The first phase of the TI programme concentrated on improving the diagnosis of corruption risks in humanitarian assistance programmes. The Humanitarian Policy Group of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in the UK developed a 'Corruption Risk Map’ for TI, which looks at the entire humanitarian assistance process. It identifies the points most vulnerable to corruption, what kinds of corrupt practices could occur, and which actors would be involved.

During the second phase of the programme, TI is working with a number of leading international humanitarian non-governmental organisations to discuss corruption risks they face in their work and to facilitate the identification and sharing of best practices in combating those risks, as well as of policy and practice gaps. The results of this dialogue will be compiled in a shared set of options or guidelines to help agencies deal with corruption risks. The final product will be a handbook of best practices for preventing corruption in humanitarian assistance, aimed at managers and staff of humanitarian assistance agencies, which is expected to be published in early 2009.

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Bangladesh
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Guatemala
Indonesia
Ireland
Lebanon
Pakistan
Palestine
Sierra Leone
Sri Lanka
Sweden

Bangladesh: Transparency International Bangladesh

For more information please visit: www.ti-bangladesh.org

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina

For more information please visit: www.ti-bih.org

Guatemala: Acción Ciudadana

Accion Ciudandana, initiated the signing of a “Government Commitment to Integrity and Access to Information in the Execution of the National Reconstruction Programme” in December 2005. Districts covered in the project were mainly those most severely affected by Hurricane Stan; generally areas with a high proportion of indigenous population and high levels of poverty and underdevelopment. A range of methodological tools were developed during the programme such as a Citizen’s Guide to Social Auditing directed at civil society organisations, a public agents accountability guide and a web portal providing detailed information on the reconstruction process.

However, a series of difficulties were encountered during the project, including: poor infrastructure design; lack of effective state policy in terms of natural disaster; the response of communities to report damages was not always taken into account by authorities to allocate aid; lack of adequate territorial and risk management planning in areas not prone to natural disaster; and the poor coordination and organisation of construction efforts including the emergence of parallel structures.

For more information please visit: www.accionciudadana.org.gt

Indonesia: Transparency International Indonesia

Transparency International Indonesia kicked off the program called “Empowerment of Civil Society and Local Government to prevent Corruption in 6 District’ at the second week of February 2006. Following the design of the program several activities was implemented in 18 sub districts at 1 Municipality (Banda Aceh) and 5 districts such as Pidie, Bireun, West Aceh, Nagan Raya and Aceh Jaya. Those areas were chosen considering their position as among the worst areas being hit by earthquake and tsunami disaster on December 26, 2004.

At the initial stage of this project, TI Indonesia held a preliminary study called the ‘Post Disaster Aceh’s Local Integrity System (LIS) Assessment” funded by BMZ, Germany. The study took time between November-December 2005. The study is intended as a mapping process to identify the risk of corruption in the local level as well as to identify role of local government institution on public budgeting policy within the districts covered within the project.

Overall Transparency International Indonesia in Aceh follows an overarching strategy to build the foundations of the province’s integrity system and take into account the specific context of a region recovering from the worst natural disaster witnessed in recent history and undergoing dramatic political and social changes. The main achievements include among others: community monitoring in 18 communities, partnership agreement with BRR, dialogues with donor institutions and aid agencies, advocacy in local elections, integrity pact, Draft of local regulation on transparency and participation, documentary film picturing the situation of local communities affected by the Tsunami.

For a summery of the main achievements and more information please visit: www.ti.or.id

Ireland: Transparency International Ireland

TI Ireland held a series of training workshops for Irish development agency staff during the summer of 2007 to raise awareness and build the capacity of non-profit organisations in preventing corruption in development. The second of the workshops looked at the prevention of corruption in humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts. Led by Roslyn Hees, Senior Advisor at TI, the workshop drew largely from TI's work with the Overseas Development Institute and the Christian Michelsen Institute on the Corruption Risk Mapping Project for Humanitarian Assistance. A follow up workshop will be held in Dublin in summer 2008 (date TBA).

