In a March 2018 blog PFMConnect co-principal David Fellows discussed the deficiencies surrounding corruption perception indices and outlined how objective data analysis could offer a clearer insight into the systemic nature of corrupt behaviour, thus providing a more precise indication of the corrupt parts of an administration, the number of external parties that are engaged in corruption, and features of the public financial management (PFM) system that need to be strengthened in order to combat corruption.

In a forthcoming blog “Developing Systems to Combat Corruption”, David describes how an objective data system is used in practice and how the concept may be developed. Some further examples of objective data and their use to combat corruption is available here.

Background

Last year the Commonwealth Secretariat commissioned PFMConnect Ltd to undertake an independent evaluation of its Africa Anti-Corruption Programme.

Stakeholders consulted

Views were obtained through discussions with officials from Commonwealth Africa countries, the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre in Botswana (http://www.thecaacc.org/) and at the Secretariat in London (http://thecommonwealth.org/). Online interviews were held with others that there was not time to visit. In addition, past participants of the Africa Anti-Corruption Centre capacity-building programmes were asked to complete an online survey giving their impressions of the training they had received, including its subsequent effectiveness back in the workplace.

Future programme development

Those interviewed produced an array of interesting ideas for the future development of the Commonwealth’s Africa Anti-Corruption Programme and attested to the value of the training offered. The evaluation report can be obtained here.

Amongst other things, the evaluation report suggests that anti-corruption agencies in Commonwealth Africa could be even more effective in their work if they formed a broader alliance with other national governance units possibly including auditors, procurement authorities, competition agencies and financial system administrators. Greater use of digital technology is advocated in support of regional collaboration and training. Proposals are also made for extending such support elsewhere within the Commonwealth with priority being given to smaller states.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is now considering the report with its various stakeholders before decisions are taken about the best way to develop the Commonwealth’s anti-corruption agenda.

A brief comment

The 12 May 2016 London Anti-Corruption summit communique available here sets out an extensive list of proposals and recommendations for addressing international corruption. The proposed actions for addressing corruption in the public sector include many of the recommended actions set out in our “Corruption and public financial management” presentation and our “International Development and the Challenge of Public Sector Corruption” blog.

Who attended the London Anti-Corruption summit? Check out the attendance list here.

Introduction

Corruption has a highly damaging effect on many developing countries. In this presentation, we define corruption, provide examples of public sector corruption and examine its effects (and the costs). We look at the relationship between public financial management (PFM) and corruption and present actions to combat corruption. We also discuss the role of development partners in assisting PFM reforms.