13 ways Asia-Pacific will help #breakthechain of corruption on Int'l Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December

1. Afghanistan

The NGO Cooperation for Peace and Development, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Afghanistan country office, will hold a "Corruption Free Afghanistan" e-campaign to disseminate multiple anti-corruption messages and news pieces in Pashto, Dari, and English through social media, a website, and a mailing list.

For more information, please contact Seonghye Han (seonghye.han@undp.org).

2. Bhutan

With support from UNDP Bhutan, the NGO Bhutan Transparency Initiative will organize a public debate on “Corruption Impacts the Poor”, a musical theatre presentation on the theme “Anti-Corruption and Sustainable Development” with youth groups and Bhutanese artists, and a public forum to give Bhutan youth a platform to share their experiences and perspectives on combatting corruption in the country.

For more information, please contact Namgay Wangchuk (namgay.wangchuk@undp.org).

3. Lao PDR

The State Inspection and Anti-Corruption Agency, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UNDP Lao PDR, will display anti-corruption banners in Vientiane, the capital city, in four key historic streets. It also will work with youth, women, business, and news associations to carry out an intensive anti-corruption campaign in Savannakhet Province, the largest province in Laos.

For more information, please contact Rose Poreaux (rose.poreaux@unodc.org).

4. Maldives

The Anti-Corruption Commission of Maldives, with support from UNDP Maldives, will organize a photo contest on the theme, "Impact of Corruption". It also will hold a televised panel discussion on the topic of integrity with the participation of key anti-corruption experts.

For more information, please contact Mohamed Saleem (mohamed.saleem@acc.gov.mv).

5. Fiji

With support from the joint UNODC-UNDP United Nations Pacific Region Against Corruption project, Bua Urban Youth-Fiji will pilot "TalkJAM", a combined panel discussion and indigenous/cultural music/entertainment event for urban-based advocates and community workers. Activities also will include launching a Youtube channel containing video grabs of women, youth and children from Bua province talking about the need to be involved in development decisions that impact their livelihoods, health, and culture.

For more information, please contact Luisa Senibulu (luisa.senibulu@undp.org).

6. Fiji

UNDP's Multi-Country Office in Fiji will hold a daylong anti-corruption event for youth representatives from different churches and youth groups. The event will feature drama, art, and karaoke competitions, social gatherings to promote anti-corruption values, a reading of the UN Secretary-General's message on International Anti-Corruption Day, live band performances, and live radio broadcasting. The event was preceded by a one-week radio program of short news stories on corruption and good governance.

For more information, please contact Tuiai Tabai (tuiai.tabai@undp.org).

7. Mongolia

The Independent Agency Against Corruption, with support from UNDP Mongolia, and in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mongolia will organize a consultation with the construction sector to discuss corruption in the sector, obstacles being faced, and potential solutions for overcoming these obstacles. Related initiatives include the publication of a special issue of the magazine of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry on corruption risks in the construction sector (circulation estimated at 3,000 companies) and an online discussion to engage those working in the construction sector in provinces.

For more information, please contact Barkhas Losolsuren (barkhas.losolsuren@undp.org).

8. Nepal

UNDP Nepal will host a national level dialogue and public debate on the impact of corruption on human rights. Target participants are policy makers, anti-corruption bodies, human rights defenders, youth groups, major political parties, and civil society groups. Two discussion papers will be presented on the role of human rights defenders in preventing and combating corruption in Nepal.

For more information, please contact Bandana Risal(bandana.risal@undp.org).

9. Philippines

UNDP Philippines and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) to hold "Beyond Song & Dance: Dig Data, Vote Wisely", a public forum and data summit for first-time voters, journalists, bloggers, representatives of civil society organizations, political parties, academics, election regulators, and donors. PCIJ will use data from its Money Politics Online website to share composite profiles of the top candidates for president and vice president, with details on wealth, record of public service, record of public funds use, top donors, business/financial associates, corruption case files, and political family history.

For more information, please contact Emmanuel Buendia (emmanuel.buendia@undp.org).

10. Sri Lanka

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, with support from UNDP Sri Lanka, will organize, among others, a 2,000-people-strong walkathon in the capital city Colombo and launch several advocacy initiatives. These include the Sri Lankan version of the ‘I Paid a Bribe’ website, a theme song against bribery and corruption, and a poster highlighting instances and repercussions of corruption, to be displayed in all government offices.

For more information, please contact Sonali Dayaratne (sonali.dayaratne@undp.org).

11. Thailand

UNODC's Regional Office for South East Asia and the Pacific, in partnership with UNDP Thailand, will carry out an awareness-raising campaign that will culminate in the "Young Journalists for Anti-Corruption of the Year Award". Focusing on youth integrity issues, the campaign will use investigative journalism and social media to expose corruption drivers, dynamics, opportunities and possible solutions.

For more information, please contact Francesco Checchi (francesco.checchi@unodc.org).

12. Tonga

The Tonga Youth Coalition, with support from the joint UNODC-UNDP United Nations Pacific Region Against Corruption project, will host a national forum with key anti-corruption stakeholders and potential partners and a combination of youth creative arts (flashmob, short films, songs, etc.) for the general public. The Coalition also will launch a website, an online survey on the website, video shooting of youth efforts against corruption in the Tonga context, and short interviews on how corruption affects Tonga and its citizens.

For more information, please contact Luisa Senibulu (luisa.senibulu@undp.org).

13. Vietnam

UNODC will organize a "Hackathon for Social Good: Use of New Technology to Improve Public Service Quality in Viet Nam" to encourage young coders, IT students, and adept social media users to create a cell phone app than can ease the burden for citizens to report about misconduct, wrong-doing or bribe taking by any civil servant or public employee. Like Uber, the proposed app also will allow users of public services to rate the performance of service providers.

For more information, please contact Thanh-Huyen Do (do.thi.thanh.huyen@undp.org).