UN Guide for Anti-Corruption Policies - United Nations Office on ...

asis of the development of anti-corruption strategies and policies. At
management levels, the knowledge that evidence will be objectively gathered
and assessed should encourage result-oriented management, and a clear
understanding of exactly what results are expected. At operational levels,
service providers should gain an understanding of what corruption is, how it
affects them and what is expected of them in terms of applying anti-corruption
policies in their work. The users of the various services should have the same
in<strong>for</strong>mation, so that they come to expect corruption-free services and are
prepared and equipped to speak out when this is not the case. The
international element in country assessments should serve as a validation of
the evidence, a source of objective and independent analysis and reporting,
and <strong>for</strong>m the basis <strong>for</strong> international comparison, the communication of
in<strong>for</strong>mation about problems encountered and solutions developed from one
country to another, and the development of a coherent international or global
strategy against corruption.
Once anti-corruption strategies are in place, further country assessments
should review both actual progress made and the criteria by which progress is
defined and assessed. In practical terms, this gives participants at all levels
an opportunity to comment, providing valuable feedback about both results
and policies, and helping to protect a general sense o ownership and support
<strong>for</strong> the programme. The need <strong>for</strong> popular participation makes credibility or
legitimacy a critical factor in controlling corruption. For this reason, further
assessments should consider not only evidence about whether the
programme is actually achieving its goals, but about the perceptions of key
figures and the general population.
It is important that the process of gathering and assessing evidence be seen
as an ongoing process and not a one-time event. One term used to describe
this is “action research”, which has been described as embracing “principles
of participation and reflection, and empowerment and emancipation of groups
seeking to improve their social situation.” 34 . Common among most is the
concept of using dialogue between different groups to promote change
through a cycle of evaluation, action and further evaluation
6. Impact oriented
As discussed above, it is critical that clear and realistic goals be set and that
all participants in the national strategy be aware of these goals and the status
of progress made in achieving them. The complexity of the corruption
problem and the difficulty in gathering valid “baseline” and progress data
make this difficult, but it is critical. Initial evidence is used to provide the basis
<strong>for</strong> comparison and to set initial goals, while periodic assessments of what has
been accomplished monitors progress, identifies areas which may need more
attention or a different approach, and supports ongoing revision of the initial
goals of the programme. Validated evidence can also play an important role in
re<strong>for</strong>ms in other areas.
34 Kaye Seymour-Rolls and Ian Hughes, “Participatory Action Research: Getting the Job Done,” Action
Research Electronic Reader, University of Sydney, 1995.
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