AP-INTACT

Public Integrity for an Effective COVID-19 Response and Recovery (Policy Note).  "The COVID-19 crisis creates opportunities for many integrity violations, particularly in public procurement, economic stimulus packages and public organisations, undermining government action. How can these risks be addressed?"      OECD:  https://lnkd.in/eTJ8d8E   #covid19         Campaigners call for transparency in Myanmar timber trade after 850 tons of wood seized.  “Despite a crackdown on illegal logging on the border between northern Myanmar and China’s Yunnan province last year, earlier this month Myanmar announced it seized 850 tons of teak and other timber it says were illegally logged in the week up to April 5. The seizures – and lack of data on the timber, the location of the logging and final destination of the wood – has raised fresh questions over transpar...

Keeping transparency on track (Opinion).  “Drawing on a survey of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on EITI implementation in 53 countries, we examine the threats to resource transparency from the pandemic and offer some ideas on what it will take to keep transparency on track.”     EITI:  https://eiti.org/blog/keeping-transparency-on-track         Anti-Corruption Strategies for Development Agencies During the Covid-19 Pandemic (Anti-Corruption Helpdesk Brief).   “After surveying evidence of the extent and impact of corruption in humanitarian crises, this Helpdesk Answer considers the particular challenges to anti-corruption efforts posed by the COVID-19 outbreak. Concerningly, the health sector is particularly vulnerable to corruption; it is estimated that at least US$455 billion of the US$7.35 trillion spent on healthcare per year is lost to fraud and corrup...

Weakened KPK may face hurdles in probing social aid graft: Activists.  ““If the COVID-19 aid funds are misused by state officials, such as regents, mayors, governors or ministers and their respective deputies, it will be difficult because [the KPK] is very procedural it needs to report to the President in handling those cases,” Former KPK deputy chief  Mochammad  Jasin said during a virtual discussion held by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW)”     The Jakarta Post:  https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/04/24/weakened-kpk-may-face-hurdles-in-probing-social-aid-graft-activists.html       COVID-19 and Corruption: The View from South Asia (Webinar).  “Please join a discussion organized by CIPE’s Anti-Corruption & Governance Center and Accountability Lab on Wednesday, April 29th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM EST. The session will feature an overview of issues i...

How Asean countries can turn the tide on corruption (Opinion).  “As economies start to look towards the future again, they have an opportunity to tackle corruption at the same time: if Asean countries can  mobilise  to defeat coronavirus, they can do the same for corruption.”     Brook Horowitz / Financial Times:  https://www.ft.com/content/ef7426be-7500-11ea-90ce-5fb6c07a27f2       Open Response, Open Recovery.  “The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled governments and citizens alike to take unprecedented, mitigating actions. In their shared struggle, mutual trust between government and citizenry can be key for successful, mutually-reinforcing response and recovery.”     Sanjay Pradhan / Open Government Partnership:  https://www.opengovpartnership.org/stories/open-response-open-recovery/       Seven held in ...

Open fiscal data can boost trust in pandemic response (Opinion).   “[Indonesia’s] President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s calls for greater transparency in the government response to COVID-19 has offered new hope in the face of national disaster. (..) Improved transparency may boost solidarity to the government endeavors in this turbulent time. Conversely, the lack of openness may perpetuate a false sense of security, misinformation and harmful actions. It could also trigger contagious anxiety, leading to the stigmatization of the COVID-19 victims and patients.”     Citra  Handayani Nasruddin  / Jakarta Post:  https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2020/04/23/open-fiscal-data-can-boost-trust-in-pandemic-response.html       COVID-19: A perfect storm for the corrupt? (Opinion)  “Given the gaps and weaknesses in anti-money laundering systems...

Accountability & Prevention of Corruption in the allocation and distribution of emergency economic rescue packages in the context & aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic (Policy Brief) . “In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to be mindful that the purpose of the recent economic responses made by Member States are not intended to provoke economic stimulus activity, as would happen in times of cyclical recession, but rather, to prevent economic catastrophe and provide financial, medical and social support to the poor, the elderly, women and youth, people with disabilities, the unemployed, SMEs4 and those lacking access to social and public services”.     UNODC:  https://www.unodc.org/documents/Advocacy-Section/COVID-19_and_Anti-Corruption-2.pdf       After  Luckin  fiasco, China set to pre-empt financial frauds.  “China is planni...

Corruption can have no place in our COVID-19 recovery (Opinion).  “ Governments, businesses, civil-society organizations and citizens are facing an unprecedented challenge and are asked to be resilient and find effective measures to address the health and non-health-related implications of COVID-19. As this unparalleled crisis puts healthcare systems, people’s safety and the economy under strain, it is imperative that transparency and accountability remain at the heart of the global response. This generation will be judged on how this situation is handled, and we need to make sure good governance is at the core of a new social and economic order.”     Lisa Ventura / WEF:  https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/corruption-no-place-covid-coronavirus-recovery/       Look Out, Corruption Ahead (Opinion).  As the country mobilizes resources to address the pandemic, politicians and corporat...