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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

What works and why in community-based anti-corruption programsand interview public service authorities. These interactions have taken place as a result of studentaction, either when students from government schools identified infrastructure problems in theirrespective schools and requested officials to find a solution, or when children attempted to solve aservice problem in their local community by contacting the responsible agencies. During the city levelannual campaigns, groups of children from different Civic Clubs interview the officials to probe intocivic problems and issues. Two agencies that have shown considerable interest and support for in theactivities of CMCA are the Traffic Police Department and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.Key strengths● The CMCA initiative takes young students out of the classroom and gives them real-lifeexperiences in ‘good governance ‘ and ‘civic education’.● Participating schools in the CMCA program welcome the long-term approach of the program,both in running through the academic year, and in returning to schools to establish new civic clubs forthe returning students.● By supporting local volunteer facilitators for the civic clubs, the CMCA program builds communityownership. Facilitators report a ‘sense of belonging’ and ‘ownership’ in the program. This has resultedin high volunteer retention.● CMCA has ensured that themes and issues of its curriculum complement the civics andenvironmental science curricula in schools.● The program provides civic and environmental education that is locally relevant and communitycentred.Key challenges● A given school’s approach and commitment to the program is critical. Without support within theschool, civic clubs cannot operate.● Sustaining student’s motivation is a continuous challenge for CMCA. However for students inmost schools, the CMCA program aims to provide activities and education that is ‘radically differentand absorbing compared to the regular school curriculum’.A collaborative venture of Public Affairs Centre and Swabhimana, Bangalore, India________________________________________________________________________________CASESTUDY 11The following program is an example of fighting corruption through religious and ethical teaching.Building anti-corruption groups in Indonesian Islamic schools, the program mobilised people in theirreligious community to monitor public spending and condemn corruption.Box 3.11 Anticorruption education in faith-based schools – IndonesiaThe Pesantren-Based Anti-corruption Movement is a campaign against corruption based in thereligious communities of Indonesia’s Islamic boarding schools (pesantren).As institutes of religious education situated outside of state control, pesantren are autonomous andpolitically neutral. The religious leaders of pesantren, known as kiai, are also highly respected andtrusted members of their community. With this underpinning, the Pesantren-Based AnticorruptionMovement began by locating Islamic teachings that expunged the giving and taking of bribes. Workingwith the kiai, the movement spread the message of a religious condemnation of corruption throughbooklets, pamphlets and in Friday sermons in mosques.This provided religious communities with a moral platform for their fight against corruption. However,the words of moral teachings alone could mobilise or empower communities to increase their struggle.Communities needed information on where and when public funding was stolen, and assistance inorganising effective collection action. They also needed representation to take their concerns anddemands to local government.- 28 -
What works and why in community-based anti-corruption programsThe Pesantren-Based Anticorruption Movement responded by tapping into its best and most availableresource – pesantren students and kiai in-preparation. Training was organized for students and kiai ofall levels on how to analyse local government budgets, how to conduct simple audits of publicspending and methods for coordinating public gatherings. Networks of community organizers withinpesantrens were formed.Key strengths● As institutes of religious education outside state control, pesantren are autonomous andpolitically neutral.● The kiai represent an important group looked up to by the community as symbols of morality.They command respect in efforts to uphold public ethics. Their influence is strong and places them ina special position in the eyes of the decision-makers in the government.● The guidance of respected religious community figures and the enthusiasm of young studentsnetworked through their pesantren bolstered community efforts to demand greater transparency andan end to theft of public funds.● Successor forums were set up in almost all of the schools that participated in the Pesantren-Based Anticorruption Movement’s campaign. Many students used their training to set up their owngroups within their schools and communities to continue monitoring local government budgets.Key challenges● Customarily kiai are religious leaders and scholars, with minimal training in monitoring publicspending.● In some communities kiai lacked political independence and could not play an optimum role incritiquing government processes.● Pesantren schools had also had little previous contact with other anticorruption groups working inthe community.● Very often, those involved in corruption resorted to violence and the hiring of street thugs to gettheir way – a problem compounded by the weakness of law enforcement efforts.Pesantren-Based Anticorruption Movement_________________________________________________________________________________3.6 Anti-corruption coalitionsBuilding an anti-corruption platform through alliances or coalitions with others can offer communities anumber of advantages in the fight against corruption.Coalitions can provide communities with ‘strength in numbers’ and bolster local campaigns throughnew access to resources and skills (Holloway 2006l). Coalitions can open new opportunities fornationwide monitoring if the alliance members can cover and complement different regions. TheGovernance Coalition of Bangladesh includes many local development NGOs from across thecountry. Members have received assistance from the Coalitions’ national program to increase liaisonbetween communities and local government authorities.Broadly representative coalitions, particularly on a national front, can also have greater impact onpolicy decision makers. This is evident in the national Korean anti-corruption K-PACT, which hasbrought public, political, private and community sectors together with a unified anti-corruption pledgeand strategy. Where individual sectors were unable to make an impact on public policy, K-PACT’sfacilitation of collective efforts has yielded impressive results. Similarly the PNG Community CoalitionAgainst Corruption has run national anti-corruption campaigns by linking national anti-corruptionorganisations with local groups in intimate contact with communities.Coalitions can also bring together representative from different aspects of social communities. TheInterfaith Coalition Against Corruption in Indonesia is an alliance across religious and ethical groups,uniting different aspects of Indonesian society in a common struggle.- 29 -
Page 1 and 2: TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALI
Page 4 and 5: What works and why in community-bas
Page 27: What works and why in community-bas

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?