Governance today is more important than ever.

It builds citizen trust in our democratic institutions. It builds social cohesion. It is the foundation for economic growth and stability. It is also founded on the rule of law.

But what is it?

Good governance draws on four key dimensions

  • Who has power
  • Who makes decisions
  • How stakeholders make their voices heard
  • How account is rendered

Easy to layout, these four dimensions contain so much when unpacked.

  • How are decisions made?
  • Who has a voice in making these decisions?
  • Ultimately, who is accountable?

Adding to these questions are new challenges arising all the time:

  • How can we achieve effective representation of a diverse population?
  • How should we control government data?
  • How can we adequately prepare for the effects of climate change?
  • …And so much more.

The answers to these questions aren’t always easy. But they do exist. We can help you get answers that work for you and the people counting on you.

The relationship between governments and citizens is changing.

If the world of distributed governance wasn’t difficult enough to navigate in the first place, the rapid evolution of technology, changing economies, socio-economic upheaval, and new institutional demands have made it more complicated than ever before. 

That’s why it’s our specialty. We can help you stay up-to-date on best practices and better prepared to manage challenges that didn’t exist five years, six months, or even two weeks ago.

The five principles of good governance

We subscribe to the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) principles of good governance, because we believe there is strong evidence that they can claim near-universal acceptance. To better understand them, we’ve grouped them into five distinct principles:

Legitimacy and Voice

Based on the UNDP’s principles of participation and consensus orientation, legitimacy and voice require that a broad consensus which considers the best interests of the group be accounted for, and that through free association and speech, everyone must have the opportunity to participate in reaching that consensus.

Direction

Based on UNDP’s principle of strategic vision, good governance requires a broad perspective and fundamental understanding of the cultural, historical, and social complexities that exist alongside directional vision.

Performance

Based on UNDP’s principles of responsiveness and effectiveness and efficiency, organizational performance must meet the needs of stakeholders while best utilizing resources.

Accountability

Based on UNDP’s principles of accountability and transparency, internal and external accountability must exist alongside a free flow of information. This accountability is becoming increasingly premium in an increasingly democratized society.

Fairness

Based on UNDP’s principles of equity and rule of law, good governance must consider the opportunities for everyone to maintain and improve their well-being, while impartially enforcing legal frameworks.

Get your governance scorecard.

The governance principles of your organization may appear in many formulations, but they must include:

  • Legitimacy and Voice
  • Direction and Purpose
  • Effective performance
  • Accountability and Transparency
  • Fairness and Ethical behaviour

Our proprietary tools, such as the Governance Scorecard and the Governance Continuum and Autonomy Index can be leveraged to support your organizational objectives.

Governance has many definitions. We believe it involves the answers to three key questions:

  • How are decisions made?
  • Who has a voice in making these decisions?
  • Ultimately, who is accountable?