Good governance: rule of law, transparency, and accountability

Improved governance requires an integrated, long-term strategy built upon cooperation between government and citizens. It involves both participation and institutions. The Rule of Law, Accountability, and Transparency are technical and legal issues at some levels, but also interactive to produce government that is legitimate, effective, and widely supported by citizens, as well as a civil society that is strong, open, and capable of playing a positive role in politics and government. This paper considers goals for better governance, key challenges confronting efforts at reform, examples of successful good-governance efforts, and action steps for improving both participation and institutions.