I
M
P
A
C
T
I n t e g r i t y
M a n a g e m e n t
a n d
P r o g r a m s
f o r A c c o u n t a b i l i t y a n d T r a n s p a r e n c y
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
GOVERNANCE CAPACITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND RISK OF CORRUPTION
QUALITY
OF LIFE
RESPECT, PROMOTION AND
FULFILMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
CAPACITY FOR POLICY IMPLEMENTATION(
incl. law enforcement)
RISKFOR LOWER CAPACITY: PETTY CORRUPTION
CAPACITY FOR POLICY FORMULATION
RISK FOR LOWER CAPACITY: GRAND CORRUPTION
Informs institutional design to ensure pursuance of common interests.
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.
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 PoliticoAdministrative 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 Administration
Steps:
1. The Government specifies the job to be done –
the job order
2. The (independent) State Services
Commissioner selects and recommends to the
Government the best candidate
3. Government approves the recommendation
4. The State Services Commissioner appoints the
approved candidate and acts as employer for
the State