The UNCAC self-assessment requirement: An opportunity for countries to undertake a more comprehensive and evidence-based diagnosis of corruption Workshop on Country-Owned Assessment Tools and Monitoring Processes in Support of National Anti-Corruption Strategies Oslo Governance Centre, UNDP Session 8 28 October 2009 Hannes Hechler U4 Programme Coordinator

U4 – who we are Operational since 2003 as a web-based resource centre funded by:

U4 Issue Paper rationale Together with UNDP involved in consultation process Concern about short- comings in checklist process and about perception of what self-assessment can achieve

Checklist purpose, role & context Primary aim to collect information on UNCAC implementation in countries It also elicits on technical assistance needs and where such assistance is already given States are urged to fill out (not quite mandatory) With no formal review mechanism yet in place the checklist is important Checklist currently revised and broadened to cover all relevant articles Technically improved and combined in OMNIBUS survey tool with UNCTOC checklist

Who collects information? Gathering information Which type of information is collected and from where? For which purpose is it collected? What is the information used for? Who owns the information? Self-Assessment Checklist

Potential concerns Perception: Checklist more an external reporting tool Compliance with UNCAC vs national anti-corruption reform? Data validity: Information gathering process is likely to –be limited to executive –lack data validation process –be expensive/resource intensive –be geared towards de jure information Insufficient reflection of national reform priorities

Grasping the opportunities Prioritising anti-corruption reform Improving anti-corruption coordination and communication Encouraging national reform dialogue Creating a foothold for reform Initiating broader monitoring process Assessing needs for technical assistance

National assessments Tools Global Integrity Scorecards TI integrity system assessments PEFA PETS Risk assessments etc Processes Reform prioritisation National vision/reform dialogue Institutional coord. and communication Information validation Feedback to TA suppliers Self-Assessment Checklist

Next steps Communicating importance of self- assessment Using the checklist to inform national reform priorities Using the checklist for inter-institutional dialogue Using the checklist to inform identification of technical assistance needs Using the checklist as a civil society tool

Thank you! Hannes Hechler U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre