Addressing Corruption in the Asia Pacific Region

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Addressing Corruption in the Asia Pacific
Region An overview
Thimphu 20-21 August 2007
Patrick Keuleers
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Purpose of presentation

• Overall integrity picture of the region
• What are the priorities in the region
• Analysis of some particular issues and concerns
• Role of civil society and media
• Building blocks for successful anti-corruption
  strategies

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Introduction

• Despite vast amount spent on corruption efforts
  corruption in many countries in Asia is seen as
  endemic and systemic
• Despite economic gains, poverty gaps increase
• Average score on TIs index in only 2.8
• Average score on WB indicators on corruption
  control is also low
• Low score on the TI Bribe payers Index
• General recognition that corruption is a problem
  and that curative measures are urgently needed

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Governance, corruption and human development
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Transparency Internationals Bribe Payers Index
Bribe Payers Index ( Transparency International) Bribe Payers Index ( Transparency International) Bribe Payers Index ( Transparency International) Bribe Payers Index ( Transparency International) Bribe Payers Index ( Transparency International)
1. Switzerland 7. Germany 13. Spain 20. Italy 26. Taiwan
2. Sweden 8. Netherlands 14. UAE 21. South Korea 27. Turkey
3. Australia Austria 9. Belgium US 15. France 22. Saoudi Arabia 28. Russia
. 16. Portugal 23. Brazil 29. China
5. Canada 11. Japan 17. Mexico 24. South Africa 30. India
6. United Kingdom 12. Singapore 18. Hong Kong Israel 25. Malaysia
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Regional and Global Initiatives

• ADB-OECD Initiative
• 27 members
• 3 observers (Laos, Bhutan and Brunei)
• ASEAN
• APEC
• NEAPAC, SEAPAC and SAPAC
• UNCAC
• 140 countries signed
• Asia all countries have signed and 7 have
  ratified (Australia, Sri Lanka, China, Mongolia,
  Indonesia, Philippines, Papua new Guinea)

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Some trends with regard to policy development

• National policies linked to comprehensive
  anti-corruption strategies
• Indonesia, Malaysia, S Korea, Pakistan, Mongolia,
  Bhutan, Indonesia..
• Implementation plans for new anti-corruption laws
  and institutional development
• Bhutan, Cambodia, Sri Lanka ..
• UNCAC implementation gap analysis
• Mongolia, Indonesia ..
• Sectoral approaches
• Support ethical improvements in ministry of
  health, local anti-corruption initiatives
  initiatives

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Action Plan of the ADB-OECD Anti-Corruption
Initiative for Asia Pacific

• Pillar 1 Develop effective and transparent
  systems for public service
• Integrity in Public Service
• Accountability and transparency
• Pillar 2 Strengthen Anti-Bribery Actions and
  Promoting Integrity in Business Operations
• Effective Prevention, Investigation and
  Prosecution
• Corporate Responsibility and Accountability
• Pillar 3 Support Active Public Involvement
• Public discussion of corruption
• Access to information
• Public participation

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Priorities and issues Public sector reform

• Corruption still considered an internal problem
  within the bureaucracy
• Civil service reform
• Codes of conduct and conflict of interests
• Ethics training
• E-governance
• Procurement
• Audits and controls

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Asset declarations lessons from a survey

• Constitutional provision?
• Tradition?
• All civil servants or only target groups?
• Verification of declarations?
• Public access!!

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Political corruption

• Long considered insecure ground for development
  agencies
• Transparency for political parties
• Party financing and status of political parties
• Accountability of elected officials
• Codes of conduct for politicians

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Private sector

• Low on the reform agenda
• Corporate codes of ethics
• Internal initiatives meager
• Regional and global initiatives

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Law enforcement and responsible institutions

• Single agency versus multiple-agency approach
• Judiciary TI Global report 2007
• ACAs core success factor FOCUS
• Legislative developments
• Illicit enrichment
• Active bribing of foreign officials
• Private to private corruption
• Asset recovery

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Civil society

• Region still cautious
• But interesting experiences
• Pakistans social audits
• Philippines civil society and procurement
• Fiji and Singapore administrative reviews
• Nepal and district administration
• Philippines civil society and lifestyle checks
• Indonesia decentralisation and corruption
• Perception surveys and their role
• Media and oversight

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Access to information

• Link between A2I and effective anti-corruption
  policies
• 70 A2I laws
• 9 in the Asia Pacific Region
• Some concerns
• Right to information remains a difficult and
  costly exercise
• Poor are often discriminated
• Ethical behavior of journalists

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6 conditions for a successful anti-corruption
strategy

• political will
• understanding and considering the governance and
  political context
• understanding and anticipating resistance
• proper timing and sequencing
• sufficient resources and a mandate that is
  commensurate with these resource
• Connecting stakeholders - alliances

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Building blocks for a successful anti-corruption
strategy

• Compilation of all known information
• Articulation of the ill-effects/costs of
  corruption
• Public education (through media, educational
  institutions and other communication means)
• Measures to improve legal/regulatory framework to
  enhance prevention detection and punishment.
• Autonomy and financial resources for public
  accountability institutions.
• Measures to increase disclosure, media freedom
  and civil liberties.
• Processes for building a coalition of civil
  society, government, private sector and media
• A program of high priority interventions selected
  on the basis of diagnostic surveys and in-depth
  studies.
• Arrangements for monitoring, evaluation and
  reporting systems and regular updating/adjustment
  of strategy

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Thank you