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Seven pathbreaking teams will advance public procurement reforms to increase access, competition and participation with the support of Lift.  “Seven projects from France, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, and the United States have been selected to advance procurement reforms as part of the Open Contracting Partnership’s impact accelerator program Lift... Over the next 18 months, the Open Contracting Partnership will support the selected teams as they open and strengthen their procurement systems and build their team capacity to make procurement more community-centered and effective for all.” Open Contracting Partnership: https://www.open-contracting.org/news/seven-pathbreaking-teams-will-advance-public-procurement-reforms-lift/       MACC: Malaysia needs law on beneficiary ownership to fight graft.  “Malaysia needs to have a law on beneficiary ownership on top of the existing regulations…introduced by the Co...

COVID-19 & Corruption: Latest Trackers, Articles, and Resources.  “The staff of the Anti-Corruption & Governance Center at CIPE has compiled this list of recent publications and resources to help the global anti-corruption community, and is updated monthly. The most recent entries are placed near the top and extend through the last thirty days. We welcome your suggestions for additional articles, reports, and resources on this issue.” Kai Bernier-Chen/Center for international Private Enterprise: https://acgc.cipe.org/business-of-integrity-blog/covid-19-corruption-latest-trackers-articles-and-resources/     Corruption can be beaten: Gordon hails conviction of BI execs in P50 M extortion case.  “[Philippines Senator Richard Gordon] made the remark after the Sandiganbayan convicted two former senior officials of the Bureau of Immigration and a businessman on separate charges of plunder and graft for extorting P50 million [appr...

Mekong Development Zones Facilitating Illicit Activities: Report.  “The [new report from C4ADS, a U.S.-based research organization], which analyzes 110 economic development zones (EDZs) in the five lower Mekong nations – Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar – found that while these zones have stoked economic growth, corruption, opacity, and weak regulatory frameworks have undermined their benefits.” Sebastian Strangio/The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2021/06/mekong-development-zones-facilitating-illicit-activities-report/       How Noynoy Aquino delivered on 5 major promises (Opinion).   “Aquino’s ‘social contract with the people’ covered corruption, infrastructure, economy, poverty, education…Aquino served as the Philippines’ 15th president, from June 2010 to June 2016. He died on Thursday, June 24, at the age of 61.” Pauline Macaraeg/Rappler: https://www....

How audit trail can lead to increased compliance and transparency.  “Once having an integrated and secure audit trail in place, collected and aggregated logs can be used for different business purposes i.e. regulatory compliance that ensures your recorded logs comply with existing stadnards and regulations, business analysis that helps you analyze over gain or loss, and data integration that allows you to recontstruct the data.” Kapil Rana/Economic Times: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/legal/how-audit-trail-can-lead-to-increased-compliance-and-transparency/articleshow/83659127.cms   Five Years Later: Four Lessons We Learned from the London Anti-Corruption Summit (Blog).   “It’s been five years since the United Kingdom hosted the London Anti-Corruption Summit, where 43 governments made over 600 pledges to tackle corruption... The designers of the upcoming US-hosted Summit for Democracy can send a clear message that a...

Announcing the 2021 Resource Governance Index: Assessments of Oil, Gas and Mining Governance in 18 Countries.  “The composite or [Resource Governance Index] score is made up of three components. Two measure key characteristics of the extractives sector – value realization and revenue management – and a third captures the broader context of governance — the enabling environment… the 2021 Resource Governance Index will provide key change-makers with the tools to advocate for more transparency, accountability and drive reform in the resource governance sector.” Natural Resources Governance Institute: https://resourcegovernance.org/blog/2021-resource-governance-index-assessments-oil-gas-mining-governance-in-18-countries     Ex-Japan trade minister Sugawara fined 400,000 yen over gift scandal.  “Tokyo court has fined former trade minister Isshu Sugawara 400,000 yen ($3,600) for sending money and flowers to voters i...

