GETTING REPRESENTATION RIGHT FOR WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT - ACCOUNTABILITY, CONSENT, AND THE ARTICULATION OF WOMENS INTERESTS

To what extent does the recent emphasis upon accountability by develop ment institutions augur well for women? This article firstly describes how accountability is grounded upon the concept of consent as the pri ncipal prerequisite of legitimate authority; secondly notes how consen t has historically played an ambivalent role for women; and finally ar gues that placing consent within a 'context of choice' which recognize s cultural identity threatens to negate the value of consent for women in development.