E-Conference Transparency - Summary Week 2 - Positive experiences

This note touches upon some of the main points which came out of the second week’s discussion.

Institutional issues

Paul van Beers focused on 10 criteria and defining features of “good governance”:

1. Participative (respect the democratic process, all stakeholders
   involved)
2. Objective (don't impose own values or beliefs)
3. Consensus oriented (respect the democratic / social process)
4. Pro-poor directed (development is for everybody)
5. Gender balanced (cultural values included)
6. Accountable (responsible with discipline, respecting decisions)
7. Transparent (open Financial and Decision making processes)
8. Efficient (high output / input ratio)
9. Effective (high impact in terms of quality & numbers)
10. Supported by a legal framework (respecting the Law)

He went on to suggest a few positive tools to fight corruption could be:

1. Applying Good Governance practice* (refer to the ten point list above)
2. Applying a No-Corruption Clause: A simple "No-Corruption" Clause (NCC) can be introduced in all purchase requests and contracts.
3. Transparency through simple A4 forms: introducing simple but clear A-4 forms for each purchase and declaration and other internal procedures.

Mr. NR Chilukuri from India noted that there is a need for legal provision and less complicated judicial processes as a key element in fighting corruption. He suggests that each project must be reviewed by people of knowledge above 60 year of age. Any indication of financial irregularity would need to be referred to anti-corruption agency within 48 hours with evidence. An anti-corruption agency must be able to file cases within one week in special courts. The special courts would then review the case within a strict time frame of four weeks. Based on court's verdict, assets accrued or money misappropriated forms good evidence to come to conclusion by the courts. He also suggests that every project incorporates a monitoring cell that can report on the transparency.

Mr. Martin Mbonu in Nigeria focuses on the experiences of an EU-supported micro-projects programme in the nine oil-producing States of the Delta region of Nigeria.  In this, a simple information sign board is erected at the project site.  It shows the total cost of the project, who is contributing to the project cost and the amount contributed by each contributor, who has won which contract, contract price as well as the delivery period.  This improves transparency and improve community participation and ownership in the project. This information board combined with fact that the communities are involved in the design and implementation of the projects have ensured that contractors keep to the budget as jointly planned thus ensuring transparency and accountability.

Reflecting some of the discussion during the first week, Abdullah Naseer in Saudi Arabia said that corruption relates to weakened individual social values and personal ethics. He states that corruption will not be substantially impacted unless the social and individual value system is enhanced. Therefore while he strongly supports law enforcement and economic means to fight corruption, he argues that social tools should be promoted. Strong partnership must be  identified by recognising influential players, such as school teachers, academicians, religious leaders and others in order to built a network of advocacy for the involvement of ethical and values system tools.

Marielle Snel, IRC