Social control: the actions of the Social Observatory (OSFI) in Foz do Iguaçu (PR/Brazil)

Abstract

The Brazilian Federal Constitution authorizes a series of public entity initiatives that make social control by the population viable, such as public policy councils and conferences. On the other hand, there are actions mobilized by organized civil society, such as the Social Observatories in Brazil. The objective of this research is to analyze the actions of the Social Observatory of Foz do Iguaçu (OSFI) in relation to the control and monitoring of the application of financial resources in the municipality of Foz do Iguaçu in the last five years (2014-2019). To investigate the actions of OSFI, the qualitative research approach of the case study was used and, for data collection, the methods of content analysis and semi-structured interviews. The OSFI website, activity reports were analyzed and, lastly, interviews were conducted with volunteers and contractors from the organization. Respondents reported the lack of transparency on the part of government agencies, which makes it more difficult for the population to access public data, which prevents social control. As for OSFI, the interviewees report that there is a positive impact of the Observatory in the city, specifically, with regard to the monitoring of public tenders and works, as well as, in actions aimed at improving public management and accountability in the municipality.