"Improving state accountability is a central preoccupation of development efforts. How individuals and institutions can and do hold governments to account for their actions and decisions differs radically between societies. Furthermore, what accountability actually means can differ greatly from one context to another [...] This briefing introduces BBC Media Action’s approach to accountability, with particular focus on empowering individuals to play a role in holding those in power to account. It also describes the development of a framework for understanding and measuring such individual empowerment. The paper then draws on qualitative research conducted in Kenya by BBC Media Action to illustrate the application of this framework and to validate an approach to measuring impact through qualitative and quantitative cross-cultural research. This approach will be used across evaluation of accountability-focused projects." (Executive summary)