A state improving its ability to act, contributes significantly to the ability of the society to function. "Good governance" is the key term in the debate about state action and the delivery of public services - in industrialised nations as well as in developing countries. As we see it, it is about a holistic and value-based understanding of government action, including the interaction of state institutions with other social actors. Defining what "good" means is always a matter of agreement among the various actors, in keeping with the idea of quality and based on the needs of the population. Therefore, the OECD criteria for good governance, supplemented by the EU principle of participation, guide our actions as advisors to public administrations and to actor systems, in which public institutions are involved.
