Community Score card is a community based monitoring tool that is a hybrid of the techniques of social audit and citizen report cards. Like the citizen report card, the CSC process is an instrument to exact social and public accountability and responsiveness from service providers. By linking service providers to the community, citizens are empowered to provide immediate feedback to service provider.

The CSC process uses the “community” as its unit of analysis, and is focused on monitoring at the local/facility levels. It facilitates community monitoring and performance evaluation of services, projects and even government administrative units (like district assemblies). Since it is a grassroots process, it is also more likely to be of use in a rural setting.

The CSC solicits user perceptions on quality, efficiency and transparency. This includes:

• Tracking inputs or expenditures (e.g. Availability of drugs)
• Monitoring the quality of services/projects
• Generating benchmark performance criteria that can be used in resource allocation and budget decisions,  comparing performance across facilities/districts
• Generating direct feedback mechanisms between providers and users
• Building local capacity
• Strengthening citizen voice and community empowerment

Community score cards (CSCs) combine quantitative surveys with qualitative assessments of services via focus groups. Communities generate their own indicators for assessing the quality of services. Public meetings, attended by service providers and community members (sometimes called interface meetings), allow for immediate feedback and are seen an instrument for community empowerment. (GSDCRC)