<P> Public participation may also be viewed as accountability enhancing . The argument being that public participation can be a means for the participating communities to hold public authorities accountable for implementation . In the United Kingdom citizens are used to ensure the fair and humane detention of prisoners . Volunteers comprise the Independent Monitoring Board that reports on the fair and humane detention of prisoners and detainees . </P> <P> In economic development theory the school of participatory development . The desire to increase public participation in humanitarian aid and development has led to the establishment of a numerous context - specific, formal methodologies, matrices, pedagogies and ad hoc approaches . These include conscientization and praxis; Participatory action research (PPA), rapid rural appraisal (RRA) and participatory rural appraisal (PRA); appreciation influence control analysis (AIC); "open space" approaches; Objectives Oriented Project Planning (ZOPP); vulnerability analysis and capacity analysis . </P> <P> In recent years public participation has become to be seen as a vital part of addressing environmental problems and bringing about sustainable development . In this context the limits of solely relying on technocratic bureaucratic monopoly of decision making, and it is argued that public participation allows governments to adopt policies and enact laws that are relevant to communities and take into account their needs . </P> <P> Public participation is recognised as an environmental principle, see Environmental Principles and Policies, and has been enshrined in the Rio Declaration . </P>

Who has responsibility over the administration of elections to ensure that the rules are followed