Engaging Citizens to Prevent Corruption for Better Public Service Delivery & Achievement of the

Millennium Development goals in MENA RegionOrganized by:

Development Management Branch in Cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime

Presentation

Prepared By:Dr. Zuhair A lKayed

Amman- Jordan

Marrakesh-MoroccoOctober, 26th- 27st 2011

Introduction The corrupt practices , regardless that it

is a global phenomenon , has its costly and negative impact especially on the poor as well as on the economics , political and the social fabric of the society .

Thus , Anti Corruption is every- ones business

.

Background The eight MDGs are inextricably linked

to each other.Corruption cross –cut all the goals and a

major obstacle to achieving them .

Corruption increases poverty.

Misallocate resources .

Impede development sustainability .

It is expected that if MDGs were successfully achieved it will:1. Enhance the capability of each

individual and household to significantly improve their lives.

2. Raise the human development standards of the poorest countries by the targeted year of 2015.

3. Provide a pathway towards global development equity.

(MENA) region – sharp disparities in terms of development and resources.

The GCC countries are on-track in achieving most of the MDGs targets , the LDCs lag behind .

A significant wide in- country disparities have triggered the youth revolt.

Accountability and Corruption in the region

Corruption broadly defined as the abuse of public office for private gain, however, the corruption phenomena is inclusive to the national components namely governments officials, private sector and NGOs, but it also involve foreign enterprises and international organizations too

Public accountability has two dimensions namely : Answerability and, Enforcement.

Accountability, however, identified two sides :

The supply side that relevant to the creation of new agencies and mechanisms.

The demand side that relevant to the social accountability policies.

Social Accountability means the constructive engagement between citizens and government in monitoring the use of public resources while allowing citizens to sustain their assertion for reform .

"shared accountability ":1. Accountability among the partners;

2. Accountability between each partner and its own governing body-in the case of government to parliament; and

3. Accountability to the arrangement's joint coordinating body, in many cases.

Citizens engagement usually focus on improving government accountability and the social accountability towards the public.

Principles of effective accountability include:

1. Clear roles and responsibilities;2. Clear performance expectations;3. Balanced expectations and capacities;4. Credible reporting;5. Reasonable review and adjustment;6. Shared risk management.

On the worldwide governance indicators 2009, only two countries scored above 75% on the Government Effectiveness, seven countries score more than 50%, and four countries scored below 50% whereas four countries scored below 25%.

Worldwide governance indicators 2009, indicates that regarding the control of corruption indicator only two countries namely Qatar and the UAE (GCC countries) have been ranked above 75%, whereas, four countries have been ranked below 25% namely, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Libya. Iraq has been ranked below 10%

.

Worldwide governance indictors 2009, indicates that non of the MENA regions' countries reach 35% on the voice and accountability indicator. Actually fourteen countries were below the 25%, the worst in the ranking.

The TI 2010 corruption perception index indicates

a serious corruption problem in the region.

Asset Recovery become on the top of the priorities and demands by all protestors .

Questions to be raised :

"whether citizens are engaged, in the most critical part, which is participation in the strategic planning processes, relevant to the MDGs?

whether the citizens engaged are capable, knowledgeable, and skilled to contribute in the planning process for the MDGs?

How governments' officials in the region are acting, not just talking, in relation to citizens engagement regarding the discovery or the disclosure of corruption practices?

Public administration's institutions and practices for engaging citizens to prevent corruption in MDGs

The involvement of citizens in government policy development takes several models:

The continuum or Sliding scale.

The International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) conceptualizes participation in five categories of relationships : Inform, Consult , Involve , Collaborate , & Empower

The governance system classified the main actors that comprise a public sector governance into five categories:

1. The central government executive, including cross-cutting control agencies responsible for public finance and human resources management, and front-line regulatory and services provision agencies;

2. Formal oversight institutions outside the executive, including the judiciary, parliament and other independent oversight institutions;

3. Sub national governments and local communities, with their own local arrangements for control and accountability;

4. Civil society and private sector, both in their role as watch-dogs (including the independent media and the recipients of services and regulations and hence a potential source of pressure for better performance; and,

5. Political actors and institutions as the apex, setting broad goals and direction of the system as a whole.

Pertinent category of MDGs partners and stakeholders, Partners Involved:

Government institutions.: a focal ministry must be assigned: Overall leadership and co-ordination of programs'

implementation,

Providing an enabling policy, legal and political environment which enhance accountability, transparency, integrity, and responsive governance;

Promoting the involvement of civil society and the private sector in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs,

Local funding and mobilization;

Physical and organizational infrastructure.

• Private sector enterprises.

