TED Training Module 2 Mainstreaming Democratic Principles

Mainstreaming democratic principles requires more than theory within a project cycle. With this in mind, the TED Initiative organised an online discussion to explore practical examples of how accountability, information integrity and citizen involvement can be applied in politically sensitive environments such as Ethiopia and Tunisia. 

Nadja De Groote of the Belgian agency for international cooperation (Enabel) presented the agency’s collaboration with the Plateforme Nationale des Usagers du Système de Santé (PNUSS) which started in 2021 in Benin. PNUSS works to strengthen the health‑care system, particularly at the community level. It operates local complaints-desks where patients can voice concerns about the medical care they receive. These inputs are then consolidated and used to engage national institutions and health‑care providers in dialogue. Through this mechanism, PNUSS encourages health services to better answer citizens’ needs. 

Although PNUSS occasionally receives support from local authorities and other donors, maintaining an independent structure remains challenging. Limited funding makes the protection of sensitive data collected through free digital tools difficult to ensure. Ensuring long‑term viability is therefore a central concern of PNUSS’s ongoing action research. 

Eve Konan from Fondation Hirondelle presented a second example through the PACT project in Tunisia, launched 6 years ago. Implemented by a consortium between NIRAS and Fondation Hirondelle, the initiative seeks to improve local service delivery by supporting municipal authorities, media outlets and community groups. On the media side, PACT helps local journalists strengthen their ethical standards and improve their ability to report on essential public services. Because local media often enjoy a high level of trust, they can play a key role in bridging between residents and local officials. 

Journalists involved in PACT use tools such as radio programmes to open conversations with local authorities. They also apply participatory community diagnosis—traditionally used to identify community priorities—to follow up on public projects announced by local officials. In a context where formal oversight mechanisms are weakening, this approach helps maintain a degree of public scrutiny. Although tracking behavioural change on a large sccale remains costly and complex, PACT conducts audience studies and focus groups with radio clubs to assess its influence.  

A similar approach was adopted in Ethiopia through the ESAP project, which supported service delivery across 400 districts. Meskerem Girma and Alex Brabant from VNG International presented several of the tools used, including citizen report cards, community scorecards and joint action planning, which helped create structured exchanges and enabled budgeting and planning to be carried out jointly with the population and local authorities. Information collected through these tools is stored in a digital system accessible to districts participating in this project, enabling them to monitor progress. Working at the local level reduced risks such as journalists' censorship and encouraged broader community participation. 

Despite the progress made, both ESAP and PACT still face difficulties in demonstrating how trust and accountability cultures have evolved in the areas where they operate. These dimensions are inherently difficult to measure, yet they remain essential for understanding the long‑term impact of such initiatives. 

Overall, long‑term impact appears more likely when democratic principles are addressed through an integrated approach, as illustrated by Fondation Hirondelle’s work in Tunisia, Benin and Burkina Faso, and when partners receive sustained, multi‑year support, as shown by Enabel and VNG International.