Unlocking corruption: Frontline perspectives on locally-led solutions

9.30-11.00 AM Eastern Standard Time, Wednesday 8th December

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Organized by Global Integrity and the Open Government Partnership

Twenty-five years ago, Jim Wolfensohn, the President of the World Bank, spoke about the cancer of corruption. This helped to open up a wider conversation about the damage caused by corruption and the importance of taking action to address it. Despite some progress and considerable effort, the scourge of corruption continues largely unchecked, undermining citizens’ trust in their governments and the political process in many countries – rich and poor – around the world. Reform processes begin, commitments are made, resources are invested, but despite some progress, precious little seems to change.

Much has been written about the meaning of corruption, its multiple manifestations, its complex causes, its interrelated political, economic, social and cultural dimensions, and the effectiveness of various approaches to addressing corruption. There is plenty to discuss and a wealth of experience – including positive experiences – to learn from. However, one thing seems clear: in many cases, corruption persists because it suits the interests of powerful players, and because anti-corruption initiatives often fail to unlock the political-economy drivers that hold corruption in place.

In recent years, there has – across the governance and development agenda – been an increased appreciation of the potential value of locally-led solutions to complex challenges such as corruption, and of the political-economy dynamics that are at the heart of governance-related challenges. Our aim with this event is to contribute to an open, ongoing and globally inclusive conversation about the value, and limits, of locally-led approaches to unlocking the drivers of corruption, and how such approaches can best be supported.

We will do this by facilitating a conversation about the policy journeys that have been taken, the implementation and impact of policy commitments, the value of external assistance, and the role that Global Summits can play in advancing effective and locally-led approaches to tackling corruption. Our hope is that such conversations – which put the first-hand experience and expertise of people on the front lines of the fight against corruption center stage – will increasingly inform policy commitments and investments intended to address corruption, so that they contribute to effective anti-corruption initiatives, with strong local leadership.

The event will be chaired by Pallavi Roy (Research Director, SOAS-ACE Anti-Corruption Evidence Research Partnership Consortium), with Nkemdilim Ilo (CEO, of the Public and Private Development Centre, Nigeria), Aryanto Nugroho (National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay, Indonesia) and Raphael Fuentes (Director General, Public Procurement, Panama), making brief presentations based on their experience of helping to craft and implement reforms intended to tackle corruption and improve the use of public resources. Small group discussions will give participants the opportunity to share their experience and make new connections, before we return to the larger group to hear reflections from Abigail Bellows, Deputy, Policy, USAID Anti-Corruption Task Force

The event will be held online, with the option for participants in Washington D.C. to come together at the Open Gov Hub. To be part of this globally inclusive, insightful and informative conversation, please register here.