UNDP UNGASS event / Indonesia president under pressure / Mongolia recovers US$ 43 million

TOMORROW: UNDP-UNODC-WHO Side Event at the UNGASS 2021: Corruption in the health sector during crisis: Strategies and opportunities (Webinar).  This Side Event will highlight the good practices from multiple perspectives, countries and contexts, and present the work of the Coalition for Accountability, Transparency and Anti-Corruption in Health (CATCH) as the UN’s integrated response to prevent and address corruption in the health sector, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please register via the link below ahead of the session tomorrow at 10 pm Singapore time.

United Nations Development Programme: https://undp.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwuduytpjgpG9KW2RG0EWUTNYtukCgVFQ0h

 

Jokowi under pressure to intervene in KPK conflict.  “President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is under pressure to annul the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) decision to fire 51 of the 75 KPK employees who failed a highly controversial civics test.”

Dio Suhenda/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2021/05/27/jokowi-under-pressure-to-intervene-in-kpk-conflict.html  

 

Mongolia: US$43 million recovered.  “The Investigation Division of the Independent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia recovered a total of 123.5 billion tugriks (US$43 million) as a result of investigating corruption case.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-us-43-million-recovered/  

Republic of Korea new investigation office / Cambodia court political influence / Bangladesh corruption stalls trade

South Korea’s New Corruption Investigation Office Needs Independent Prosecutorial Power (Blog).  “The Corruption Investigation Office for High Ranking Officials (CIO)…can investigate certain crimes, such as bribery and embezzlement, related to the duties of current and retired high-ranking public officials… There is, however, a significant problem with this new system, one that will likely impede the CIO’s ability to hold high-level politicians and their cronies accountable: The CIO lacks the power to prosecute most of the cases it investigates.”

Vincent Wu/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/05/24/south-koreas-new-corruption-investigation-office-needs-independent-prosecutorial-power/  

 

Cambodian Courts Show Pattern of Political Influence, Double Standards of Justice.  “Cambodia’s constitution provides for an independent judiciary, the U.S. State Department noted in an annual report released this year on human rights practices around the world in 2020. “But the government did not respect judicial independence, exerting extensive control over the courts… Corruption among judges, prosecutors, and court officials was widespread,” the State Department added.”

Radio Free Asia: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/justice-05212021193839.html   

 

Corruption, bureaucracy impede growth of bilateral trade with US.  “Addressing a discussion on the “US-Bangladesh Economic Relation: Migration to a developing nation”…[speakers] said although the two way trade between the two countries rose to $9.0 billion in 2019, it is much lower than the growth of trade between the US and some other Asian countries…Weak infrastructures, corruption, tax system and depending on single apparel items are mainly responsible for the slow growth of trade between the two countries… said A Gafur, Director of Abdul Monem Economic Zone (AMEZ) Ltd. ”

The Financial Express: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/corruption-bureaucracy-impede-growth-of-bilateral-trade-with-us-1621774248   

Thailand COVID loan transparency / IMF loan safeguards / China anti-corruption cammpaign philosophy

Loan decree needs to be transparent.  “Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, who was [Thailand’s] finance minister from 2011 to 2012, said he does not object to the [approx. US$ 22.2 billion] borrowing plan, which is essential in getting the economy back on track. However…Mr Thirachai alleged that the mechanisms used to ensure transparency and fiscal discipline were removed and replaced with a cabinet-appointed committee authorised to select and propose projects to the cabinet for consideration.”

Chatrudee Theparat/Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2120931/loan-decree-needs-to-be-transparent  

 

Checking the Receipts from Pandemic-Related Spending (Blog).  “A year into the emergency response, information is becoming available on the progress in implementing these governance measures in pandemic-related spending…Transparency and accountability in the crisis response are important for all countries, regardless of their income level, and such measures are of course commonplace in many countries beyond those receiving IMF financing.”

