Who Counts? Campaign

The Who Counts? Campaign encourages non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide financial reports to their beneficiaries. According to Mango, evidence shows that this can substantially improve the quality of participation. Using this information, beneficiaries can see how funds are being used, which aims to create positive pressure in favour of dialogue between beneficiaries and agency staff. The campaign is based on the principle that informed beneficiaries are in a position to work with agency staff to make sure that funds are spent on their real priorities. At the same time, the strategy aims to reduce the risk of fraud and funds being spent on inappropriate activities.

The Who Counts? Campaign also provides initial guidance to organisations on how to provide financial reports to beneficiaries in practice. They aim to present information that is useful to beneficiaries and readers, in a way that is easy to understand. For instance, public whiteboards or photocopied summaries at health centres, community meetings or local offices can be used. Mango has found that reports should be presented in local language and local currency, and contain no more than 15 lines of information. Simple graphical presentation can also be used. Reports should be presented regularly, every month which is considered crucial for on-going monitoring, and to encourage feedback on current activities so that they can be adapted. Mango has also found that it is not always easy to decide what information to include in reports. Cultural norms and social pressures will influence what information is appropriate.

The Who Counts? Campaign publishes free, short information sheets to help support organisations that would like to participate in the campaign. These include information about why it is important to disclose how much organisations are spending, examples of good practice, and a how-to-guide.

NGO Accountability

Who Counts? is part of Mango's contribution to the Make Povert History Campaign, under the "Better Aid" banner. It also links with the Commission for Africa's call for greater transparency in the use of public funding and flows of money to African states. According to Mango, financial reporting to beneficiaries improves impact as with information about spending, beneficiaries can make sure that funds are spent on their real priorities. Evidence from case studies also shows how this has reduced fraud, improved impact and empowered local people.