Draft dated August 28th National Integrity Strategy of IGS, BRAC University Bangladesh
Overview � Background � The conception of integrity, national integrity system and rationale for a National Integrity Strategy � Vision and Mission � Core Challenges � Goals and strategies � Implementation arrangements � Monitoring, review and reporting 2
Background The ‘National Integrity Strategy’ (NIS) is expected to be a policy � document to prevent corruption. � NIS brings together potential initiatives of major institutions. The Strategy is a response to Bangladesh’s accession to UNCAC and � GAP study The Strategy builds on the view that effectively functioning institutions � leads to higher state of development. The belief is: ‘Integrity’ makes institutions effective. � � The Strategy is a result of numerous consultations in Dhaka, district and grassroots level � Cabinet Division is expected to facilitate the implementation of NIS across institutions. Summary: NIS is a policy document to prevent corruption through � institutionalization of integrity in institutions. 3
The conception of integrity Integrity at individual level � Integrity is a behavioural excellence influenced by morality and honesty. They are, among others, values implying being truthful and dutiful, adhering to norms, customs and principles and being committed to achieve them. Integrity at institutional level � Integrity includes complying with policies, systems and procedures. Since Institutions are led by people, the integrity of individuals is a necessary condition for achieving integrity at Institution level Integrity at national level � Integrity at national level is characterized by how best the interdependent institutions are governed. The cumulated effect of their behaviour establishes a context which questions corruption. Political will is necessary to that end. 4
National Integrity System � State institutions: Parliament, the Executive, Judiciary, Civil Service, Local Government, Public Prosecution, PSC, ACC, EC, Ombudsman, and C&AG. � Non-state institutions: Family, Civil Society, Nonprofits incl. NGOs, Private Sector, Media, and Political Parties 5
National Integrity Strategy (NIS) � A set of goal oriented actions by institutions to comply with values and principles (policies, systems and procedures) targeting prevention of corruption. � Rationale: – Corruption cannot be fought through prosecution alone. – Moral response is needed for prevention. – ACC’s efforts need to be complemented. – Similar initiatives have worked in other countries. 6
Vision and Mission � Vision : A Bangladesh free from corruption. � Mission : People and institutions embrace values and principles, and practice them as part of their culture. (A moral approach to fight corruption). 7
State Institutions 1. Parliament Major challenges � Insufficient accountability of the Executive. � Poor functioning of the Parliamentary Committees (representaton, procedure and transparency) throughout the legislation period. � Absence of inter-party and intra-party deliberations on legislative issues, and voice of independent opinion holders. � Public Accounts Committee is ineffective in view of the report C&AG. � Partiality of the speaker. � Insufficient capacity of the MPs and officials of the parliamentary secretariat. 8
Goal : The parliament emerges as a place for fair and rationale debate, and for decision-making � Strategy 1 : Form Parliamentary St. Committees with proportional representation of the parties (chair and members) in the first parliamentary session. � Strategy 2 : Introduce PM’s Q&A session with specific share of time for the opposition parties. � Strategy 3 : Provide capacity building measures for MPs and officials of the Secretariat on legislative process and control as well as on budgeting. 9
� Strategy 4 : Form ministry-specific external expert panel to support Members of the Parliamentary Committees. � Strategy 5 : Develop and introduce Rules of Procedures with fair share of time for all parliamentary parties. � Strategy 6 : Introduce transparent debate on C&AG’s report and strengthen the role of Public Accounts Committee. � Strategy 7 : Introduce regular intra-party parliamentary discussion/meeting. 10
2. Executive Challenges • Insufficient accountability of the executive to the parliament. • Partisan control of the executive over bureaucracy. • Centralized decision-making and influence of informal agents over executive • Poor transparaency in the decision-making process • Not responsive to citizen’s concerns and public inquiry. • Insufficient expertise. 11
Goal: The executive is responsive towards citizens, transparent and accountable to parliament. � Strategy 1 : Establish communication with citizens. � Strategy 2 : Introduce a system of reasoning for all decisions of the executives. � Strategy 3 : Introduce a system of year-wise asset disclosures (pre- and post appointment to the Executive). � Strategy 4 : Comply with laws, policies and systems (PPR, etc.). � Strategy 5 : Report to PAC and respective Parliamentary Standing Committee. � Strategy 6 : Establish an advisory panel for each Ministry to complement the expertise and be research supported in all ministerial activities. 12
3. Judiciary Challenges � Low confidence and trust in the judiciary. � People’s perception that the judiciary is still not independent. � Insufficient level of knowledge on some legal issues. � Low judge-to-case ratio which creates huge backlog of cases. � Low salary and benefit structure for the judges. � Accountability of judiciary � Sometimes, judgements are perceived to be not fair. 13
Goal: Judiciary emerges as an independent, nonpartisan and effecctive organ of the state � Strategy 1 : Make Supreme Judicial Commision effective to govern the judiciary. � Strategy 2 : Enforce systems, policies and procedures of Supreme Judicial Commission (recruitment, promotion, removal) as per law. � Strategy 3 : Provide capacity building programme for the judges based on periodic needs assessment (ex. ADR, case management, different areas of rights such as child rights). � Strategy 4 : Recruit additional judges for improved population-judges ratio and handling the backlogs. 14
4. Civil Service Challenges � Subject to partisan pressure. � Salary often not sufficient for survival. � Performance appraisal and incentive system not proper. � Poorly equipped with skills, equipment and resources. � Inefficient/traditional work process. � Accountability system and mechanisms are not working. � Quota hampers quality and professionalism. 15
Goal : The public service is impartial, efficient, effective and accountable. � Strategy 1 : Rightsizing the civil service. � Strategy 2 : Bringing efficiency in the civil service. � Strategy 3 : Bringing competition and innovation in the civil service. � Strategy 4 : Bringing accountability in the civil service � Strategy 5: Review the size of Government and the work processes to explore potentials for efficiency. 16
� Strategy 6: Introduce e-governance and distance delivery of public services. � Strategy 7 : Introduce systems and policies to reduce the degree of discretion in decision-making. � Strategy 8: Introduce protection of whistleblowers and grievance handling system in public service. � Strategy 9 : Introduce a modern evaluation and incentive system for public service. 17
5. Local Government Challenges � Crisis of electing of honest and capable people in a free and fair environment to represent grass root people and function in a non-partisan way. � Insufficient allocation of resources for valid reasons and unavailability of local resources. � Insufficient capacity of the local government system to undertake development plans, oversee them, allocate required resources and manage local government activities. 18
� Poor transparency and accountability systems and mechanisms vertically in both direction. � LG Commission is not yet in action. 19
Goal : A people-oriented, accountable and independent local government system at Zila, UZ and UP level � Strategy 1 : Support EC to hold local government elections and ensure compliance with the Ordinance with regard to selection, campaign, gender, procedure and transpareny of candidates. � Strategy 2 : Introduce local government financing system with central government and local resources based on equivalence principles and fair allocation. � Strategy 3 : Envisage local government related national programme with bloc allocation for local level management of development programmes (from identification to implementation). 20
� Strategy 4 : Introduce systems, policies and procedures for management, transparency and accountability of the local government systems in line with the Ordinance. � Strategy 5 : Introduce ongoing and multi-faceted capacity building initiatives for local government representatives to educate on electoral system and management of local government (development plans, law and order) maintaining integrity. � Strategy 6 : Establish LG Commission to oversee the integrity and strengthening of the associations to foster self-learning, exchange of experiences and promote standardized code of conduct in local governance. 21
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