World Whistleblowers Day 2021: speaking up against corruption is crucial for a just world, and we’re here to help (Statement).  “World Whistleblowers Day on 23 June is an occasion for us to celebrate the courageous individuals who come forward to report corruption…We’ll also keep on pushing for legal protection, so that whistleblowers can safely expose and help prevent corruption, ultimately building integrity across our societies.” Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/world-whistleblowers-day-2021-speaking-up-against-corruption-crucial-just-world-alacs-can-help     Improving Accountability Around The World Through Accruals.   “Corruption and cronyism has been hitting headlines around the world off the back of dubious procurement practices and a loosening of scrutiny brought about by the emergency situation. In this context, transparent accounts that support good decision making, accounta...

Departure of U.S. Contractors Poses Myriad Problems for Afghan Military (Commentary).  “Contractors in Afghanistan have long operated under a system that is susceptible to corruption and mismanagement. Transferring their payments through another entity — in this case the Afghan government — is bound to make the contracts even more open to charges of corruption, lawmakers and independent analysts warn.” Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt/The New York Times: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/departure-u-contractors-poses-myriad-151003866.html     SFRA: A mental model for front-line reformers (Blog).  “ We have tried to codify this into a pragmatic mental model that front-line reformers can use to develop better anti-corruption strategies. Its purpose is deliberately limited: to enable context-specific thinking about which particular corruption issues could be addressed to build up a set of feasible strategy o...

The Role of Assemblage Theory in Rethinking Anticorruption Reform (Blog).  “First, assemblage theory suggests that the reasons anticorruption reforms fail...might lie beyond the borders of individual countries…[Second,] assemblage theory encourages researchers and policymakers to track a vast array of actors, ideas, and objects that can help bring about change—an enterprise that may help expose relationships and engagements that are sometimes hidden.” Grant Walton/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/06/15/guest-post-the-role-of-assemblage-theory-in-rethinking-anticorrption-reform/      Mongolia: business licenses will be issued online, with a more transparent and open procedure.   “Mr. Sainzorig, Head of the Legal Policy Department of the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs of Mongolia, briefed the public on the draft Law on License… Under this law, the licensing proced...

New Pacific university anti-corruption course launched.  A new anti-corruption course focusing on Pacific Island countries was launched virtually by the University of the South Pacific in partnership with the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project (UN-PRAC). https://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=3412   PNG: The Papua New Guinea's Indepent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) should be fully operational by the end of 2022. Chairman of ICAC Thomas Eluh made this assurance in a press conference in Port Moresby https://www.looppng.com/national-news/icac-operations-target-101238   FIJI: UN Resident Coordinator Samarasinha: No plans to leave Fiji. The United Nations currently has about 1600 staff members and their dependents in Fiji, says Sanaka Samarasinha, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Fiji. https://www.fijitimes.com/samarasinha-no-plans-to-leave-fiji/   To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruptio...

Corruption Should Be a Laughing Matter (Blog).  “There are plenty of other examples of anticorruption activists effectively using humor as part of their campaigns…A Chinese artist known as Badiucao has used satirical art to bring attention to the ruling party’s political corruption, including a famous “promotional poster” for the TV series House of Cards, with Xi Jinping sitting on the throne instead of series villain Frank Underwood. His art helped spark renewed criticism of the regime and is credited with inspiring political cartoons throughout Hong Kong’s democratic uprising against China’s controversial 2019 extradition bill.” Brooke Davies/The Global Anticorruption Blog:   https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/06/14/corruption-should-be-a-laughing-matter/   Whistleblowing and Secrecy Law: Where is the Balance? (Opinion).   “The rationality of such colonial-time regressive laws [such as the ...

Mongolia: presidential election candidates’ anti-corruption policy.  “Candidates from the three parliamentary parties made their election promises and participated in the Presidential Election of Mongolia. Election promises outline the following activities to be initiated and implemented in the fight against corruption.” Sofie Arjon Schütte/University of Melbourne: https://www.iaac.mn/news/mongolia-presidential-election-candidates-anti-corruption-policy/     Nepal’s Vaccine Disaster Has Left Millions Unprotected.  “A corruption scandal has led to the effective halt of the vaccination program—leaving many people unable to get the important second shot and even more without even their first…Even if the government had wanted to pay what was, in effect, a coercive demand by a middleman, Nepal’s public procurement law has no provisions that would allow the government to pay a commission to agents under a go...

