English - IFAD

Chapter 3 The importance of addressing risk 99
used to preserve or reconstruct vital services after conflict, they are often
implemented by NGOs rather than government, which can, over the long term,
undermine the process of creating an environment of reduced risk for poor rural
people through solid public services and legitimate public institutions.
Beyond state fragility and conflict, poor governance more broadly can be a factor
of risk, particularly when lack of accountability and corruption – or the misuse of
public power and resources for private or political gain – are widespread.
Unaccountable public authorities and institutions introduce an element of
unpredictability into public life that can significantly increase transaction costs
associated with market investments and contracts, access to services and utilities,
and practices of citizenship. These affect particularly poor rural people due to their
lack of power, but lack of accountability can also increase the costs and risks faced
by the less poor and the wealthy – including private investors. Lack of public
accountability by government authorities and institutions can increase the risks that
poor rural people face when deciding, for instance, whether to invest in a piece of
land over which they hold customary (or even formal legal) entitlements, how to
“Regrettably, we perceive – and that
makes me feel angry – that teachers
in charge are not of a high quality…
And those who live in rural areas suffer
from this… when you go to a distant
village, you realize that the teachers
don’t comply with their work.
They only stay two or three days, and
are not concerned about training
themselves. The level of health, justice
and education doesn’t reach everyone
equally… I get angry that such things
happen in our country.”
Elsa Espinoza Delgado,
female, 23 years, Peru