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January 28, 2026
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February 11, 2026
Published
February 13, 2026
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Abstract

Community and civic participation are widely viewed as critical to strengthening accountability in public service delivery, yet empirical evidence from low- and middle-income countries remains limited. This paper examines the role of inclusive community-based participation in promoting accountability in public health project implementation in Bangladesh. Drawing on secondary sources—including government reports, NGO and donor evaluations, and published studies on social audits conducted between 2015 and 2023—the study applies qualitative content analysis to assess participation patterns, inclusion of marginalized groups, and the effects of social audits on transparency, provider responsiveness, and citizen trust. The findings show that social audits enhanced information disclosure, reduced minor service irregularities, and improved dialogue between communities and frontline health workers. Inclusive participation, particularly involving women, the poor, ethnic minorities, and community-based organizations, was associated with stronger follow-up actions and more sustainable accountability outcomes. However, the effectiveness of participation was often constrained by power asymmetries, limited awareness, and unequal facilitation, which restricted the meaningful engagement of marginalized groups. Overall, the study argues that accountability cannot be achieved through technical tools alone but depends on the depth and quality of community and civic engagement. Strengthening facilitation, ensuring safe and inclusive participatory spaces, and linking social audit findings to formal response mechanisms are essential for improved outcomes. This synthesis contributes to debates on participatory governance and offers practical insights for policymakers, development practitioners, and civil society actors seeking to enhance accountability and inclusiveness in Bangladesh’s public health system.


[Partisipasi masyarakat dan sipil secara luas dipandang sangat penting untuk memperkuat akuntabilitas dalam pemberian layanan publik, namun bukti empiris dari negara-negara berpenghasilan rendah dan menengah masih terbatas. Makalah ini mengkaji peran partisipasi berbasis masyarakat yang inklusif dalam mempromosikan akuntabilitas pada implementasi proyek kesehatan publik di Bangladesh. Dengan menggunakan sumber sekunder—termasuk laporan pemerintah, evaluasi LSM dan donor, serta studi yang dipublikasikan mengenai audit sosial yang dilakukan antara tahun 2015 dan 2023—penelitian ini menerapkan analisis isi kualitatif untuk menilai pola partisipasi, inklusi kelompok marginal, serta dampak audit sosial terhadap transparansi, responsivitas penyedia layanan, dan kepercayaan warga. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa audit sosial meningkatkan keterbukaan informasi, mengurangi penyimpangan layanan skala kecil, dan meningkatkan dialog antara masyarakat dengan petugas kesehatan garda depan. Partisipasi inklusif, terutama yang melibatkan perempuan, masyarakat miskin, etnis minoritas, dan organisasi berbasis masyarakat, dikaitkan dengan tindakan tindak lanjut yang lebih kuat dan hasil akuntabilitas yang lebih berkelanjutan. Namun, efektivitas partisipasi sering kali dibatasi oleh asimetri kekuasaan, terbatasnya kesadaran, dan fasilitasi yang tidak setara, yang membatasi keterlibatan bermakna dari kelompok marginal. Secara keseluruhan, studi ini berargumen bahwa akuntabilitas tidak dapat dicapai melalui alat teknis semata, melainkan bergantung pada kedalaman dan kualitas keterlibatan masyarakat dan sipil. Memperkuat fasilitasi, memastikan ruang partisipasi yang aman dan inklusif, serta menghubungkan temuan audit sosial ke mekanisme respons formal sangat penting untuk mencapai hasil yang lebih baik. Sintesis ini berkontribusi pada debat mengenai tata kelola partisipatif dan menawarkan wawasan praktis bagi pembuat kebijakan, praktisi pembangunan, dan aktor masyarakat sipil yang berupaya meningkatkan akuntabilitas dan inklusivitas dalam sistem kesehatan publik Bangladesh.]

Keywords

accountability Bangladesh community participation public health governance social audits

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Copyright (c) 2026 Rashidul Islam Sheikh, Ruhul Amin (Author)

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Evaluating the Role of Social Audits in Strengthening Inclusive Civic Participation and Accountability in Bangladesh’s Public Health Sector: Mengevaluasi Peran Audit Sosial dalam Memperkuat Partisipasi Sipil Inklusif dan Akuntabilitas di Sektor Kesehatan Publik Bangladesh. (2026). SiRad: Pelita Wawasan, 2(1), 101-114. https://doi.org/10.64728/sirad.v2i1.art8
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Evaluating the Role of Social Audits in Strengthening Inclusive Civic Participation and Accountability in Bangladesh’s Public Health Sector: Mengevaluasi Peran Audit Sosial dalam Memperkuat Partisipasi Sipil Inklusif dan Akuntabilitas di Sektor Kesehatan Publik Bangladesh. (2026). SiRad: Pelita Wawasan, 2(1), 101-114. https://doi.org/10.64728/sirad.v2i1.art8

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