The value of UNCAC Session 5

Session Objectives By the end of this session participants will: Understand the importance of UNCAC and why UNCAC is a major entry point for dialogue at the national level. Understand how UNCAC can serve as a guide for anti-corruption programming. Value addition of the UN system on anti-corruption. The use of the UNCAC as an entry point for national dialogue could be used also for dialogue with donors collaboration and funding of technical assitance during the review process or follow up of recommendations

UNCAC as entry point for dialogue UNCAC is one of the international treaties with the fastest ratification rate - 167 Countries (as of June 2013) The ratification by a State party is a positive commitment to the anti-corruption agenda and therefore a source of legitimate intervention. Optional slide (as covered by previous session)

UNCAC as entry point for dialogue Countries that have not ratified the Convention, can use it as an entry point to inform policy and interventions or prepare UNCAC ratification. Countries can use UNCAC for extradition and mutual legal assistance in lieu of national legislation. In preparation for the review mechanism, the country teams can use the momentum to support policy reforms In States which have ratified the convention, the obligations to implement UNCAC and the review mechanism should provide the basis and backbone for anti-corruption interventions (without requiring the UN or CSOs to make a case to justify the need for those interventions).

Maximizing on the review mechanism The Going Beyond the Minimum methodology emphasizes on participatory process & encourages national & inter-institutional dialogue It encourages states parties to engage all national stakeholders in the process from the start It is inclusive and creates national ownership Optional slide as possibly covered in the previous presentation.

UNCAC as a programming framework UNCAC contains a comprehensive set of mandates on: Optional slide as possibly covered in the previous presentation. These mandates emphasize institutional and legal inputs necessary to deter or minimize corruption. Any State Party that has not yet developed anti-corruption reforms can rely on the comprehensive guidance aimed at helping countries comply with the UNCAC´s provisions.

UNCAC as a programming framework Group exercise: In your groups, discuss the content of the following UNCAC articles and identify possible programming entry points to be integrated in the country UNDAF: Groups 1 focuses on Article 7 Group 2 and 3 focus on Articles 8 and 9 Group 4 focuses on Articles 10 and 11 Group 5 focuses on Articles 12 and 13 This is an imporant exercise. The participants are actually required to work with the Convention and to make the link to the national context and programming.

UNCAC as a programming framework The UNCAC framework plays a crucial role in providing detailed guidance for programming. A UN country team can develop anti-corruption interventions under the measures of the UNCAC, which reflect generally accepted principles of good governance. See areas: UNCAC, as a universal framework against corruption, covers almost all areas of governance (particularly under preventive measures), which traditionally have been promoted under the governance portfolio. For example, strengthening public institutions and formulation of public policies have been a part of UN country programming for a long time and UNCAC in its preventive measures provides guidance for civil service reform, public procurement, and public reporting. Although UNCAC provides no definition of corruption, it defines the roles and responsibilities of public officials, stressing integrity, accountability and the proper management of public affairs and public property. Similarly, articles five and six of UNCAC provide guidance on how to develop coordinated policies and independent institutions

Governance/Anti-corruption focus by UN agencies Agency Governance/anti-corruption Focus UN Women Women’s organizations on public expenditure tracking to improve transparency and accountability systems UNCDF Public Finance for local development by supporting decentralization and building local governments capacities. UNEP Minimize environmental governance/ anti-corruption risks UNESCO Conduct corruption risk assessments in the education sector UNICEF Youth engagement on anti-corruption and anti-corruption (e.g. social camps in Armenia) You can solicit information of what other partners do. This slide could be amended before the workshop to include further specific information on agencies which are particularly engaged in the country.

Provision of Technical Assistance For technical assistance and information on the review mechanism refer to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which also serves as the Secretariat for the Conference of the States Parties（CoSP） UNDP, supports more than 100 countries in mainstreaming anti-corruption into the development process and both agencies support the integration of anti-corruption in the UNDAF process. The value addition of the UN System is wide country presence and considered by member states as impartial UNDP, with its long experience on governance, anti-corruption and field presence in more than 166 countries, works closely with UNODC to provide technical support and to mainstream anti-corruption in various development processes at the national level.

Knowledge and global advocacy of the UN system on anti-corruption Added value of the UN is that besides its role as a technical assistance provider, it facilitates international dialogue, global advocacy and international frameworks using its architecture at the global, regional and national level. For example: Working groups where member states share experiences, knowledge and good practices The UN System brings in Global, regional and national level partnerships that facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange.