Comparison between Monocentricity & Polycentricity

 No single person can collect information neither all knowledge is with one person
 Learning and organization comes with trial and error
 Self-organization and self-coordination works better
 Large scale organizations, like metropolitan organizations are not the answer to service
delivery
 Though duplication and overlapping jurisdictions are considered as inefficient but these
should create coordination and cooperation

Characteristics of Polycentric system

 Freedom to enter or exist: rules must permit and allow creation of new DM centers
 Freedom of entry must ensure spontaneity, that is rules providing a framework for self-
conduct and enforcement of rules
 Reformulation and revision of rules for specific polycentric order

Characteristics Monocentric system

 Delaying in decision making

 Works on self interest
 Self-correction

What is civil society?

“Civil society ... refers to a wide array of organizations: community groups, non-governmental
organizations [NGOs], labor unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based
organizations, professional associations, and foundations”. It is also called as “third actor” (after
government and commerce). It has the power to influence policy makers, and is evolving

Functions of civil society

 Holding institutions accountable and promote transparency

 Raising voice on societal issues; development role
 Delivering services to meet education, health, food and security needs
 Implementing and supporting disaster management, preparedness and emergency
response
 Bring expert knowledge and experience to shape policy and strategy
 Giving power to the marginalized; and encouraging citizen engagement.
Challenges for NGOs

 Regulation & legal compliance

  Safety & security (abduction)
 Funding & resource mobilization
 Less awareness of cultural norms/contextual understanding
 Lack of support from state & society

Challenges for NGO sector (contemporary)

 Misuse of biometric data, cyber security endangers civil society

 Misinformation, misreporting and misuse of data to elicit more funding for NGOs sector
 Veracity of digital social movements: the biggest challenges is ethical standards, honesty
and transparency

Challenges for civil society in low political development countries

 Restricted freedom
 Repression & intimidation (drana dhamkana)
 Weak institutions
 Limit civic engagement
 Lack of resources (limited access to resources & limited capacity

How does Civil Society influence the government, and the free market?

 Advocacy & lobbying: Engage in advocacy and lobbying efforts to influence

government policies and decisions. They raise public awareness, voice concerns, propose
alternative solutions, and put pressure on policymakers to address social, economic, and
environmental issues.
 Monitoring & accountability: Civil society acts as a watchdog, monitoring the actions
of both the government and private entities in the free market. This monitoring function
helps ensure that both the government and the free market operate in the public interest.
 Public participation & engagement: Civil society facilitates public participation by
providing platforms for individuals and communities to express their opinions, contribute
ideas, and engage in decision-making processes.
 Social & economic initiatives: Civil society organizations often fill gaps in public
service delivery and address societal challenges through various initiatives. They provide
services, resources, and support in areas such as education, healthcare, poverty
alleviation, environmental conservation, and human rights.
 Awareness & education: Civil society plays a crucial role in raising awareness and
educating the public about various issues, including social justice, human rights,
consumer rights, environmental sustainability, and fair business practices.

What is democracy? And why it is hailed? What is the real test of democracy?
Democracy is a form of government where power is held by the people, who have the right to
choose their leaders through voting and participate in decision-making. It emphasizes political
equality, majority rule, protection of individual rights, and citizen participation in the governance
process.

Democracy is hailed because it protects individual freedoms, promotes government

accountability, allows for citizen participation, facilitates peaceful conflict resolution, fosters
social progress, and confers legitimacy to the government through fair elections.

The real test of democracy lies in how well it upholds the principles of individual rights,
government accountability, and citizen participation. Additionally, the test of democracy is in its
ability to ensure equal opportunities and protect the rights of minorities. A robust democracy
should also be able to peacefully resolve conflicts, promote social progress, and effectively
address the needs and aspirations of its citizens. Ultimately, the true test of democracy is its
ability to create a just and inclusive society that respects the dignity and freedom of every
individual.

What are PPP?

The contractual arrangements between government and a private party for the provision of assets
and the delivery of services that have traditionally been provided by the public sector is known
as PPP.

Allocation of risks in PPP

 Technical risk (engineering or design failures)

 Construction risk (higher than expected costs)
 Operating risk (higher operating costs than expected)
 Revenue risk (lower demand than anticipated)
 Financial risk (inappropriate debt management)
 Force majeure risk (war, natural disaster)
 Regulatory/political risk (changes in laws)
 Environmental risk (environmental damage)
 Project default risk (failure through a combination of these risks)

Three Institutional Pillars are needed to increase the probability of PPP success

 Political will: Political commitment to support the PPP agenda

 Project teams: Sophisticated skills for high quality project preparation, procurement &
contract management
 Institutions & governance: who does what, jurisdictions, processes & standardization

To apply above mentioned pillars we need to:

  Provide high level political and institutional support is crucial
 Ensure government’s key role in defining needs and as the regulator
 Maintain balance between desired outcomes and commercial returns

Washington Consensus

 Fiscal Discipline
 Public Expenditure Prioritization
 Tax Reform
 Liberalization of Trade
 Deregulation of the economy
 Market-oriented Exchange Rates
 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Promotion
 Privatization
 Financial Sector Reforms
 Secure Property Rights