• The donors

• The UN system

• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). As stated in the AHDR 2009, Arab governments respond differently to pressures from rights-based CSOs , additionally CSOs also can contribute to partnership networks significantly,

The Framework for Civic Engagement/ UN

Participatory Governance Institutions Several participatory institutions have evolved:

I. The formulation of poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs);

II. The national human development reports (NHDRs), and comparable exercise;

III. Community engagement at the sub-national (state/provincial) level; and

IV. Policy development through 'networking governance', deliberative democracy', and 'direct democracy.

V. The “Economic and Social Councils” (ESCs);

The Evolution of Economic & Social Councils (ESCs):

1. First established 1948.2. Are consultative.3. Promote multi-stakeholders consultation.4. Promote good governance and economic

growth.5. Generate national agreement on key

economic objectives.

The relevant public participatory institutions include :

I. Political parties. II. Trade unions. III. Public societies. IV. NGOs, SCOsOthers in North Africa ,and the Middle

East include:

2. Human Rights Capacity Building Project in Egypt (BENAA)

3. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR)

4. The National Democratic Institute (NDI)

5. Advisory Council on Human Rights (CCDH)

6.Jordan River Foundation , Jordan 7. Hashemite Jordan Fund for HRD.

3.Relevant good practices in other public institutions:

I. Poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP) initiatives, by the World Bank and IMF.

II. National human development report initiative, by UNDP.

III. Sub-national or provincial/ state level participation initiatives, case of Queensland's, Australia.

IV. Participatory budgeting, by several countries including Porto Alegre's (Brazil), South Africa, and Mauritius.

V. Civic engagement in civic local governance planning and development, by Naga city, Philippines and case of Bolivia.

VI. Governance and anti corruption (GAC), The World Bank:

Focus its work on its mandate to reduce poverty- a capable and accountable state .

Ensure that the work is country-driven Adapt implementation to individual country

circumstances. Engage with a broad array of stakeholders. Strive to strengthen, not bypass, country

systems. Work with governments, donors, and other

actors at the country and global levels to ensure a harmonized and coordinated approach.

Government institutions, practices and the citizens engagement

" The issue is not the fertility in institutions, rules and regulation rather it is the impetus in proper and genuine implementation".

It is lack of awareness and poor enforcement of rules and regulation relevant to anti-corruption that practiced by the government institutions, is to be blamed.

The third Arab Report on the MDGs 2010 give a gloomy view towards the status of most indicators and results, especially for the LICs and the rural areas who are suppose to be the main targets for the MDGs.

MDGs and Eradication of Corruption Issues

The political dimensionThe institutional dimension:

Accountability is towards the upwards as the priority instead of the citizens or the public.

Traditional and sluggish sector institutions.Integrity system in the public sector?

The new public administration organized to give impetus to the market as well as to address the concerns of the poor and the marginalized.

Practices in service delivery for achieving MDGsThe identification of the main priorities for

each MDG

MDGs must be part of the national development plans

Action plan ,must incorporate transparency, accountability, and integrity measures

Citizens who are included and engaged can play a great role in shedding the light towards the malfunctions and the corrupt practices throughout all the different processes of the education policies development and implementation through teacher –parent interrelationship

Public Attitudes Towards Corruption Practices?

The note worthy institutions of public admin. ?

The public sector reform as a priority in terms of the transformation to the new public admin. institutions' image and model with the serious citizen engagement?

The utilization of ICT is expanding throughout the independent media in raising corruption issues?

Features of – the Social , Political and Legal – context There are a lot of promises for fighting

corruption whereas corrupt practices spreading widely.

Buying votes in the elections process. The social fabric in the MENA region.Corruption is among the most rejected

practices by many in the region.

Social systems genuinely support transparency, accountability and integrity measures that eradicate corruption and expose corrupt individuals or institutions.

The separation of power among the judicial, executive and the legislative authorities is still not clearly identified.

What is really needed for the region is more than mere public sector reforms.

Governance reforms are needed for all components.

This comprehensive reform, while very

important for each country , it requires several technical , financial , and leadership commitment , which defiantly are not available in all countries alike.

Entry Points for Governance Reform/ World Bank

This comprehensive program and its relevant projects in each country must focus ,thoroughly on specific actions related to the achievement of the MDGs by each government's national agenda or strategic plan, where the reform project will incorporate:

Show-case of leadership .

Full commitment from government for the involvement of all partners.

Identification of main priorities , strategic goals and action plans including MDGs.

Attainment of national and local capacity in new public sector management .

Adoption of replicable and appropriate delivery mechanisms that agreed upon with local communities.

Identification of collectively agreed upon measures of transparency ,accountability ,integrity and monitoring in tandem with governance principles and values.

Adoption of periodical reporting system .

Empowerment of all oversight institutions.It is the responsibility of each government to

enhance and reform its governance.

This can be an" Arab Renauciance Program”

IN CONCLUSION :

May be this is a dream, but it is possible now more than ever as it will lead to the region's prosperity , stability ,and mutual trust among countries in one hand ,and mutual trust not only between leadership and the empowered and engaged citizens but also among all governance components and stakeholders .GOD WILLING .