Responsible government is essential to end poverty and social inequality.
All over the world, there are increasing demands of populations suppressed by authoritarian regimes and irresponsible leaders for greater democracy and justice. Speaking of political issues and injustice related to governments could, on the face of it, seem arid and inconclusive, but these two issues are important to achieve a just society, in which people can claim their rights and live in a dignified manner.
Proper governance is the way in which a country or society makes decisions and allocates resources. It’s not just a question of voting systems, it’s about the way in which people, including the poorest and the excluded, can be involved in important decisions, putting them into direct contact with the institutions responsible.
ActionAid supports women, men and young people in the fight for justice, against discrimination and the corruption of governments and businesses that have complete control over the decisions that shape their lives.
At local level, we offer training courses to citizens, so that they can understand financial statements and official deeds. We encourage them to work together to keep the accounts under control - whether they are schools, health care, local authorities or businesses that provide public services - to monitor every item of expenditure and counteract any form of illegality.
At national level, ActionAid works to make government officials more aware of decisions that negatively impact poor people. Because in the midst of unfulfilled promises and growing political rhetoric, almost 13% of the world's population lives on less than $ 1.90 a day. In absolute values, 902 million people live in extreme poverty.
At international level, research reports and best practices allow us to influence the policies of institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the African Union (AU).