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immigrant populations). Where appropriate, technological measures to facilitate access to the
programmes should be put into place. For example, in various states of South Africa, the
population can access information about grants and entitlements through toll-free phones.
42. Information is not sufficient to ensure accessibility and that all eligible persons are actually
in a position to claim their benefits. CTPs’ outreach must also incorporate measures to remove
any physical, cultural, geographical and other impediments to access by certain groups who face
particular obstacles: in particular, persons with disabilities, the elderly, indigenous peoples,
minorities or people with HIV/AIDS. Special measures should be taken for administrators to
reach beneficiaries living in remote rural areas.
43. With proper guarantees against abuse, there should be ways and means for potential or
actual beneficiaries to be represented by others. This is particularly important for the elderly and
persons with disabilities. Accessibility also requires removing administrative barriers that may
have a disproportionate impact on the extremely poor, such as requiring identification documents
for registration when such documents are costly or are required in countries where many persons
are not registered at birth.
C. Ensuring accountability, transparency and access to information
44. The direct transfer of cash to a large number of beneficiaries raises concerns about
potential abuses by the programme administrators. It is essential that all CTPs have
accountability mechanisms in order to avoid corruption, abuse, mismanagement and political
manipulation. Transparency and access to information are essential elements of accountability.
45. Transparency means that beneficiaries - and society at large - should be able to identify the
roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders (at both the national and local level). There should
also be transparency in regard to several components of the CTPs, such as targeting mechanisms,
eligibility criteria, benefits, complaints mechanisms, and avenues for redress. As such, the first
requirement is that the legal and institutional framework of a CTP is clear and public.
46. In order to safeguard against abuse and maladministration, CTPs should have built-in
mechanisms for the disclosure of information about every step of implementation. Beneficiaries
and the whole society must have access to information about the design of CTPs as well as about
how the authorities are discharging their obligations. Information on the results of monitoring
and evaluations should also be made available. Information must be accessible culturally
appropriate and provided in a manner which is also accessible to the illiterate.
47. CTPs without accountability and redress mechanisms are less likely to be understood in
terms of entitlements and rights and are rather more likely to be viewed as instruments of
clientelism, which can be manipulated by political actors. Independent and effective mechanisms
to monitor the administration of programmes and to collect and process complaints are essential
to prevent abuses. Such mechanisms are essential in particular for the review of three key
elements: qualification under the programme, the maintenance of the programme (to report
instances of demands of inappropriate work, political support, demands for money, threats, or
sexual harassment) and the supervision of payment procedures. These mechanisms not only
enhance the protection of the beneficiaries but they also contribute to improving the efficiency of
a CTP.