Chady El Khoury, Jiro Honda, Johan Mathisen, and Etienne Yehoue/International Monetary Fund: https://blogs.imf.org/2021/05/20/checking-the-receipts-from-pandemic-related-spending/  

 

Why Are the Architects of China’s Anticorruption Campaign (Mis-)Reading Tocqueville? (Blog).  “[If Wang Qishan, who was then head of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection] and others are genuinely interested in learning from Tocqueville, and not just appropriating the bits and pieces that fit existing ideas about how to approach reform, they might benefit from paying more attention to Tocqueville’s celebration of civil society and decentralization of power.”

Steven Wang/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/05/21/why-are-the-architects-of-chinas-anticorruption-campaign-mis-reading-tocqueville/  

Philippines public procurement rules / Viet Nam anti-corruption campaign / Thailand rehabilitation scheme

Procurement rules should be reviewed (Editorial).  “The provisions meant to prevent corruption not only seem ineffective, they may be adding layers of red tape. We need measures to prevent graft balanced with the flexibility required for the government to be responsive in a crisis, be it in this pandemic or something else in the future.”

The Manila Times: https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/05/23/opinion/editorial/procurement-rules-should-be-reviewed/1800313  

 

Full steam ahead on Vietnam’s anti-corruption campaign.  “[Communist Party of Vietnam’s Secretary-General] Trong has repeatedly vowed to combat corruption. Having handed over the presidency to Phuc, he now has free hands to do so. But only time will tell whether Trong will be able to catch the three big fish.”

Hai Hong Nguyen/East Asia Forum: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/05/20/full-steam-ahead-on-vietnams-anti-corruption-campaign/  

 

Show where the cash goes (Editorial).  “The pandemic has already brought the country to its knees. Don't make it worse by demoralising it further through blatant corruption under the guise of Covid-19 rehabilitation schemes.”

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2119035/show-where-the-cash-goes  

Social norm change tips / Indonesia graft fighters cyberattacked / Mongolia local government corruption

Black Boxes and Trendsetters: Social Norm Change Tips from Cristina (Blog).  “[Cristina Bicchieri, one of the foremost scholars of social norms change,] has observed that several social norm change interventions do not have clarity about what they are trying to change…anti-corruption practitioners need to first diagnose whether a collective pattern of corrupt behaviour is driven by normative expectations, before saying that an intervention is targeting a social norm change.”

Dhaval Kothari/Tufts University: https://sites.tufts.edu/ihs/black-boxes-and-trendsetters-social-norm-change-tips-from-cristina/  

 

More KPK employees, supporters fall victim to cyberattacks.  “A string of online attacks against [Indonesia’s] Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) employees and their supporters is escalating as more people have been targeted.”

Dio Suhenda/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2021/05/23/more-kpk-employees-supporters-fall-victim-to-cyberattacks.html  

 

Mongolia: complaints regarding local government corruption is increasing.  “In April 2021, the IAAC received a total of 183 complaints from citizens, businesses, and institutions….The majority of corruption complaints filed to the IAAC are related to local governments. Most of the corruption activity information is regarding the Local Governor’s Office, with the most common being related to human resources, budget spending, tenders, procurement, civil service activities, and licensing.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-complaints-regarding-local-government-corruption-is-increasing/  

Malaysia 1MDB recovery / Mongolia CPI-penal sanctions research / International anti-corruption awards

Malaysia’s 1MDB, former unit file suits to recover $23 bln.  “Malaysia’s finance ministry said Monday that sovereign wealth fund 1MDB and a former subsidiary have filed 22 lawsuits to recover assets worth over $23 billion from various institutions and individuals..”

Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/malaysia-business-a72f3b2c06ada911ca8459f184fbcc07  

 

Brief conclusion of comparative analysis of the corruption perception index and the penal sanctions of corruption-related crimes.  “A comparative study of the criminal laws, anti-corruption laws, and other relevant laws of 34 countries was conducted by Independent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia to determine the correlation between the types of penal sanctions, duration of imprisonment punishment for the corruption crime, and the Corruption perception index.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/brief-conclusion-of-comparative-analysis-of-the-corruption-perception-index-and-the-penal-sanctions-of-corruption-related-crimes/  

 

The U.S. State Department’s New International Anticorruption Champions Awards Are a Winning Strategy in the Fight Against Corruption (Blog).  “While it remains to be seen whether and how the International Anticorruption Champions Awards will impact anticorruption efforts in the recipients’ home countries and beyond, the awards are an important step toward de-normalizing corruption and celebrating those who work against it.”

