong>to</strong>rs based on welldefined<br />
criteria<br />
Table 37 Presents examples of these four aspects<br />
for each of the three thematic areas:<br />
The final RTA Index value is obtained by the simple<br />
arithmetic average value of the indica<strong>to</strong>r scores.<br />
Key ac<strong>to</strong>rs/stakeholders<br />
Although designed in a way that does not require<br />
highly specialized skills for its implementation, at<br />
the beginning it would be desirable <strong>to</strong> implement<br />
the instrument by a specifically trained agency<br />
before local self-government units start their<br />
self-evaluation. This should be done in close coordination<br />
with municipal authorities in order <strong>to</strong><br />
A Users’ <strong>Guide</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Measuring</strong> <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Governance</strong> 135