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Connecting the Dots: Improving Accountability in the Adult Literacy Field in Canada

Introduction

Connecting the Dots: Improving Accountability in the Adult Literacy Field in Canada was a project that provided an opportunity for funders and practitioners to examine the impact of accountability on the adult literacy field across the country and explore new ways of approaching it. 

The Centre for Literacy of Quebec, Movement for Canadian Literacy, Literacy BC and Research in Practice for Adult Literacy – BC co-sponsored this project, which was managed by The Centre. 


See project website: http://www.literacyandaccountability.ca/

Read the Action Research Term Reports:

Alberta [Summary] [Full Report]
British Columbia [Summary] [Full Report]
Newfoundland and Labrador [Summary] [Full Report]
Peterbourough, Ontario [Summary] [Full Report]
Quinte, Ontario [Summary] [Full Report]

See also other Connecting the Dots publications


Practicing Shared Accountability Tool from Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador - This tool offers a 6-point process for practicing shared accountability and improving partnerships between organizations, including funders and providers. Be sure to print it in color on legal-sized paper. 

Outcomes

An extension of this project enabled us to hold a final symposium to validate findings and build on what has been learned over the past two years. The event brought together 41 participants in Ottawa on October 20 – 21, 2009. A Linkage Report has pulled common themes from the project components to underpin some essential lessons that could improve accountability relationships between funders and providers, and lead to better results from literacy and essential skills initiatives. Finally, the results from the five action research projects have generated excitement about the potential for new models of accountability to be developed in specific locales. Research briefs on horizontal governance and mutual accountability have been published from two of these projects. We are exploring the idea of a follow-up project that could pilot test some of the tools developed through Connecting the Dots.



Essential Lessons for Accountability in Adult Literacy

1. It is important to recognize and accommodate the fact that every
stakeholder has multiple accountabilities.

2. Accountability agreements must reflect the circumstances of both the
funder and the funded.

3. Both parties must work to earn and maintain trust.

4. Effective accountability is based on open communication and shared
knowledge.

5. Both human and financial resources must be adequate to the tasks of
delivering on project outcomes and being held accountable for results.

6. Attention needs to be paid to both financial and performance
accountability.

7. Policy consistency and policy coherence are essential for effective
accountability.

8. The way providers are held accountable can compromise their ability to be accountable.


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