Citizens Committees and Local Elites: Elite Capture, Captured Elites, and Absent Elites in Health Facility Committees

Abstract Mainstream development policies often promote citizens committees to oversee basic social services. Such require influence over, and legitimacy among, service providers perform their roles, which local elites can help or hinder. Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyse the situation in 251 health facility Burundi, part of benefited from interventions designed bolster relationship with leaders. Interviews focus groups reveal that leaders’ support is essential for access work nurses, but failure show it hard nurture. The socio-political (politicians, faith leaders) bypass ignore committees. In ‘fragile’ context such as Burundi’s, lack political elite capture attempt suggests largely vacuous committee system. remain façade participatory institution. Understanding engaging everyday politics crucial committee-based approaches.