According to the Corruption Perception Index of TI 80% of the cooperating countries of German Development Cooperation could be classified as highly corrupt (defined as reaching 40 or less points). Assuming that this applies to Development Cooperation generally, donor agencies are facing many challenges. Their work is influenced by external risks (such as corruption within partner institutions) and internal risks (such as administrative processes and aid modalities vulnerable to corruption). Over the years donor institutions have found measures to respond to some of these challenges, but what is often missing is a comprehensive corruption risk management system.
This session will focus on corruption risk management systems – theoretically (conceptualization) and practically (implementation). The key message of this session is: Corruption Risk Management Systems do not end with identifying potentially weak spots but need to find the right mitigation measures and responses to rectify these.
Inputs from the panellists will move from a holistic, more theoretical level, e.g. the identification of indispensable elements of corruptions risk assessments and management systems, to sharing lessons learnt and best practice among donor agencies. This enables a discussion of both theory and practice while at the same time addressing specific risk and their potential solutions.
From this session donor organisations can get ideas on how to integrate anti-corruption systematically into their strategic planning and implementation, and how to address the most common challenges. Other stakeholders like civil society organisations learn how they can contribute to donors’ effective risk management and the implementation of mitigation measures. Large civil society organisations who support in-country projects can share their experience on how they address risk management issues in a corruption-prone context.
Jesper Johnson, U4: Jesper Johnson will give an overview over an ideal corruption risk management system and how it translates into the project cycle.
Elizabeth Hart, Independent consultant and University of Washington: Elizabeth Hart will introduce some of the findings from her study on common integrity guidelines for OECD member states. She will focus on the use of risk assessments and how those translate into risk management approaches.
Uwe Wolff, BMZ: Uwe Wolff will present the BMZ Anti-Corruption and Integrity Strategy which is binding for German Development Cooperation. Amongst others the strategy aims at protecting development funds by using a risk-based approach. The strategy also focusses at engaging all relevant stakeholders including civil society.
norPhil Mason, DfiD: Phil Mason will present the latest ideas around Joint Donor Responses. Reporting mechanisms and investigations are one element of corruption risk management systems. Yet when looking at Joint Donor Responses one often punishes the very systems on national level one has supported before and which have become effective.
Lise Stensrud, NORAD: Lise Stensrud will present the experiences of NORAD with “dismantling/breaking down corruption” in aid programmes. NORAD conducts thematic reviews for some of their programmes where they analyse the full programme cycle, identifying possible corruption risks and mitigation measure
