CORRUPTION ASSESSMENT: MOZAMBIQUE - World Bank

Indicators must go beyond creating strategies and passing laws toimplementing real reforms that increase transparency and provide for realaccountability in key government functions and sectors.• Orienting technical and financial assistance toward achieving “results on theground,” and putting greater attention on feedback vehicles to track outcomes,impact and views from users of public services and investments, as well asauditing, review and follow-up on periodic assessments of results of publicsector expenditures and projects.• Establishing a high-level donor coordination group to develop a clear andcoordinated message on corruption for the government; encourage andmonitor the mainstreaming of corruption in forms of donor assistance; andencourage greater synergy between donor corruption programs.The USG should also coordinate its messages and highlight the issue of corruption in allits diplomatic dialogue and aid discussions:• USAID and Embassy coordination on key messages to reinforce withGovernment Officials (see separate talking points memo)• Mainstreaming anticorruption precepts and activities throughout the missionportfolio and other USG assistance, particularly focusing on transparency,citizen participation and oversight, and accountable management of resources.• Broaden the scope of MCC compact discussions to include specific attentionto corruption and governance concerns, given that Mozambique’sperformance on the Control of Corruption indicator has actually declinedsubstantially between 2000 and 2004 (see Exhibit 1 earlier in this report).Examples of ways to include these issues in the compact include:• Develop a clear set of steps to limit corruption and benchmarks forimplementation, so that projects can be terminated or redirected ifcorrupt practices divert significant resources or delay implementation.Transparency and public oversight should be dominant considerations.• Ensure that clear procurement guidelines for infrastructure projects aredeveloped in partnership with government, the private sector, and civilsociety. Care should be taken to 1) build the capacity of Mozambicanofficials to conduct competitive and transparent procurements and 2)provide avenues for civil society or other outside observers to act asmonitors of the procurement process.• Provide for substantial capacity building for municipal governments inareas where MCC supports infrastructure development, by includingelected municipal governments in the planning, development,implementation, and oversight of projects.• Private sector ownership or co-ownership of public services should becarefully designed and provisions made for monitoring to ensure thatthe public’s interest is protected, that government can play itsregulatory role effectively, and that operations are transparent and canbe readily monitored by citizens and CSOs. Avoiding conflict ofinterest in the award of these private activities is critical.FINAL REPORT 50