Laurel Zigerelli/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/05/17/the-u-s-state-departments-new-international-anticorruption-champions-awards-are-a-winning-strategy-in-the-fight-against-corruption/  

Bangladesh journalist arrested / Indonesia graft fighters suspended / India questionable COVID fund

Rozina Islam: Bangladesh arrests journalist for COVID reporting.  “The arrest of a female Bangladeshi investigative reporter who wrote scathing stories on the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has triggered protests by hundreds of reporters. Rozina Islam, an investigative journalist for Prothom Alo newspaper, the country’s largest circulated newspaper, was detained…under the Official Secrets Act, police said.

Aljazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/18/rozina-islam-bangladesh-arrests-journalist-for-covid-reporting  

 

Job insecurity leaves KPK workers demoralized.  “The Idul Fitri holiday season is usually a time for celebration for many Indonesian employees, marked with an annual bonus and…a lengthy paid leave period. But this was not the case for 75 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) employees this year, who received a letter signed by the antigraft body’s chairman Firli Bahuri on their suspension from their duties and responsibilities within the commission, leaving their future with the commission hanging by a thread.”

The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2021/05/18/job-insecurity-leaves-kpk-workers-demoralized.html  

 

Corruption at the Heart of India’s Coronavirus Crisis? Prime Minister Modi Must Answer for the PM Cares Fund (Blog).  “This lack of transparency is made possible because, in contrast to existing programs like the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), the PM Cares Fund was set up as a charitable trust rather than a public authority, putting it outside the scope of India’s Right to Information (RTI) law and other rules that apply to public authorities.”

Disha Verma/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/05/14/corruption-at-the-heart-of-indias-coronavirus-crisis-prime-minister-modi-must-answer-for-the-pm-cares-fund/  

Psychological cost of corruption / New KickBack podcast episode / Monitoring infrastructure corruption

The forgotten psychological cost of corruption in developing countries (Commentary).  “Our research aims to shine a light on how everyday corruption harms mental health in developing countries. The damage can come in several forms. For example, the size and frequency of bribes imposes financial costs and creates anxiety, especially for poorer households, who are disproportionately affected and more vulnerable.”

Smriti Sharma, Finn Tarp and Saurabh Singhal/The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/the-forgotten-psychological-cost-of-corruption-in-developing-countries-156413  

 

New Post, Featuring Nicola Bonucci (Blog/Podcast).  “I interview Nicola Bonucci, currently a partner with the Paul Hastings law firm, who served for many years as the Director of Legal Affairs for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Our interview focuses primarily on the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Business Transactions (sometimes referred to simply as the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention)”

Matthew Stephenson/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/05/11/new-post-featuring-nicola-bonucci/  

 

Monitoring infrastructure corruption (Blog).  “Transparency International Australia is launching a new project to identify the loopholes that enable corruption to thrive in the infrastructure sector in the Asia-Pacific region… we will work with governments and key infrastructure industry stakeholders to ensure they have the capacity and willingness to implement good governance measures such as adequate due diligence and champion business integrity across the sector.”

Anna Griffin/Devpolicy Blog: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new-and-improved-corporate-liability-7122027/  

Republic of Korea top officials scrutiny / Mongolia SOE reform / Philippines police new recruits

Korea Launches Powerful Anti-Corruption Investigative Body (Commentary).  “In January 2021, the Korean government launched the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) to investigate this type of corruption along with other crimes committed by senior government officials. Given the CIO’s expansive authority, companies with business operations in Korea are advised to assess the risks associated with interacting with high-ranking government officials in Korea.”

