Impact of Targeted Democratic Reforms on Governance

Policy reform is often presented as evidence of progress. In practice, it frequently leaves underlying power structures unchanged. This outcome is largely structural. Reforms are typically designed and implemented by the same institutions that operate within existing arrangements. Advisory panels, regulators, and professional standard setters are usually composed of incumbents. Their incentives prioritize continuity, risk containment, and institutional legitimacy. As a result, reform efforts tend to refine procedures rather than reallocate authority, access, or accountability. Research in public administration and governance consistently shows that incremental reform is the prevailing approach. - It is lower risk. - It signals responsiveness while minimizing disruption to decision rights, capital allocation, and professional hierarchies. Even when reforms are well intentioned, they are shaped by path dependence. New rules emerge from old ones. Institutions are structured to optimize stability, not redistribution or long-term adaptive performance. This has clear implications for public interest outcomes. When reform leaves unchanged who holds decision-making authority, which forms of knowledge are privileged, and how advancement occurs, patterns of exclusion persist. In professional fields, this constrains the effective use of talent. In public policy, it erodes institutional trust over time. In economic systems, it limits adaptive capacity across decades. Experience with Black excellence within formal institutions illustrates this distinction. Measurable progress occurred where reforms addressed governance structures directly through targets, transparent data, and accountability mechanisms. Limited progress followed where change relied on voluntary commitments or procedural language alone. The differentiating factor was not intent, but institutional design. For policymakers and institutional leaders, the implication is clear. Reforms that do not alter incentives, standards, or decision-making authority will tend to reproduce existing outcomes. Effective nation building and sustained economic competitiveness require reforms that realign governance structures with long-term public interest objectives, rather than short-term institutional comfort.

These recent steps by the government in Nepal highlight what governance can look like when it prioritizes citizens over status: • Ending VIP culture, no more traffic stops for political convoys • Ensuring ministers’ children study in government schools • Launching a digital transparency platform (Pratipakchya) to track promises and real progress • No political leader photos in government offices • Strong stance against caste based politics • Equal treatment of citizens without preferential systems When leaders and policymakers experience the same systems as ordinary citizens, accountability becomes real. Public services improve not because they “should,” but because those in power are directly impacted by them. The introduction of transparency platforms is equally powerful. In an era where trust in institutions is fragile, measurable governance builds credibility. When citizens can track what was promised vs. what was delivered, democracy becomes more participative not just procedural. If implemented consistently, such reforms don’t just improve systems they reshape public perception. And in the long run, trust is the most valuable currency any government can build. Rakshak Dhar

Can top-down accountability improve government performance? Around the world, more than 80 countries have adopted “delivery units” and other command-and-control reforms—centralized systems of target-setting, monitoring, and accountability modeled on the UK’s early 2000s “delivery approach.” But despite their popularity and political backing, hard evidence on whether these schemes actually improve services has been scarce. A new World Bank Working Paper, Command and Can’t Control: Assessing Centralized Accountability in the Public Sector, provides the first at-scale evaluation of such a system. The study examines a flagship delivery approach implemented in Punjab, Pakistan’s education system, where monthly data from over 52,000 schools was monitored by senior officials and used to flag underperforming units for corrective action. These are the key findings: Despite intensive monitoring and political support, the scheme had no substantive impact on student test scores, teacher presence, student attendance, or school facilities. Bureaucrats did not significantly change their behavior in response to being flagged for underperformance. Some budget reallocations occurred in flagged areas, but they were too small to shift outcomes. Apparent improvements in simple before–after comparisons largely reflected reversion to the mean, not the effect of the reform. These results caution against overreliance on centralized accountability mechanisms as a path to improved service delivery. While attractive in theory and politically visible, command-and-control reforms may fail to motivate frontline bureaucrats and risk sustaining costly administrative machinery without measurable benefits. Evidence suggests that lasting improvements in public services often come from designing incentive structures, organizational culture, and bottom-up accountability that align bureaucratic performance with citizens’ needs. Read the paper here (WB Working Paper Series): https://lnkd.in/ediWeKdM Congratulations to Saad Gulzar, Juan Felipe Ladino, Muhammad Zia Mehmood, and Daniel Rogger !

