In Latin America, one high-level scandal after another has tainted current or recent presidents or vice-presidents across the region. The price is awful public services, from transport and education to law enforcement and health care, as state coffers are ransacked while appointments and contracts are awarded as favors rather than on merit. Yet, counter-intuitively, the steady stream of grim headlines about kickbacks, influence-peddling and nepotism may actually be good news. Many experts regard the public revelations as a sign that corruption in the region is actually being tolerated less and less.

Social accountability projects are implemented with citizen engagement to ensure certain degree of accountability at all levels. Two social accountability projects have been implemented, operating in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2009. These projects aim to improve involvement of citizens in the management of local government finance. At least three students have been caught by Rangsit University staff in Bangkok overseeing an exam. As a result, the university has called for a change in the law to prosecute students who cheat and criminals who assist them. Officials say they are part of a group that charges students thousands of dollars for exam answers.

In a bid to promote district level accountability in the delivery of education services, Action Aid has introduced an innovation which will address challenges to achieving high education standards. According to an Action Aid Project Officer in Mangochi, the initiative would address social accountability by working with the district council and building the capacity of various players in decision making positions to understand inclusive and accountable governance.