Participation is one of the mechanisms that enable strengthened governance, broader country ownership and legitimacy. Effective mechanisms for citizen participation in decisions that affect their lives are critical to an enhanced accountability culture. Government is first and foremost accountable to its citizens, and citizens’ representatives including NGOs, media, faith based groups, business associations, trade unions etc. Effective participation is built on the premise that these groups have rights to demand and hold government to account and that government respects and listens to those views. Domestic stakeholders should feel that they have a say, can challenge (in a constructive manner) decisions being made, offer alternative suggestions and are given an opportunity to set the agenda.

In practice, MKUKUTA has opened up the space for domestic participation in a variety of ways; from collection of views and complaints of the general public to community contributions to local development (financial, labor, and materials) and local participatory planning processes. The government has made efforts to improve the capacity of representative bodies, capacity of people in decision making, and increase the participation of the most vulnerable groups in decision making.