The Path to a Truly Democratic Bangladesh The recent, unprecedented student-led protests in Bangladesh that led to the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have ushered in what many are calling a "second liberation" for the nation. With Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus now serving as interim leader, the country has a rare and urgent opportunity to reshape its democratic landscape. As human rights lawyers, it is clear that the success of this transitional period hinges on the immediate implementation of key reforms. These reforms should target the most entrenched and corrupt areas of Bangladesh’s governance, particularly the security sector, the constitution, and the judiciary. The legitimacy of Bangladesh’s security forces has been deeply eroded by their involvement in human rights violations, particularly during recent protests. Reforms must begin with the dismantling of units like the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which has a notorious history of abuse. We must advocate for these roles to be filled by a diverse and merit-based workforce, ensuring a fair representation of women and minority communities. Moreover, the military’s ongoing internal purge of those implicated in atrocities must be thorough and transparent, with suspected personnel facing trial. Independent oversight, potentially involving U.N. entities, will be crucial in maintaining the integrity of these processes. Bangladesh’s drift towards authoritarianism has been driven by an over-concentration of power in the executive branch. There is an urgent need for constitutional reform to ensure the presidency becomes a truly non-partisan institution, with appointments based on collective voting rather than prime ministerial control. Legislative oversight must also be strengthened by abolishing the requirement for MPs to vote strictly along party lines. Judicial reforms are equally critical. The controversial two-year extension rule for Supreme Court judges, which has incentivised judicial bias, must be abolished. Ensuring the independence of key state institutions—such as the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission—will be vital as Bangladesh approaches its next elections. The appointment processes for these roles should involve independent committees and require a degree of cross-party support.

Leadership is not defined by power… It is defined by the courage to remove privileges. Recently, Nepal’s leadership introduced a set of reforms that challenge a deeply rooted culture of authority and entitlement: • No photos of political leaders in government offices • No caste or religion-based politics — equality for all • No roadblocks for VIP convoys • Mandatory government schooling for ministers’ and officials’ children This is not just policy. This is a mindset shift. Because real governance is not about creating distance between leaders and citizens — it’s about closing that gap. When leaders choose the same roads, the same schools, and the same systems as the people… accountability is no longer a promise — it becomes inevitable. Imagine the impact of such decisions: Better public infrastructure Stronger education systems Reduced misuse of power And most importantly — restored public trust The real question is not whether these reforms are bold. The real question is — are we ready for leadership that operates without privilege? Because nations don’t transform through speeches. They transform through systems that treat every citizen equally. #Leadership #Governance #Accountability #Equality #PublicPolicy #SystemChange #Trust #India #SouthAsia #LeadershipMatters

🔄 Transforming democracy from within: A Closer Look at Brazil’s Citizen Engagement Initiatives in Parliament by José Luis Martí Marti "In a time when democracy faces global pressure and institutional innovation is more urgent than ever, one promising path forward involves deep, internal transformation—reforming democratic institutions from within." New today on Reboot Democracy, José Luis Martí of Universitat Pompeu Fabra examines Brazil's parliamentary citizen engagement initiatives. The piece raises critical questions for anyone working in governance innovation: -Are we clear about the ENDS of participation? -Are we respecting the ECONOMY of participation as a limited resource? Brazil's Senate has influenced 46 legislative bills through citizen proposals and gathered over 30 million votes in e-consultations. But numbers alone don't tell the full story of impact. Martí argues that true democratic innovation must be guided by rebuilding trust, enhancing legitimacy, improving legislation quality, and fostering civic education. Read the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/eQhg9gR5 Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon! The Governance Lab, The Burnes Center for Social Change, Luís Kimaid, Dane Gambrell