Goldman Sachs’ Malaysian unit to be sentenced over 1MDB role.   “Goldman Sachs Group Inc will have 10 days to pay the remaining US$1.26 billion (RM5.2 billion) of a US$2.3 billion penalty for its role in the 1MDB fraud scheme after its Malaysian unit is sentenced” Free Malaysia Today: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/06/09/goldman-sachs-malaysian-unit-to-be-sentenced-over-1mdb-role/     Biden Memorandum on Combating Corruption Likely Means Increased FCPA Enforcement.  ““[The] Biden Administration issued a Memorandum on Establishing the Fight Against Corruption as a Core United States National Security Interest… [It portends] the likelihood of increased enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by the Biden Administration going forward, not only by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) operating with increased enforcement resources, but als...

Declaration calls for an International Anti-Corruption Court.  “[More] than one hundred world leaders from over forty countries have signed a declaration calling for the creation of an International Anti-Corruption Court, in short IACC. The statement says that this new international body “is urgently needed to promote democracy and human rights, protect human life and health, and enhance international peace and security.”” Democracy Without Borders: https://www.democracywithoutborders.org/17123/statement-an-international-anti-corruption-court-is-urgently-needed/     Mongolia: external influence on investigators.  “ The Asia Foundation's Evaluation Team under the Asian Development Bank-supported “Strengthening the Anti-Corruption System” project in Mongolia, conducted questionnaires and one-on-one interviews with investigators from the Independent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia to determine whether ...

MPs blast health ministry’s dereliction (Editorial).  “[During a Bangladesh’s] parliamentary discussion on the supplementary budget for fiscal year 2020-21, opposition lawmakers heavily criticised the health ministry for its failure to curb corruption and ensure healthcare for people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.” The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/editorial/news/mps-blast-health-ministrys-dereliction-2107269      Myanmar authorities open new corruption cases against Suu Kyi.   “New corruption cases have been opened against Myanmar's deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other former officials from her government, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar said… the accusations [are] related to the misuse of land for the charitable Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, which she chaired, as well as earlier accusations of accepting money and gold.” Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-...

An administrative war at the KPK: employees versus leadership (Blog).  “Over the last month, an administrative tug of war has gripped the anti-corruption community in Indonesia – and beyond. The dismantling of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reached a decisive point: the sudden, some say orchestrated, dismissal of some of its most dedicated employees.” Sofie Arjon Schütte/University of Melbourne: https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/an-administrative-war-at-the-kpk-employees-versus-leadership/     The “Big Reveals” from Stakeholder Analysis can be Central to Effective Change (Blog).   “Stakeholders wield formal and informal power and influence that can importantly impact reform.  Neglecting to identify and understand their influence can lead to technically sound but politically unfeasible solutions; can cause you to partner with the wrong players, or to craft messages that hinder rather t...

The EndGame film about the weakening of the KPK draws attention, WatchDoc is flooded with requests for Nobar.   “[The EndGame:] The Final Round Against Corruption, a documentary by Watchdoc Documentary Maker, has captured the public's attention…The EndGame film premiered on Saturday (5/5) last weekend. Watchdoc Documentary Maker shows the film for free and is open to all levels of society, through the nobar system.” Reza Gunadha/Suara: https://www.suara.com/news/2021/06/07/193351/film-the-endgame-soal-pelemahan-kpk-sedot-perhatian-watchdoc-kebanjiran-permintaan-nobar     Don't let the corrupt hide behind shell companies, UN members urged.  “In her first address to the UN General Assembly, Center to Combat Corruption and Corruption (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel [from Malaysia] called upon its member states to develop solutions to further strengthen the international anti-corruption framework…Gabriel urged them ...

