IMPACTIMPACTIntegrity Management and Programs for Accountability and Transparency

Preventing Corruption through Access to Information

By: Fredrik Eriksson, Managing Director, IMPACT

United Nations Conference on Anti-Corruption Measures, Good Governance and Human Rights

Warsaw, 8-9 November 2006

SOCIAL POWER: political, economic, and normative/ideological.

”Social power relations exist wherever some human subjects (individual or collective) are able to lay routine, enforceable boundaries upon the activities of other human subjects (individual or collective), in so far as that ability rests on the former subjects control over resources allowing them, if they so choose, to deprive the latter subjects of salient human values.” –Poggi, G., Forms of Power (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2001), p. 14.

Informs institutional design to ensure pursuance of common interests.

CAPACITY FOR POLICY FORMULATION

CAPACITY FOR POLICY IMPLEMENTATION( incl. law

enforcement)

RESPECT, PROMOTION AND FULFILMENT OF HUMAN

RIGHTS

QUALITY OF LIFE

RISKFOR LOWER CAPACITY: PETTY CORRUPTION

RISK FOR LOWER CAPACITY: GRAND CORRUPTION

GOVERNANCE CAPACITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND RISK OF CORRUPTION

The Promising Platform

Human Rights Based Approach:

• Identify capacity empowerment needs of both duty-bearers & claim-holders to realise human rights:

access to information is at the core

Poland: Transparency in Politico-Administrative Relations

• Different history compared to other consolidated democracies shaping attitudes within and towards the public administration.

• After communism: Weak public administration and problems with clientelism and a highly politicised public administration after communism: facilitated corruption.

Clientelism undermining the rule of law

• Political patronage undermines meritocracy –professional qualifications become irrelevant.

• Promoted officials serve the interests of their patrons –no matter what the law says.

• Drains competency, trust and permanence• Facilitates corruption and control over state

resources by networks of politicians, public administration officials, businessmen and criminals.

Civil Service Act 1998

• Law 18 December 1998

• Clear criteria for becoming a civil servant: – Nomination– At least 2 years work experience – Masters degree– Knowing a foreign language

• Introduced competitive procedures

New Zeeland: Civil Services Commission

Responsible for:

• Appointment and employment of Public Service chief executives (General Directors) on behalf of the State

• Reduces the risk for clientelism, favouritism and conflict of interest.

New Zeeland: Appointment of Chief Executives in

the Public AdministrationSteps: 1. The Government specifies the job to be done –

the job order2. The (independent) State Services

Commissioner selects and recommends to the Government the best candidate

3. Government approves the recommendation4. The State Services Commissioner appoints the

approved candidate and acts as employer for the State