Good governance

Outcomes are important to public services and public service organisations. However, it essential to remember that the ends do not justify the means. Good governance structures and processes are vital to proper government and effective civil society…

There are a range of principles which are important to good governance, including:

Transparency
Engagement
Sustainability
Decentralisation
Social responsibility
Accountability
Equalities and social inclusion
Due process
Ethical and honest behaviour
Partnership working

While all of these principles are important, their relative importance is likely to change from time to time, from place to place and from organisation to organisation. Balancing these principles to arrive at an agreed set of governance structures and processes for your organisation or partnership is difficult – but it is essential for public service organisations if they are to be able to claim legitimacy in the use of public funding.

Governance International can help you to:

Develop a constitution and set of protocols for your organisation and for your partnerships which embody good governance principles

Test the extent to which your key stakeholders believe that different stakeholders are upholding the principles of good governance in their behaviour

Report to external stakeholders (e.g. to government departments, to inspectors or auditors, or to critical groups in the community) the level of your achievement of good governance

Draw up action plans to improve the governance of your organisation and partnerships