Latham & Wilkins/JD Supra: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/korea-launches-powerful-anti-corruption-5952561/  

 

Mongolia: state-owned companies need to be restructured to reduce corruption.  “[The] opportunity to monitor the activities of state-owned companies would encourage them to be financially transparent, accessible, and effective, thus reducing the bribery and corruption network. As a result, corporate tax avoidance will be minimized, and state budget revenue will rise.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-state-owned-companies-need-to-be-restructured-to-reduce-corruption/  

 

PNP: 17,000 recruits eyed to replace corrupt cops.  “Over 17,000 aspiring police officers will be recruited this year to replace corrupt personnel in the Philippine National Police, newly installed PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar announced… The 200,000-strong police force has been accused of human rights violations in connection with the implementation of the war on drugs as well as corruption.”

Neil Jayson Servallos/The Philipipne Star: https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/05/10/2097064/pnp-17000-recruits-eyed-replace-corrupt-cops  

 

Singapore anti-corruption digital transformation / Hong Kong judicial accountability / Mongolia digital government services

Chan Chun Sing on CPIB efforts in keeping Singapore corruption-free amid COVID-19 pandemic.  “The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of digital transformation in the fight against corruption... Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing said…[Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau] has rigorous asset recovery efforts for corruption cases. In 2018, 2019 and 2020, the total value of forfeitures was about S$2.4 million, S$3.8 million and S$2.2 million respectively.”

Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/parliament/videos/may/chan-chun-sing-on-cpib-efforts-in-keeping-singapore-corruption-14779700  

 

Judicial accountability must not cost its independence (Opinion).  “The dramatic rise in complaints against judges [in Hong Kong] is a symptom of the political divide. But politics must have no place in the system that will make the final decisions”

Cliff Buddle/South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3132783/judicial-accountability-must-not-cost-its-independence 

 

Mongolia: digital government services may reduce corruption.  “E-Mongolia, an integrated digital government service system, has become closer to citizens by opening its Public service center on May 9, 2021. The center will provide 516 digital government services, as well as providing advice and assistance to the public… Digitalizing government services will drastically improve the administration of various government agencies with different functions, reduce operating costs, increase efficiency, and make customer services more transparent.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-digital-government-services-may-reduce-corruption/  

India health crisis corruption / Mongolia whistleblower protection law / New international anti-corruption book

Corruption is second pandemic during Covid medical emergency, says anti-graft agency.  “Beside creating medical facilities to meet the growing demand for Covid-19 essentials, the [Transparency International India]…also asked all the governments to immediately set up "anti-corruption control rooms" up to the district-level for relief on phone or other technology platforms.”

India Today: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/corruption-second-covid-pandemic-black-marketing-medicines-tiii-1799395-2021-05-06  

 

Mongolia: whistleblower protection law will be a huge step to the fight against corruption.  “If the Law on the Protection of Whistleblower is approved, it will be an effective tool to protect the public interest, fighting corruption, ensure freedom of speech and the right to information, and increasing legal awareness and accountability. Not only is it important to create a legal environment, but It is also crucial to increase trust in law enforcement.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-whistleblower-protection-law-will-be-a-huge-step-to-the-fight-against-corruption?lang=en  

 

Johnston and Fritzen: The Conundrum of Corruption (Blog/Book review).  “The Conundrum of Corruption: Reform for Social Justice…is an invaluable guide to the latest learning on corruption, chronicling the rise of the international anticorruption movement, what has been learned, and what those lessons say about how to carry the fight against corruption forward… Johnston and Fritzen explain why practitioners’ two decade plus search for such “silver bullets” has fallen flat and what corruption should concentrate on instead.”

Richard Messick/The Global Anti-Corruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/05/05/johnston-and-fritzen-the-conundrum-of-corruption/  

Indonesia wiretapping can continue / Mongolia people with disabilities risk / Maldives anti-corruption law amended

Indonesia Anti-Graft Agency Retains Legal Power for Wiretapping.  “[Indonesia’s constitutional court’s] decision addressed concerns that the 2019 revision of the law, which led to the establishment of a supervisory board for the [Corruption Eradication Commission], had weakened its power to carry out investigations. The court still ruled the overall amendment was constitutional and upheld an article that said corruption cases that can’t be concluded in two years must be dropped.”

