Readying Public Institutions for the SDG: A Capacity Development Framework for Strengthening Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity in Public Institutions UNPSA Marrakesh, 22 June 2018 Susanne Kuehn Senior Inter-regional Advisor on Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) - UN DESA
CONTENT 1 2 3 4 5 Transparency, accountability, and integrity and the achievement of the SDGs Key Issues Our Approach and How we work A Global Initiative for Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity? Key Questions
Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity and the Achievement of the SDGs Corruption SDG achievement Our Mandate: SDG 16 aims at strengthening integrity and reducing corruption but corruption also undermines the achievement of all other SDGs The UNCAC obliges member states to implement measures to prevent and sanction corruption The Challenge: Corruption is a major impediment for the achievement of the SDGs It is multi-dimensional, takes many different forms and goes beyond bribery Disproportionally affects the poor and vulnerable groups (e.g. basis public services) as well as economic development Corruption destroys trust in government
The SDGs- Goals and targets related to governance and preventing corruption SDG 16 aims at Promoting Peaceful and Inclusive Societies for Sustainable Development, Provide Access to Justice for All and Build Effective, Accountable and Inclusive Institutions at All Levels. Target 16.4: significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime; Target 16.5: substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms; Target 16.6: develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels; Target 16.10: ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
Lessons Learned Criminalization and sanctions alone do not suffice to deter people from engaging in corrupt practices. An effective approach towards the fight against corruption should build on preventing corruption and strengthening integrity Discrepancy between law and practice in many countries around the world Approach for preventing corruption needs to go beyond laws and rules, which alone are not effective
Challenge: Transforming Mindsets
DESA s Mandate & Niche: Capacity Development to support public institutions in the achievement of the SDGs Ability to work globally, between and across different regions Ability to link capacity development with analytical and global normative work incl. the HLPF and the VNRs DIPDG is mandated to ready public institutions for the implementation of the SDGs Committee of Experts of Public Administration (CEPA) allows DPIDGto bring in latest research and practice UNPSA : a unique possibilities for promoting innovation in the public sector and offering a platform for peer exchange and learning between countries world-wide
How We Work Monitoring & Peer Reviews, Global Surveys Participatorty governments selfassessment Development & piloting of approaches & methodologies Feed Lessons Learned into Global Norms & Standards Peer-to-peer excchange & learning between regions Guidance materials, Trainings, manuals Upscaling of innocative approaches Codification of Lessons Learned: Handbooks, Case Studies,
How We Work: Capacity Development Strengthening country-level capacities in selected pilot countries in different regions around the world with specific focus o Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Support governments in conducting participatory self-assessment to identify key integrity challenges with focus on the SDGs, applying insights from behavioral science Develop and test innovative approaches and methodologies in selected pilot countries across regions, exchange of experience and peer-to-peerlearning to address key issues identified Awareness raising and strengthening ethical behavior of individuals though Training-of-Trainers in cooperation with (global and regional) networks for National Schools of Public Administration
How We Work: analytical work Codification of experience and Lessons Learned from piloting approach and Peer-to-peer exchange and leaning Development of handbooks and publications (incl. case studies, good practices, Lessons Learned, guidance materials, training materials, online trainings) Regional and global workshops and conferences for peer-to-peer exchange and learning How We Work: global norms, standard setting and peer-reviews Develop norms and standards in cooperation with and building on experience in pilot countries across different regions Global and regional surveys on transparency, accountability, and integrity Peer reviews
Our Approach on Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity Transparency Integrity Transforming Mindsets for Ethical Behavior Accountability
Areas of Work Transparency How can transparency enable accountability of public institutions and prevent corruption in the context of the SDGs? Open Government Data, Transparent and participatory budgets and Access-to- Information legislation Strengthen capacities with regard to the role that technological innovation can play in improving transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption. Accountability Strengthening capacity to strengthen public accountability with focus on the SDGs Citizens participation and participatory monitoring of SDG implementation, including Voluntary National Reviews. Expand our work to Parliaments, as well as institutional frameworks and legislation for the protection of whistleblowers, building on experience with Supreme Audit Institutions Strengthening Ethical Behavior & Transforming Mindsets Development of practical approaches to strengthen ethics in the civil service Codes of Ethics & Conducts, Asset declarations, and Conflict-of-interest declarations Raising awareness of civil servants for ethical standards ToTs with National Schools of Public Administration Practical application of insights from behavioral science, incl. reviews of incentive systems and control frameworks, and cutting red tape
A Global Initiative for Transparency, Accountability and Integrity? Code of Conducts & Codes of Ethics ToTs- Awareness raising for civil servants with National Schools of Public Administration Reviewing institutional incentive systems Cutting red tape Open Government Data Transforming Mindsets for Ethical Behavior Open budgets Transparency Integrity Access to Information Accountability Whistleblower Protection Conflicts of Interest Asset declaration E-governance for preventing corruption Supreme Audit Institutions The role of parliaments in monitoring the SDGs
Some Potential Partners
Key Questions for Discussion 1. Which are key challenges in your country /institution the area of transparency and accountability in your countries? 2. Which are your capacity development needs, based in the challenges identified? Which kind of support would you need (thematic areas, activities?) 3. Do you think such a Global Initiative would be useful? Which areas would be most useful for you?
Thank you! Susanne Kuehn Senior Inter-regional Advisor on Transparency, Accountability, Integrity Division of Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) UN DESA Contact: susanne.kuehn@un.org