Key Findings, Lessons and Recommendations from the

Synthesis Report Derek Poate and Charlotte Vaillant

Oslo, 18th October 2011

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Presentation today Background Five Key Messages List of Recommendations Conclusion

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Background Purpose of the evaluation 5 donors 5 countries Our approach

UNCAC Donor behaviour

Limitations

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5 Key Messages1. Donors could do far more to strengthen, use and

disseminate evidence on AC2. Donors’ interventions are broadly in line with

UNCAC and host country priorities but there are still some significant gaps and inconsistencies

3. Donors could build on emerging good practices to make links with AC more effective

4. Donor commitment to PD principles and their response to aid misuse can help

5. Supporting AC requires a more sophisticated and honest approach to risk

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Key message 1: Donors could do far more to strengthen, use and disseminate evidence on

AC Lack of country AC strategy (except for Denmark and Asian

Development Bank) Infrequent analysis of corruption by donors (more

recently risk of corruption assessed as part of FRAs) Incomplete analysis:

Focus on country systems, policy and legislative measures Little use of national data No analysis on petty corruption No differentiated analysis across sectors No analysis on link between corruption and poverty Limited analysis on the drivers of corruption

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Key message 1: Donors could do far more to strengthen, use and disseminate evidence on

ACIn the absence of a comprehensive, regular, and evidence-based analysis of corruption in partner countries, donors’ approach to AC cannot inform policy-making in a convincing way.

National surveys can be used to prioritise actions (Zambia, integrity committees)

Building the country’s evidence base… combined with public dissemination …. can help raise public debate and awareness

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Key message 2: Donors’ programmes are broadly in line with UNCAC and host country priorities but there are still some significant

gaps Donors support a broader range of interventions / actors with a role

to fight AC – not just AC Commissions..

Donor efforts can be mapped against UNCAC Articles

Move to Programme-based approach has strengthened focus on PFM Some support to CSO, civil service, police, private sector, and justice

sector reforms

yet…

Focus on strengthening systems and institutions - no specific objectives on integrity/anti-corruption

UNCAC focus on promoting integrity and transparency is missed. Some exceptions: police (Nicaragua, Bang), GGP (Bangladesh)

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Key message 2: Donors’ programmes are broadly in line with UNCAC and host country priorities but there are still some significant

gaps

Donor alignment to country priorities Donors have helped to draft national AC plansYet inconsistent support to the fight against grand corruption

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Key message 3: Donors could build on emerging good practices to make links with

AC more effective

Combining support for evidence gathering with external communication (Key message 1)

Combining capacity building and system strengthening with AC integrity measures (Key message 2)

Investing in inter-agency partnership to strengthen collective actions and accountability

Investing in grassroot monitoring to promote corrupt-free service delivery.

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Key message 3: Building on good practice: Investing in inter-agency partnership

Many examples illustrate the importance of partnership working:

Positive experience : AC Commissions and CSOs; Zambia’s Task Force; Nicaragua AC Fund (information sharing); Supreme Audit Institutions and Parliamentary CommitteesNegative experience: AC Commissions and police/judiciary

… a new way of working for donors ?

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Key message 3: Building on good practices : Investing in grass-root quality

monitoringMany positive examples: Concerned Citizens Committees (education, health – Bangladesh); Haki Elimu (education – Tanzania); role of parents association (Bangladesh)

Key characteristics:-A sectoral approach-About empowering local communities with information and knowledge; through platforms for discussion-Focus on positive incentives (improving quality of services) rather than negative incentives (fight corruption head-on)

-Need for careful selection of CSOs (preferably membership-based with good representation at grassroot levels)

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Key message 4: Donor commitment to PD principles and their response to aid

misuse can help

Donor coordination has varied greatly from one country to the next, depending on the “like-mindedness” of donor agencies.

Donors have become increasingly sophisticated in combining financial support with dialogue with government, using a mix of complementary platforms.

Useful leverage or last push for a change of direction in government policy when domestic conditions are ripe.

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Key message 4: Donor commitment to PD principles and their response to aid

misuse can help Donor response to aid-related, public sector

corruption scandal: Use and support domestic accountability processes to

investigate and respond to corruption scandals Remain committed to alignment with country systems, while

introducing short-term safeguard measures where necessary.

Recognise that grand corruption leaks could be a sign of improving rather than deteriorating governance.

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Key message 5: Supporting AC requires a more sophisticated and honest approach to

risk

Programming: How new programmes may reinforce existing corruption

practices and create new ones Which existing corruption practices may hinder performance

in good governance and AC interventions New aid delivery mechanisms

Increased donor vulnerability to financial malpractice in the public sector

Pressure to remain engaged may lead to some leniency Sudden aid stoppage can have nationwide effect

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Some conclusions Donor approach responsive to country circumstances

Yet… limited understanding / analysis of all forms and drivers of corruption has reduced their ability to provide genuine guidance

Some positive contributions By keeping AC high on the agenda for dialogue ... and producing results at intermediary levels… Yet prone to reversal And no impact on level of corruption nationwide

Reputational risk cannot be overlooked

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8 Recommendations (and practical steps)

Make donor approaches to AC more explicit, coherent, and evidence-based.

Invest in evidence gathering and public dissemination.

Make good governance and AC-specific interventions more joined-up and risk-aware.

Take a sectoral approach to AC, with special emphasis on poverty and gender.

Stop working with institutions in isolation and start promoting inter-agency partnerships.

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8 Recommendations (and practical steps)

Adopt a more coordinated approach to AC. Use the opportunity of short-term, reaction-driven

inputs to reinforce long-term, preventive interventions.

Adopt a ‘do no harm’ approach to aid, acknowledging that aid can perpetrate corrupt practices

Evaluation lessons Evaluability

Non-existent or weak results-chainsPoor project level M&E

Programme coherenceJoint programmes; shared objectives

Policy coherenceModes of operation; relations with

government

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