Arys Aditya/Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-05/indonesia-anti-graft-agency-retains-legal-power-for-wiretapping  

 

Mongolia: People with disabilities are more prone to corruption.  “[The Indepdent Authority Against Corruption’s] survey found that people with disabilities were more likely to face corruption in the health, education, and social services sector. They also face corruption in the police, the judiciary, and the land administration authority. Therefore, IAAC has submitted the survey results to the relevant ministries and government agencies and instructed them to take administrative measures.”

Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-people-with-disabilities-are-more-prone-to-corruption/  

 

Pres. ratifies second amendment to Anti-Corruption Commission Act.  “[Maldives’] new amendment highlights that acts of corruption entail the criminal activities…along with any other act that is identified as corrupt in any decree. In addition it considers enabling an action that is deemed corrupt, to be an act of corruption.”

Zunana Zalif/Raajie: https://raajje.mv/99470  

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (8 May 2021): Solomon Islands, Samoa, Palau, Vanuatu

Pacific anti-corruption journalists call for regional commitment to media freedom.  Marking World Press Freedom Day 2021, the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists Network (PACJN) has called for a regional Pacific commitment to boost media freedom

and help increase reporting on activities at risk of corruption…PACJN's media strengthening work is being delivered by the Pacific Islands News Association, which is supported by the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, a joint initiative by UNODC and UNDP supported by the Australian Government and the New Zealand Aid Programme.

https://www.solomontimes.com/news/pacific-anticorruption-journalists-call-for-regional-commitment-to-media-freedom/10807

https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Pacific-anti-corruption-journalists-call-for-regional-commitment-to-media-freedom-fr4x58/

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Anti-Corruption Commission Rolls Out Recruitment Plan.  The newly established Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC) office is now rolling out its recruitment Plan.

https://www.solomontimes.com/news/anticorruption-commission-rolls-out-recruitment-plan/10802

 

SAMOA

FAST Leader tells Samoa Head of State calling fresh elections undermine rule of law.  The FAST Party Leader, Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa has written to the Head of State advising that his intention to call for new elections as wrong, unlawful and threaten and undermine the rule of law.

http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=7311941466091c75fc60b8e5545242

 

PALAU

Palau President Whipps first 100 days focus on government realignment.  President Surangel Whipps Jr delivered his first State of The Republic Address…"Our government is being reorganized and realigned to improve services through greater transparency and accountability. Certainly, it is not about scaling down the workforce; instead, it is about improving services."

https://islandtimes.org/president-whipps-first-100-days-focus-on-government-realignment/

 

VANUATU

Vanuatu Parliament Clerk under investigation.  Vanuatu Speaker of Parliament, Gracia Shadrack has appointed a panel to investigate Clerk of Parliament, Raymond Manuaken over allegations of serious misconduct, neglecting of duties and incompetency.

https://dailypost.vu/news/parliament-clerk-under-investigation/article_4aaaaa00-ab95-11eb-9902-0f78634a9dd3.html 

Indonesia pandemic travel / Police corruption research / Measuring business anti-corruption effectiveness

Graft and pandemic travel.  “A number of quarantine breaches by foreign visitors…and a recent scandal in which hundreds of people were tested with used antigen kits…show that some officials and businesses are willing to compromise health protocols for profit…As long as the government fails to combat endemic corruption among officials and improve regulations, it will be very hard to expect safe travel in Indonesia, especially as Idul Fitri approaches.”

The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2021/05/04/graft-and-pandemic-travel.html  

 

Actionable Evidence: What a Donor Learnt about Addressing Police Corruption (Blog).  “What research findings were surprising to you? What was most useful? Surprise: Increasing police salaries alone can increase corruption…[and raising] awareness of corruption can backfire…Our research uncovered several concrete mechanisms, both internal and external, that can promote accountability among police systematically.”

