'What works and why in community-based anti-corruption programs'

What works and why in community-based anti-corruption programs● By collecting information on cases presented to the ALACs, TI Chapters can build a picture ofnational trends in corruption and its impact on communities. This provides TI Chapters with specificadvocacy targets.● The focus of an ALAC can be tailored to the specific context, receiving either general complaints(all areas of corruption) or focusing a more specific area of concern (for instance corruption in thehealth sector or tax inspection).● While remaining entirely independent, ALACs have thus far been welcomed by governmentauthorities in all countries of operation.Key challenges● Crucial to the success of the ALACs is generating sufficient volumes of cases for centers togenerate momentum and influence.● In the absence of an educated and empowered populace, anti-corruption laws or complaintmechanisms cannot achieve sustained progress against corruption. Advice services, such as theALAC program, need to be complemented by public education on corruption.● Advice centres depend on a degree of public disgruntlement about corruption so that people willbe motivated to seek assistance in pursuing a complaint. Where there is deep social tolerance orresignation to corruption, or when taboos about discussing corruption are still deeply entrenched,advice centres may not be frequented by the community.● The model of a toll-free hotline and a central advice centre may exclude isolated communitiesfrom accessing services. Lack of access to telephone services, distance or difficulty in travelling to anadvice centre, or social and cultural issues may prevent people visiting a public ALAC centre. Thiswould be the particularly relevant for small communities or communities where people are reluctant tomake public criticisms.● There could be a distinct lack of community engagement if an advice centre is perceived to bepushing an outside interest.● In societies where media freedom is restricted promoting the ALAC services will be difficult.● Providing professional, accountable and reliable advice requires an investment in high qualityadvisors. If these advisors are volunteers there may be challenges in recruitment and retention.● While advice centres can support citizens’ efforts to pursue justice against corruption, political willto reform remains crucial for long-term progress against corruption.Transparency International Chapters in South, Eastern Europe, Central Asia_________________________________________________________________________________CASESTUDY EIGHTIn comparison to the centralised ALAC model, TI-Bangladesh is working to establish an Advice andInformation Desk in conjunction with each of its Committee of Concerned Citizens (Triple Cs). As TI-Bangladesh aims to foster community establishment of Triple Cs in each of Bangladesh’s 64 districts,this means 64 localised Advice and Information Desks will be set up to offer people advice on issuesof local relevance.Box 3.8 Advice and Information Desks – BangladeshAdvice and Information Desks are locally based centres providing information, training and advisoryservices on corruption-related issues. They manage a range of free services for the public, collect dataon corruption, disseminate information to local media, community groups and local authorities and actas a conduit between TI-Bangladesh and local Committee of Concerned Citizens.Originally designed to serve clusters of TI-Bangladesh’s Committees of Concerned Citizens, it wasquickly realized that the success of the Advice and Information Desks relied on a physical proximityand a close social relationship with their individual communities. It was also realised that Advice andInformation Desks offered people an entrance point through which they could become better informedabout responding to a corruption problem and better equipped to fight against corrupt acts in thefuture. To bring an Advice and Information Desk closer to people and to better assist and publicise the- 24 -