AMMAN — On Monday, which marked International Anti-Corruption Day, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) announced a new partnership to support anti-corruption and integrity efforts in the Arab region, according to a joint statement. 

 

The partnership aims to enable stakeholders to develop and implement required laws in line with international standards, institutionalise corruption prevention in priority government sectors to enhance the effectiveness of public administration and mobilise knowledge and capacities to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16 that focuses on “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”.  

 

This new partnership will benefit stakeholders across the region over the next four years, giving priority to seven countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia, the statement said. 

 

Building on results that the UNDP achieved in anti-corruption and integrity in Arab countries over the past decade, the new regional project allows KOICA and the UNDP to engage more than 5,000 beneficiaries from governments, civil society and the business community.

 

 “Our new partnership with KOICA will allow the UNDP to significantly expand its cooperation with countries in the region and support their efforts to comply with the UN Convention against Corruption,” Susanne Dam-Hansen, acting director of the UNDP’s Regional Hub for Arab States based in Amman, was quoted in the statement as saying.

 

“This work is critical to the region’s pursuit of fulfilling the promise of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and its 17 goals,” she added.

 

Kim Hyo-jin, country director of KOICA-Jordan Office, highlighted in her remarks that “corruption threatens and undermines democratic institutions, adversely affects governmental instability and slows down economic development”, according to the statement.

 

“The Republic of Korea is pleased to join the global movement against corruption and we look forward to working closely together to achieve more transparent societies keeping the sustainable development goals of 2030 at the apex,” she said.

 

To inaugurate their partnership, the UNDP and KOICA convened a regional expert panel to deliberate the future of anti-corruption and integrity reforms in the region in light of the 2030 agenda, with participation of senior public officials, prominent experts and civil society representatives from eight Arab countries. 

 

Against the backdrop of rising public demands for more decisive action against corruption, participants shared experiences, lessons learned and good practices at the national, regional and international levels, exploring the links with sustainable development efforts that “leave no one behind”, the statement read.

 

They highlighted the “disproportionate impact” that corruption has on the poor and marginalised groups, especially women and youth, calling for stronger laws and more consistent implementation efforts. They also stressed the value of integrating early detection systems in all sectors and making use of modern technologies to reduce the risks of corrupt practices. Participants also recognised that more efforts are needed to strengthen the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies and judicial and audit bodies and called for wider public participation in reform efforts, the statement concluded.