An important opportunity to shape the global anti-corruption agenda (Blog).  “The UN General Assembly Special Session 2021, and its political declaration will provide the world with an opportunity to unite against corruption and move from commitment to action. UNDP reaffirms its commitment to supporting countries to strengthen transparency, accountability and anti-corruption in all development areas, to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs for people and our planet.” Sarah Lister and Anga Timilsina/UNDP: https://www.undp.org/blogs/important-opportunity-shape-global-anti-corruption-agenda     Indonesian graft agency could be doomed, says sacked investigator.  “Bespectacled and blinded in one eye after a 2017 acid attack, Indonesia's most well-known anti-corruption investigator, Novel Baswedan, said his sacking last month could sound the death knell for the country's popular anti-graft body (KPK)… He is one of 75 employees...

UN hails new anti-corruption network, as ‘important step’ to build trust, promote justice.   “With factors contributing to transnational corruption becoming increasingly complex, the UN launched [the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities] to “empower all countries” to find practical solutions and better tools to track, investigate and prosecute the scourge.” UN News : https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/06/1093302     Dismissals following controversial civics test further weaken Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency KPK (Statement).  “The decision to dismiss prominent anti-corruption investigators and commissioners will cast a shadow over the independence of Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission…also known as KPK…Transparency International urges President Joko Widodo to use his executive powers for initiating the reversal of these damaging reforms ...

We won’t allow corruption to continue unchecked: UN Assembly president.  “Amidst a complex global vaccine roll-out effort, he urged policymakers to “leverage this special session” to take concrete measures to prevent and address corruption by closing loopholes and putting safeguards in place… The international community must continue adapting to new and emerging challenges, said Mr. Bozkir calling the special session “a key moment to galvanize a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder response” with a significant role for non-governmental organizations, civil society and others.” UN News: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/06/1093232     G7 UNGASS Statement.  “We, the G7 Ministers, recognize that corruption is a pressing global challenge…We welcome the adoption of the action-oriented political declaration and commit to achieving its aims. Given our international responsibilities, we as the G7 re...

The amount of fines for corruption crime and Mongolia's challenges.  “[One] of the most urgent tasks of the Mongolian legislature to effectively combat corruption and ensure social integrity is to set the amount of fines for corruption crime are “tied with” the amount of bribes and size of damages.” Indepdent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia: https://www.iaac.mn/news/the-amount-of-fines-for-corruption-crime-and-mongolia-s-challenges/      KPK has survived assaults before. This time its luck may have run out.   “With President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo making very little effort to protect the KPK —his instruction to reinstate top investigators at risk of being laid-off has largely been ignored by the KPK leadership—it is likely that the agency will end up being a paper tiger and rendered ineffective. And while past efforts to weaken the KPK have been met with fierce resistance, both from ...

DOJ Takes Toyota Thai Bribery Probe To Texas Grand Jury.   “The provisions meant to prevent corruption not only seem ineffective, they may be adding layers of red tape. We need measures to prevent graft balanced with the flexibility required for the government to be responsive in a crisis, be it in this pandemic or something else in the future.” Law360: https://www.law360.com/articles/1388032/doj-takes-toyota-thai-bribery-probe-to-texas-grand-jury       Anxiety, bribes and bullies: A journey through post-coup Myanmar.  “This is not a good time to travel without a Citizenship Scrutiny Card. Those who do are advised to carry extra cash to pay off soldiers and police at checkpoints… and to scrub their phones before their journey.” Frontier Myanmar: https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/anxiety-bribes-and-bullies-a-journey-through-post-coup-myanmar/     ‘Corruption virus’ due to lack of transpa...

PM expresses satisfaction over performance of NAB, Punjab Anti-Corruption Department.  “Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed satisfaction over the performance of Punjab Anti-Corruption Department and the National Accountability Bureau in the recovery of plundered amount. In a series of tweets…he said Punjab anti-corruption department has recovered two hundred and twenty billion rupees in the last 31 months of present government.” Radio Pakistan: http://www.radio.gov.pk/26-05-2021/pm-expresses-satisfaction-over-performance-of-punjab-anti-corruption-department-nab     Mongolia: MP submits draft law to establish criteria for political officials’ appointment.  “ One of the criteria states that the political official shall not be linked with corruption or misconduct... Thus, setting criteria for political officials will intensify Mongolia's fight against nepotism and cronyism and can make a valuable contribution to effectiv...