🏛️ 🤔 What if one of the most important democratic reforms of the next decade is not a new voting system or a new technology, but a new way for parliaments to work? 📍 Across the UK and internationally, citizens’ assemblies, juries and other mini-publics have shown that diverse citizens engage thoughtfully with complex issues, weigh evidence, navigate disagreement, and contribute valuable public judgement. Yet most remain one-off exercises. ✅ Our new Carnegie UK report (co-authored by myself and Stephen Elstub), 🔸 Blueprints for Democratic Wellbeing: Strengthening UK Parliaments with Citizen Deliberation 🔸 starts from a different premise. The challenge is no longer whether mini-publics work. The challenge is how to move from occasional democratic innovation to permanent democratic infrastructure 🏗️ ⁉️ 🏛️ Why focus on parliaments? Because parliaments sit at the heart of representative democracy. They are where difficult trade-offs are debated, governments scrutinised, and collective decisions made. If citizen deliberation is to have a lasting democratic impact, it needs to connect with institutions where public decisions are shaped. 🤔 Of course, that applies to other institutions too (across the public, private and community sectors), but here we focus on parliaments because they can unlock broader possibilities for democratic, social and economic renewal across society. 📘 The report sets out four adaptable options for institutionalising mini-publics in the UK's four legislatures 🏛️ –from light-touch approaches that support committee work to more ambitious models such as standing citizens' chambers. ✳️ Importantly, this is not an argument that mini-publics are a silver bullet. They will not, by themselves, solve democratic inequalities, declining trust, or the wider structural challenges facing contemporary capitalist democracies. Nor should they replace elected representatives. ✅ But they can help strengthen parliamentary scrutiny, improve access to considered public judgement, deepen relationships between citizens and representatives, and contribute to a healthier democratic ecology. They have an important role to play at the heart of representative democracy. 🌐 The report draws on UK and international experience, as well as conversations with parliamentarians, officials, practitioners and researchers across the UK's four legislatures. 🙌🏼 Thanks to Adam Milne, Adam Lang and Carnegie UK for making this work possible and indeed to all participants in feedback roundtables in Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London earlier this year. 📘 Read or download the report 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/eqk-NZEn 📅 We will also be discussing the report and its implications for the future of parliamentary democracy in a forthcoming webinar on 23 June, open registration 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/eYJ7WTWm

🔍 New Policy Brief: “Restoring Civilian Democratic Control: Reforming Ghana’s Civil-Military Relations” In the wake of Ghana’s December 2024 elections, I analyse the unprecedented shifts in civil-military relations from 2017 to 2024. In anticipating Ghana’s democratic transition on January 7, 2024, this brief examines how military politicisation and expansion into civilian spaces have impacted Ghana’s democratic governance. Key highlights: • Detailed analysis of systematic militarisation of governance structures • Evidence-based assessment of military deployments in civilian spaces • Comprehensive reform proposals for the incoming administration • Critical 120-day implementation roadmap This brief, drawing on qualitative research and documented cases, provides crucial insights for policymakers, security sector professionals, civil society organisations, and citizens concerned about Ghana’s democratic consolidation. #GhanaDemocracy #CivilMilitaryRelations #PolicyReform #GhanaPolitics #SecuritySectorReform

According to recent reports, the U.S. government has terminated 5,724 USAID contracts worldwide, slashing $261 billion across critical sectors like health, agriculture, education, and humanitarian aid. But beyond these essential services, one overlooked casualty is governance—the very system that ensures these programs function effectively. In Kenya, the withdrawal of over $53 million from Democracy, Governance, and Peace & Security (DGPS) programs is more than a budget cut—it threatens the progress made in fighting corruption, protecting human rights, strengthening democracy, and maintaining peace. Health and food security rightly get the spotlight. But governance, democracy, and peacebuilding are the invisible infrastructure that keeps public services accountable and ensures resources reach the people who need them most. 📌 Without strong governance, who prevents mismanagement of public funds meant for hospitals and schools? 📌 Without electoral integrity, how do we ensure leadership that prioritizes social services over personal gain? 📌 Without peace and security, how do we protect communities from instability that disrupts livelihoods and economic growth? 📊 The Evidence: Governance Impacts Everything While harder to quantify, strong governance systems are directly linked to better health, food security, and economic outcomes. ✅ Countries with higher governance scores experience fewer disruptions in service delivery, ensuring hospitals receive medicine, schools get teachers, and farmers access subsidies. ✅ Transparent institutions and anti-corruption efforts improve resource allocation, meaning aid reaches intended beneficiaries instead of being lost to inefficiency or fraud. ✅ Public participation and accountability programs empower citizens to demand better services, strengthening democracy at all levels. 🔎 What Happens When DGPS Programs Disappear? ❌ Corruption thrives – Less oversight leads to more public funds being misused. ❌ Institutions weaken – Poor electoral systems result in leadership that serves a few, not the majority. ❌ Social justice suffers – Protections for women, youth, and marginalized groups decline. ❌ Public trust erodes – Citizens disengage when they feel powerless. 🔥 The Bigger Picture: Kenya Must Think Beyond Aid-For decades, donor funding has been crucial in strengthening governance. But how do we build resilience beyond external support? 💡 How do we mobilize local resources to sustain democracy and accountability? 💡 What role can impact investing, philanthropy, and the private sector play in funding governance work? 💡 How do we make DGPS programs indispensable in policy and funding conversations? 🌍 Over to You—Your Voice Matters We often celebrate success stories in health, food security, and education—but what about governance and democracy? 💬 Have you witnessed a DGPS program strengthen institutions, fight corruption, or amplify citizen voices?