For more information please visit: www.transparency.ie

Lebanon: The Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA)

Reconstruction in post-war Lebanon after the war of July 2006 gave birth to a new wave of efforts in rehabilitating the war-torn country. Mismanagement and short-sightedness were omnipresent and the reconstruction process has thus been riddled with corruption scandals that have not only discouraged foreign investors but have also had a pervasive effect on the national economy.

In 2005, LTA published a report that features experiences from Lebanon, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sierra Leone. Moreover, it suggests nine “Integrity Principles” for post-war reconstruction largely based on emphasising local knowledge and capacity and on controlling and monitoring the post-war spending imperative by international donors. LTA’s latest research project, which is part of a multi country study on corruption in post-war reconstruction countries under TIRI, looking at the experiences of Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mozambique, Palestine, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste, has been suspended due to current fighting in Lebanon.

For more information about LTA’s work see TI Lebanon in Post-Conflict reconstruction or visit the website at: www.transparency-lebanon.org

Pakistan: Transparency International Pakistan

TI-S and TI-Pakistan convened a workshop to support transparency measures and curb the risk of corruption, mismanagement and waste in the country’s reconstruction efforts. Held in Islamabad on 7-8 February 2006, the event entitled: 'Ensuring the Transparent Use of Earthquake Reconstruction' was opened by H.E. Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister of Pakistan. It brought together participants from key government agencies, donors and civil society, as well as international experts in disaster relief. The discussions built on lessons learned from previous natural disasters - including the tsunami and the Gujarat earthquake.

The workshop produced concrete recommendations for a framework of good practice and stakeholder responsibilities. The recommendations focused on the importance of participatory decision making, transparency and monitoring of aid flows, monitoring and evaluation of procurement and service delivery, and effective enforcement and complaint-handling mechanisms. The workshop drew on lessons learned from the response to previous disasters, as well as considering the specific impact of the Pakistan earthquake and the national context.

Read the conclusions and recommendations for action (hyperlink)

For more information please visit: www.transparency.org.pk

Palestine Authority: The Coalition for Accountability and Integrity - AMAN

For more information please visit: www.aman-palestine.org

Sierra Leone: National Accountability Group (NAG)

Sri Lanka: Transparency International Sri Lanka

TI Sri Lanka (TISL) undertook several initiatives in the aftermath of the devastating tsunami in 2008 with the principal objective of preventing corruption in the reconstruction process and to promote accountability and transparency. A few months after the tsunami, TISL convened a meeting with relevant stakeholders, including the government of Sri Lanka, to raise awareness on potential corruption issues. TISL conducted research to analyse the reportage of the domestic media during the period immediately after the tsunami in early 2005. A competition was conducted a few months later to obtain the views of the public on best practices to promote a people friendly reconstruction process. The ideas received were submitted to the relevant government offices and other stakeholders.

An evaluation was conducted by an economist in late 2005 to assess the reconstruction process, including observations on the different stages of the reconstruction process. The analysis of the findings was published under the title: ‘The Tsunami Reconstruction Response: Sri Lanka.’ A value for money audit which holistically evaluated certain selected tsunami reconstruction projects was completed in December 2006. A hotline was manned in the early part of 2007 to receive complaints and public views from tsunami hit areas. The received complaints were then sent to the relevant authorities and institutions for further investigations. A number of field visits were conducted in the second half of 2007 to assess the ground situation three years after the tsunami.

For more information please visit: www.tisrilanka.org

Sweden: Transparency International Sweden

TI Sweden jointly organised with the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency Regards Carin (SIDA) a seminar on corruption in humanitarian aid in May 2007. The seminar was open by the State Secretary Joakim Stymne and was followed by a short introduction by TI-Sweden, followed by a panel discussion, including presentations by the International Secretariat of Transparency International and the Norwegian Refugee Council

A further follow up meeting is planned in the second half of 2008.

For more information please visit: www.transparency-se.org