Transparency, Accountability and Voices against Corruption. Accelerating human development in Asia Pacific

Transcription

1 Transparency, Accountability and Voices against Corruption Background Accelerating human development in Asia Pacific Regional dialogue and knowledge fair, June 2014 Exclusion and discrimination have emerged as the central challenges for advancing human development and democratic governance in the Asia-Pacific. Despite the high economic growth in many countries in the region, populations still lack confidence in the capacity of governments to promote good governance and prevent corruption, which fuels inequalities and discrimination and thereby hindering the progress on human development. UNDP s overarching vision is to help countries achieve the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion according to new Strategic Plan The Asia Pacific Regional Centre, with the support of the Global Anti-Corruption Initiative (GAIN), would like to use this opportunity to discuss with country offices and selected counterparts on how governance, transparency and accountability reforms could be instrumental in removing bottlenecks and maximizing development outcomes such as increasing the access and the quality of service delivery. In many cases, governance and MDG related programmes and projects have been running in parallel without paying much attention to maximizing synergies between the efforts to reform governance, reduce poverty and achieve the MDGs. 1. However, development partners and governments increasingly recognize that institutions, systems, and processes are essential to translate economic gains into development outcomes. For example, the UN Secretary General s Report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda proposes to include a separate goal on Ensuring Good Governance and Effective Institutions including reducing bribery and corruption and ensuring that officials should be held accountable. To accelerate human development in the region and prepare the post-2015 agenda, it is essential to address corruption, which is both symptom and causes of poor governance. Corruption varies across the Asia Pacific region, which reflects on underlying governance problems. For example, countries in South Asia have been plagued by high levels of poverty and corruption. However, even in countries with high economic growth in South East Asia, corruption has often linked to increasing inequalities within countries, for example between cities and rural areas. 1 The review of 34 national MDG reports in 2010 showed that very few reports mentioned governance related issues as the bottlenecks or the facilitators to achieve the MDGs.

2 Disparities in the access to basic services in the region could be explained by poor governance, corruption and discriminatory practices. Fifty one per cent of the 1.3 billion people worldwide without access to electricity reside in Asia 2. Access and quality of health services remains a critical deficit in the Asia-Pacific region. And women are particularly vulnerable to corruption, as shown by recent surveys 3. Therefore corrupt practices have a negative impact on the achievement of MDGs, such as the universal primary education, the reduction of child mortality or the combating of diseases Experience in the region has shown that mere anti-corruption solutions are not sufficient per se to change the rules of the game and bridge inequalities within the same country. Despite the fact that almost all countries in the region have ratified the UN Convention against Corruption 4, corruption remains a major impediment to development. UNDP has recognized that anti-corruption efforts will only be effective if they are part of wider reforms to promote good governance, transparency and accountability. Changing attitudes of the public towards corruption and deepening democratic governance across the region require a three-pronged approach, which is put forward in the UNDP Global Anti-Corruption Initiative (GAIN) 5 : Integrating transparency, accountability and anti-corruption in the delivery of basic services for the public (e.g. water, health, education, and justice) and in other fundamental sectors for human development such as extractive industries or forestry. Strengthening the capacities of the government and other stakeholders to prevent corruption, in particular in the context of the implementation and the review of the UN Convention against Corruption. Promoting social accountability through youth and women s empowerment and the participation of civil society and media. This is consistent with the new UNDP Strategic Plan that envisions that citizens expectations for voice, development, the rule of law and accountability are met by stronger systems of democratic governance (Outcome 2). Moreover the Strategic Plan recognizes the vital role of institutions to deliver universal access to basic services (Outcome 3) and faster progress needed to reduce gender inequality and promote women empowerment (Outcome 4). Draft agenda for the regional dialogue Overall objective: The overall aim of the regional dialogue is to discuss how governance interventions in the Asia-Pacific region can help accelerate human development in the context of the post-2015 agenda. The meeting will discuss how governance, transparency and accountability reforms are instrumental for removing bottlenecks to development such as increasing the access and the quality of services for the public at the local level. It will also explore innovative ways to ensure that the public women, young people and 2 UNDP Asia Pacific Human Development report, UNDP study on Grassroots Women s Perspectives on Corruption. 4 With the exception of Bhutan, North Korea, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, and Tuvalu. 5 The Global Anti-Corruption Initiative also refers to Improving results-based management and institutional effectiveness on anti-corruption. This cross-cutting aspect is covered in the agenda of the regional dialogue.

3 marginalized communities can benefit from development dividends, including in middle-income countries. Methodology: The dialogue will review lessons learned from the ground on experiences to minimize corruption and maximize development effectiveness, especially in key sectors for human development (e.g. water, health, education, extractives). It will build on the new orientations of the UNDP Strategic Plan to identify 3 innovative experiences in the region that will benefit from special funding and advisory support to measure progress over time. Participation: The event will foster cross-practice dialogue among representatives from UNDP country offices from Asia Pacific (governance, MDG and/or energy focal points), as well as selected representatives from government, civil society and development partners (e.g. EITI, UNODC, as well as bilateral development partners). Expected results: As a result of the dialogue, we expect to: Develop an interactive map to showcase existing initiatives by country offices in the region to promote transparency, accountability and anti-corruption, and Reward country offices for existing initiatives that foster innovative ways to address governance bottlenecks through transparency, integrity and accountability. Particular interest during the competition will go to initiatives that have impacted on i) service delivery at the local level and/or ii) social accountability by engaging creatively the public women, young people and marginalized communities. Further guidance is provided in a separate document. The regional dialogue will be preceded by a Knowledge Fair in the afternoon of 11 June. This provides a unique opportunity for all participants to showcase what they are doing to make a difference in the region as well as pitch for new initiatives that they would like to propose as part of the competition. Materials (publications, videos, projects, leaflets) can be displayed. The results of the on-line survey will be displayed during the fair.

4 Transparency, Accountability and Voices against Corruption Accelerating human development in Asia Pacific KNOWLEDGE FAIR Wednesday 11 June, 2014 Bangkok, Intercontinental Hotel (4 th floor, President Rooms 1-2) Free buffet lunch available at Espresso Restaurant (Mezzanine level) from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm Afternoon of Wednesday 11 June, :00 1:30 Registration 1:30 1:45 Opening Phil Matsheza, Democratic Governance Leader, Asia Pacific Regional Centre, UNDP Competition Introduction of panel members and rules for the competition by: Elodie Beth, Regional Anti-corruption Advisor, Asia Pacific Regional Centre, UNDP 1:45 3:45 Glen Mehn, Managing Director, Social Innovation Camp Pitching for the competition: By country offices and NGOs of expressions of interest (2 minutes each) Questions by panel members and answers by country offices/ngos 3:45 4:00 Coffee break and registration of guests for the ceremony Thai Youth Anti-corruption Network 4: Ceremony for the signature of the Social Enterprise Café Luc Stevens, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand

5 Transparency, Accountability and Voices against Corruption Accelerating human development in Asia Pacific REGIONAL DIALOGUE June 2014 Bangkok, Intercontinental Hotel (4 th floor, President Rooms 1-2-3) Thursday 12 June :30 9:00 Arrival of participants 9:00 9:20 Welcoming Remarks Caitlin Wiesen-Antin, Manager of UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, UNDP Opening Session: 09:20-10:15 Opening panel: Innovating against corruption as part of human development Moderator: Elodie Beth-Seo, UNDP Panelists: 1. Bringing together the anti-corruption and development agendas: Dasho Neten Zangmo, Chairman, Anti-Corruption agency, Bhutan 2. Innovating against corruption to improve service delivery: Glen Mehn, Managing Director, Social Innovation Camp 3. Anti-corruption for development: Lessons learned and vision for post-2015 Anga Timilsina, Programme Manager, UNDP Global Anti-corruption Initiative Questions and answers 10:15-10:30 Coffee break Session objective: To set the context for overall discussion on how anticorruption efforts can be better integrated into human development strategies and explore innovative approaches for UNDP interventions in the context of the post-2015 agenda

6 Session 1: Mitigating corruption risks in key sectors for human development 10:30-12:45 Plenary 10: Moderator: Aida Arutyuova, Policy Specialist, UNDP GAIN 1. Social accountability for improved service delivery: Video on Integrity Watch and comments by Jonathan Hodder, UNDP Philippines on integrated development approaches 2. MDG Acceleration framework to reduce governance bottlenecks Taimur Khilji, Policy specialist, Poverty reduction, UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre Breakout Discussions Group 1. Risk assessments in water Group 2. Risk assessments in education Group 3. Risk assessments in health Facilitator : Joy Aceron, Director, G-Watch, Philippines Facilitator : Qing Gu, Team Leader, Poverty, Equity & Governance, UNDP China Facilitator : Anga Timilsina, UNDP Plenary Rapporteurs from break-out sessions (5 minutes each) Discussion Questions: What are the lessons learned from governance/corruption risk assessments in water, health and education? What are the new demands? How can we monitor progress in the delivery of public services and achievement of MDGs? Lunch at Espresso Restaurant (Mezzanine level) and group photo

7 14: Session 2: Strengthening anti-corruption institutions and systems at the local level Moderator: Shervin Majlessi, Regional Anti-corruption Advisor, UNODC 1. The innovative experience of the Hong-Kong ICAC Daniel Li, former Deputy Commissioner of the Hong-Kong Independent Commission against Corruption 2. Mechanisms of the CIAA to fight corruption at the local level Keshab Prasad Bhattarai, Secretary, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Nepal Participants will be invited to discuss per table and provide recommendations on how to address the question below. Question How anti-corruption institutions, systems and measures be strengthened to contribute to service delivery, in particular at the local level? 15:30-16:00 Coffee break 16:00 17:30 Session 3: Empowering new voices for accountability: The role of youth Moderator: Kwanpadh Suddhi-Dhamakit, UNDP Thailand 1. Partnering with youth: the experience of the Malaysian anti-corruption agency Dato' Shamshun Commission 2. Innovating for better education Sehar Tariq, Manager Education Innovation Fund, Ilm Ideas, Pakistan Participants will be invited to discuss per table and provide recommendations on how to address the question below. Question: How can we promote South-to-South cooperation to empower youth against corruption, building on successful initiatives such as the Thai Anti-corruption youth network?

8 Friday 13 June 9:00-11:00 Session 4: Transparency and accountability in extractive industries and forestry: New opportunities for programming? Moderator: Phil Matsheza, UNDP 1. Jonas Moberg, Head of the EITI Secretariat 2. Abdul Situmorang, Project Manager for Participatory Governance Assessment and Member of the Expert Panel for the Participatory Forest Governance Related Initiatives, UNDP Indonesia 3. Tim Boyle, Regional Policy Advisor, Environment & Natural Resources- UNREDD, UNDP APRC Group work Breakout Discussions Group 1. Extractive industries Facilitator: Abdul Wahib Situmorang, UNDP Indonesia Group 2. Forestry and climate change Facilitator: Tim Boyle, UNDP Rapporteurs from break-out sessions (5 minutes each) Discussion Questions: What are the lessons learned from risk assessments in extractives and/or forestry? What are the new programming opportunities to promote transparency and accountability in these key sectors for human development? 11:00 11:30 Coffee break Session 5: Presentation of new tools and methodologies On-line course on gender and anti-corruption: Sangeetha Purushothaman, Director, Best Practices Foundation, India Presentation of One-Click Away DER (Design, Evaluation & Reporting): Francisco Santos-Padron, RBA Governance Specialist, UNDP i

9 Questions and answers Lunch at Espresso Restaurant (Mezzanine level) Session 6: Competition: Awards for innovative ideas Announcement of winners of the competition by panel members Presentation of next steps for the development of proposals Concluding session: Embedding anti-corruption in human development programmes 14:30-15:30 Kristian Futol, Assistant Director, Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade Pauline Arifin, Senior Advisor, Assistance in Preventing and Combating Corruption in Indonesia, GIZ Phil Matsheza, UNDP Session objective: To provide concluding remarks on how to embed anti-corruption in human development i See