Schuyler Miller and Alessandra Testa/Tufts University: https://sites.tufts.edu/ihs/actionable-evidence-what-a-donor-learnt-about-addressing-police-corruption/  

 

Make it count - Understanding the current and emerging trends in measuring the effectiveness of corporate approaches to anti-corruption (Resource).  “This report explores why and how a company ought to measure the effectiveness of its approach to anti-corruption. We analyse what is understood by “measuring effectiveness”, highlight practical considerations, and provide examples of metrics that are proving useful for companies.”

Transaprency International: https://www.transparency.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/Make%20it%20Count%20-%20Transparency%20International%20UK%20%28web%29.pdf  

Indonesia corruption investigators / Malaysia new police chief / New KickBack podcast

KPK may lose investigators who failed civil exam.  “Reports emerged…that around 75 [of Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)] employees failed the civic knowledge test held by the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) as part of the employee status transition within the antigraft body. The revised KPK Law, which was passed following a speedy deliberation at the House of Representatives in 2019, mandates that all previously independent employees of the agency become civil servants.”

The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2021/05/04/kpk-may-lose-investigators-who-failed-civil-exam.html  

 

Malaysia gets new police chief as the force faces several controversies. “Since taking the role, Mr Hamid has conducted extensive transfer exercises, including those involving state police chiefs, in a bid to reform an institution that is widely perceived to be corrupt.”

Nadirah H. Rodzi/The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-get-new-police-chief-acryl-sani-amid-several-controversies-involving-the-force 

 

New Podcast, Featuring Patrick Alley (Blog/Podcast).  “I interview Patrick Alley, a director and co-founder of Global Witness. Global Witness…is a leading global advocacy organization focused on the inter-related issues of human rights violations, environmental degradation, and grand corruption…Patrick discusses the founding of Global Witness and how his interest in environmental protection in developing countries like Cambodia led him, and the organization, to a greater focus on corruption and illicit financial flows.”

Matthew Stephenson/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/04/27/new-podcast-featuring-patrick-alley/    

Public procurement resource guide / Business community calls for UN / Malaysia Najib's appeal prospects

Resource Guide: Building Transparent and Open Public Procurement Systems for Achieving the SDGs in ASEAN.  “Through this guide, UNDP promotes the adoption of a collective action - a multi-stakeholder approach where governments, citizen, and the private sector work together to strengthen transparency and openness in public procurement systems. It maps out existing tools and good practices in the region and beyond, which have been successful in achieving this objective. It also lays out some entry points for policy dialogue on this topic and reforms at the national and subnational levels.”

United Nations Development Programme: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/democratic-governance/resource-guide-building-transparent-and-open-public-procurement-systems-for-achieving-sdgs-in-asean.html  

 

Business leaders and civil society urge UN to take meaningful action to combat corruption.  “The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Integrity Initiatives International (III), along with 96 civil society organizations from over 50 countries, have called on the UN General Assembly to establish an intergovernmental working group to develop proposals for new frameworks and mechanisms to address weaknesses in current international anti-corruption legal frameworks.”

International Chamber of Commerce: https://iccwbo.org/media-wall/news-speeches/business-leaders-and-civil-society-urge-un-to-take-meaningful-action-to-combat-corruption/  

 

Walking Free on Stolen Time, Najib Sees 1MDB Appeal Prospects Improve (Blog).  “The next court, sensing a shift in the political winds, may give Najib’s absurd explanations more credence. The more time that passes—and the more the ruling party is able to manipulate the courts, intimidate the media, and shape public opinion—the less chance there is that Najib and his key co-conspirators will be held accountable for their crimes.”

Jennifer Kline/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/04/30/walking-free-on-stolen-time-najib-sees-1mdb-appeal-prospects-improve/  

COVID-19 corruption threatens rights / Policital leaders accountability / Nepal sting operations verdict

How grand corruption during Covid-19 threatens human rights (Blog).  “If grand corruption constituted a significant threat to our human rights before the pandemic, this is now more relevant than ever. Because of the way it undermines health systems and people’s right to healthcare, grand corruption during Covid-19 should be considered a gross violation of basic human rights.”

Daniela Cepeda Cuadrado and Daniel Hausenkamph/U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre: https://medium.com/u4-anti-corruption-resource-centre/how-grand-corruption-during-covid-19-threatens-human-rights-f9abc170968a  

 

How to hold political leaders to account for Covid-19 corruption (Blog).  “In contrast to regional anti-corruption and human rights mechanisms, the [Universal Periodic Review process of the Human Rights Council] has universal participation and an impressive success rate. It offers an accessible platform to take on Covid-19 grand corruption as a global challenge that requires a global solution.”

Daniela Cepeda Cuadrado and Daniel Hausenkamph/U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre: https://medium.com/u4-anti-corruption-resource-centre/how-to-hold-political-leaders-to-account-for-covid-19-corruption-e72751c7134b  

 

CIAA's sting operations.  “The court is yet to issue its full verdict. At this juncture, it will be too difficult to surmise on the possible impacts of the court’s ruling on [Nepal’s] anti-corruption drive. However, what is sure is that the ruling must have put the [Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority] into an awkward position when it is relying on sting operations as a major tool to fight corruption..”

Narayan Manandhar/Lokantar: https://english.lokaantar.com/news/detail/22232/  

Global anti-corruption sanction guidance / Afghanistan mining deals / Mongolia presidential candidates declarations

Guidance - Global anti-corruption sanctions: information note for non-government organisations.  “This note provides further information about the [UK’s Global Anti-Corruption] sanctions regime, including its purpose and scope, and the information required in considering designations. Its aim is to support understanding of the regime for those who may wish to submit information to the [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office] concerning specific designations.”

Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/global-anti-corruption-sanctions-information-note-for-non-government-organisations/global-anti-corruption-sanctions-information-note-for-non-government-organisations  

 

How Afghanistan’s President Helped His Brother Secure Lucrative Mining Deals with a U.S. Contractor.  “In 2019 SOS International (SOSi), a Virginia company with links to the U.S. military, won exclusive access to mines across Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghani’s brother is a major shareholder of a SOSi subsidiary.”

Margaux Benn and Zack Kopplin/Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project: https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/how-afghanistans-president-helped-his-brother-secure-lucrative-mining-deals-with-a-us-contractor    

 

Presidential election candidates’ declaration of income, assets will be placed open to public.  “The Presidential Election of Mongolia will be held on June 9, 2021, throughout the country. Pursuant to Article 10.6 of the Anti-Corruption Law, Article 11.2 of the Law on Election, and Article 28.2.3 of the Law on Presidential Election of Mongolia, a candidate for the President of Mongolia shall submit their Declaration of Interest, Income, and Assets to the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC).”

Baljmaa T./Montsame News Agency: https://montsame.mn/en/read/262181  

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (1 May 2021): PNG, Fiji

COVID procurement under the media microscope.  Pacific anti-corruption journalists investigated the mitigation of potential corruption risks in public procurement in response to COVID-19 during their latest knowledge-sharing session on 28 April, supported by the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA).

https://www.pacific.undp.org/content/pacific/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2021/covid-procurement-under-the-media-microscope.html

 

PNG

Greater transparency urged on PNG's Covid-19 response.  A transparency group in Papua New Guinea wants the government to release greater detail about how it's funding the Covid-19 response.

https://www.fijitimes.com/greater-transparency-urged-on-pngs-covid-19-response/

 

Accountability is the path to better governance in PNG.  When we look at progress in decentralisation in Papua New Guinea over the last 20 years – the sole continuous and overriding policy priority of successive governments – many challenges remain to improve downstream service delivery. Programming for “social accountability” shifts the focus from government to governance.

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/accountability-path-better-governance-png

 

Fiji

Professor Pal Ahluwalia is still the vice chancellor – USP chancellor.  Professor Pal Ahluwalia is still the vice chancellor of the University of the South Pacific and once issues are cleared at council level, he will be allowed to operate out of any member country outside of Fiji.

https://www.fijitimes.com/professor-pal-ahluwalia-is-still-the-vice-chancellor-usp-chancellor/